Upgrade Storage[Plugin] Watch Folder — drop a PDF in a folder, it auto-imports into Zotero (7/8/9)
I'd like to share a plugin I've been building: Zotero Watch Folder.
You point it at a folder on your computer. Drop a PDF in, and a few seconds later it's a Zotero item — metadata looked up, filename templated (e.g. Smith - 2021 - A Great Paper.pdf), filed into the collection you chose. No dragging, no manual import.
What it does
Auto-imports PDFs from a watched folder, with metadata retrieval + template renaming
Content-hash de-duplication (save the same paper twice, it's recognized and skipped)
Optional two-way mirroring between disk folders and Zotero collections
A PDF storage choice that's independent of the sync mode: store in Zotero (syncs everywhere, incl. WebDAV/mobile), link from the folder (saves quota), or both
Smart rules (match on title/author/DOI/tags/filename → auto-tag, file, or skip)
Three modes, opt-in by design
Mode 1 – Import only (default): only ever adds; never moves or deletes anything
Mode 2 – Mirror, no delete: folders and collections mirror both ways; deletions are flagged, not carried out
Mode 3 – Mirror with safe delete: full two-way sync including deletions — but removed files go to a recoverable trash, bulk deletions ask first, and an edited file is never silently overwritten
Safety was the main design constraint, since it can touch real files: fail-closed delete gates, a recoverable trash (never a permanent erase by default), bulk-delete confirmation, and a hard pause if the watch folder goes missing (an unplugged drive or a cloud eviction won't be read as "delete everything").
Compatibility: Zotero 7, 8, and 9 — live-verified on 9.0.4. Free and open source (GPL-3.0).
Install: Grab the .xpi from the Releases page (Tools → Plugins → gear → Install Add-on From File). Auto-updates from then on. I've also submitted it to the Zotero Addons list for in-app install.
User guide / settings reference: https://josesiqueira.github.io/zotero-watch-folder/
Source + issues: https://github.com/josesiqueira/zotero-watch-folder
Feedback and bug reports very welcome — especially from Windows/macOS users, since I develop on Linux. As always, back up your library and folder before enabling a file-touching plugin.
You point it at a folder on your computer. Drop a PDF in, and a few seconds later it's a Zotero item — metadata looked up, filename templated (e.g. Smith - 2021 - A Great Paper.pdf), filed into the collection you chose. No dragging, no manual import.
What it does
Auto-imports PDFs from a watched folder, with metadata retrieval + template renaming
Content-hash de-duplication (save the same paper twice, it's recognized and skipped)
Optional two-way mirroring between disk folders and Zotero collections
A PDF storage choice that's independent of the sync mode: store in Zotero (syncs everywhere, incl. WebDAV/mobile), link from the folder (saves quota), or both
Smart rules (match on title/author/DOI/tags/filename → auto-tag, file, or skip)
Three modes, opt-in by design
Mode 1 – Import only (default): only ever adds; never moves or deletes anything
Mode 2 – Mirror, no delete: folders and collections mirror both ways; deletions are flagged, not carried out
Mode 3 – Mirror with safe delete: full two-way sync including deletions — but removed files go to a recoverable trash, bulk deletions ask first, and an edited file is never silently overwritten
Safety was the main design constraint, since it can touch real files: fail-closed delete gates, a recoverable trash (never a permanent erase by default), bulk-delete confirmation, and a hard pause if the watch folder goes missing (an unplugged drive or a cloud eviction won't be read as "delete everything").
Compatibility: Zotero 7, 8, and 9 — live-verified on 9.0.4. Free and open source (GPL-3.0).
Install: Grab the .xpi from the Releases page (Tools → Plugins → gear → Install Add-on From File). Auto-updates from then on. I've also submitted it to the Zotero Addons list for in-app install.
User guide / settings reference: https://josesiqueira.github.io/zotero-watch-folder/
Source + issues: https://github.com/josesiqueira/zotero-watch-folder
Feedback and bug reports very welcome — especially from Windows/macOS users, since I develop on Linux. As always, back up your library and folder before enabling a file-touching plugin.