# Zotero MCP (MCP server)

> Zotero MCP is an MCP server that adds developer tools to AI assistants such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor. Search, read, annotate, and add to your Zotero research library, local or web. It has 5,265 GitHub stars, is released under the MIT license and runs locally with uvx zotero-mcp-server.

Zotero MCP connects your Zotero research library with ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI assistants (e.g., Cherry Studio, Chorus, Cursor) via the Model Context Protocol. Search your library, read and annotate papers, add and organize items, and find research by meaning.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/54yyyu/zotero-mcp |
| GitHub stars | 5,265 |
| License | MIT |
| Language | Python |
| Transport | stdio |
| Packages | pypi: zotero-mcp-server |
| Remote URL | none |
| Needs API key | yes |
| Official | no |
| Works with | Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code |
| Category | Developer tools |
| Latest release | v0.13.3 (Oct 7, 2026) |
| Last commit | Oct 7, 2026 |
| MCP registry name | io.github.54yyyu/zotero-mcp |

## Install

### Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Settings > Developer > Edit Config. macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\. Restart Claude Desktop afterwards.

### Claude Code

```sh
claude mcp add --env ZOTERO_API_KEY=your-value --transport stdio zotero-mcp -- uvx zotero-mcp-server
```

### Cursor (.cursor/mcp.json)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Project file; use ~/.cursor/mcp.json to enable it in every project.

### VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json)

```json
{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "zotero_api_key",
      "description": "ZOTERO_API_KEY",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ZOTERO_API_KEY": "${input:zotero_api_key}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Config formats checked against the official docs on 2026-10-07.

## Environment variables

- `ZOTERO_LOCAL`: Read from the local Zotero desktop app instead of the web API. Requires Zotero 7+ with the local API enabled in Settings > Advanced.
- `ZOTERO_API_KEY` (secret): Zotero Web API key from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys. Only needed when ZOTERO_LOCAL is false, or for write operations in hybrid mode.
- `ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID`: Zotero user or group library ID. Only needed when ZOTERO_LOCAL is false, or for write operations in hybrid mode.
- `ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE`: Whether ZOTEROLIBRARYID refers to a personal or a group library.
- `ZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETS`: Which optional tool groups to expose, as a comma-separated list. Every tool is sent to the model on each request, so optional capabilities are off by default…

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---

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