Recover Zotero from old Zotero-system internal files (no Zotero backup)?

ErikNordh · 2025-09-02T15:44:46+00:00

I've had an acute system crash on my Mac; Zotero backed up at central drive, but no backup of the Zotero original program made available. No suggested backup through Zotero strategy yet done.

Can I retrieve the 'old Zotero function' through a new installation, and some way of reloading of files in "old internal Zotero folders" (i.e. "translators", "styles", "storage", "pipes", "logs", "locate", "cache")?

All PDF's available; can I reload the by some hidden Zotero system command or strategy?

Rationale?

/Erik

adamsmith · 2025-09-02T15:49:10+00:00

Do you see a file called zotero.sqlite in the folder that has storage, translators, etc.? If so, what file size?

ErikNordh · 2025-09-03T21:52:33+00:00

Two files containing .sqlite are found in storage:
- zotero.sqlite (Size 1.1 MB)
- zotero.sqlite-journal (Size 29 kB)

dstillman · 2025-09-04T01:16:10+00:00

That's an empty database. See Locating Missing Zotero Data.