Use the Zotero app with Alekhni
Alekhni can cite from the Zotero app on your computer instead of zotero.org, so your library is there without an internet connection. It takes one setting in Zotero.
Zotero 7 or later
The desktop app, open on the same computer as your browser.
Alekhni ZoExt
The browser extension that connects Alekhni to the app.
Works offline
Nothing goes over the internet: your browser talks to Zotero on your own computer.
- 01
Install Alekhni ZoExt
Browsers do not let a website talk to apps on your computer, so Alekhni reaches Zotero through the Alekhni ZoExt browser extension. ZoExt passes on only Alekhni's requests for your library, and nothing else.
- 02
Open Zotero’s settings
In the Zotero app, choose Zotero › Settings… (⌘ ,) on a Mac, or Edit › Settings on Windows and Linux.
Zotero › Settings… - 03
Go to Advanced
Select Advanced in the sidebar. Under Miscellaneous is the setting “Allow other applications on this computer to communicate with Zotero”. It is off unless you have turned it on before.
Settings › Advanced › Miscellaneous - 04
Turn the setting on
Tick the box. Zotero shows “Available at http://localhost:23119/api/” beneath it, which means it is ready. You can close the settings window.
The setting on, with the address Alekhni uses - 05
Choose Zotero app in Alekhni
In the editor, open Citations, go to Setup and choose Zotero app at the top. The panel's heading changes to “Zotero app” and your library appears on the Library tab. Keep Zotero open while you write.
Citations › Setup › Zotero app - 06
Allow Alekhni once
Reading and citing your library needs nothing more. The first time you add or edit a source, Zotero asks whether to allow Alekhni. Choose Always Allow so it does not ask again; Allow covers one change only.
Zotero web and the app
With Zotero web chosen, Alekhni switches to the app by itself when you go offline, and back when you reconnect. With Zotero app chosen, it uses zotero.org while the app is closed, if you have connected an account.
Both show the same library once Zotero has synced. Sources you add offline reach zotero.org at Zotero's next sync, and citations already in your papers keep working in either.
To withdraw Alekhni's permission to change your library, use Clear Write Authorizations under the same setting. Unticking the setting turns the connection off entirely.