macOS Zotero 8 can't install plugins from XPI files

Jojobaby · 2026-04-04T17:24:35+00:00

Hi, I’m on macOS using Zotero 8.

I can’t install plugins from .xpi files. In Tools → Plugins, if I either choose “Install Add-on From File…” and click Open after selecting the .xpi, or drag the .xpi into the Plugins window, nothing happens. No installation prompt appears.

I tested this with multiple plugins, including SeerAI and AIdea.

Debug ID: D1967533910

dstillman · 2026-04-04T17:59:13+00:00

That shows a plugin being installed, though it's doing various things it shouldn't be doing, including writing to the main Zotero database.

But if you don't see it in Tools → Plugins after restarting Zotero, you can go to your Zotero profile folder, delete the 'extensions' folder, and restart Zotero to remove all installed plugins and start again.