I am a very poor student and will have to downgrade my zotero before it renews, unfortunately. What will happen to all my well categorized and annotated assets?!
All metadata will continue to sync. All files will remain in your local library(ies). Zotero will never delete any files (or anything else) from your local library, unless, of course, you explicitly delete it. After about a month, files will be deleted from the server, so you can no longer access them on the website or from any mobile apps you may be using; you will also no longer be able to sync new files to the web or between devices.
Thanks for the reply. If I reinstate my plan after a month or two, will I regain access to the items deleted from the server? What’s the difference between the server and my library?
Your library is principally local (and won't be affected by any changes in your storage subscription). Under normal use, you won't lose access to any files when your storage subscription lapses. The server holds a synced online version of your local library/ies.
If you re-up your storage subscription after files have been removed online, they'll simply sync back up from your local library, but if, for some reason, you don't have a local version, no, you won't regain access.
Upgrade Storage
After about a month, files will be deleted from the server, so you can no longer access them on the website or from any mobile apps you may be using; you will also no longer be able to sync new files to the web or between devices.
If you re-up your storage subscription after files have been removed online, they'll simply sync back up from your local library, but if, for some reason, you don't have a local version, no, you won't regain access.