EndNote 21 is a tool which can help you manage and organise your references. EndNote can:
It is recommended for all students and staff carrying out research to use a reference management tool to store and organise your sources. We currently recommend EndNote 21 for postgraduate research students (PhD and research based masters) and for staff researchers. EndNote 21 has more advanced features, making it ideal for managing large quantities of references.
The library can support you with the use of EndNote 21 on web browsers and Windows devices, including EndNote 21 desktop, EndNote Web, EndNote Click, and Cite While You Write. We are less experienced with the Mac/iOS versions.
Access to EndNote 21 is provided free to all Newman staff and students through Birmingham Newman University.
This page offers guidance on how to create an EndNote account, how to download and use the EndNote app and its affiliated software.
To create an account from EndNote 21 (desktop):
Alternatively, you can register here, by clicking on the 'Register' button and following the on-screen instructions.
Creating an EndNote account will allow you to:
Free access to EndNote 21 for all staff and students is provided through Birmingham Newman University.
The following videos demonstrate how to use the desktop version of EndNote 21, the Microsoft Word add-on, and the web browser extension.
You can also use Clarivate's training videos, accessible from their YouTube channel.
If you are using a Newman device, EndNote 21 is available to download from the Company Portal.
To install EndNote 21 on your personal device:
Please email library-enquiries@newman.ac.uk to receive the Product Key. Do not share this Product Key with anyone outside of Newman.
EndNote 21 can be used and downloaded at no cost by Newman staff or students.
EndNote Web can be accessed in your browser on any supported device. From here, you will be able to view your saved library.
As EndNote Web is slightly more limited in comparison to EndNote 21 desktop, it is recommended to use the desktop application to access the full range of features.
To ensure that your records sync between EndNote 21 desktop and EndNote web, please make sure that you are signed in to your EndNote account.
To sign in on EndNote web:
To sign in on EndNote 21 desktop:
EndNote Click is a browser extension that allows you to access and save PDFs. When visiting an article on an academic website, EndNote Click will automatically search for full-text PDFs and provide one-click access.
You can choose to save the PDF to your Locker which can be accessed from navigating to the EndNote Click extension > 'My Locker'.
Within your Locker, you can view your saved PDFs. For each item, you are able to generate citations, view the PDF within EndNote Click, and send the record to EndNote 21 desktop and/or EndNote web.
You can save your library credentials to your browser (these are not saved on EndNote's servers) to easily access items available through Newman. To do so:
If an item is unavailable through Newman, EndNote Click will automatically search for an Open Access version of this item.
Cite While You Write is an EndNote tool which can be used to insert citations and reference lists into a document. It can be installed in the Microsoft Word application, as well on web services such as Google Docs and World Online.
The Cite While You Write plugin automatically downloads in Word with your EndNote 21 installation. It can be accessed under the EndNote 21 tab in the top ribbon of your Word document.
Please make sure that you have closed all instances of Microsoft Word before installing EndNote 21, otherwise the Cite While You Write plugin will not install correctly.
If you have installed EndNote 21 but the EndNote tab is not visible in Word:
To install Cite While You Write on Mac devices:
To install Cite While You Write for Google Docs, click here, then:
To use EndNote, you will need to create an EndNote Library. This is where you will save and manage your records.
The default save location for a library is in 'My Documents' (Windows) or 'Applications' (Mac).
Do not save your library to cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.). EndNote is not compatible with cloud storage and this will risk your data becoming corrupted.
When you create a new library, it will be saved as a file with the '.enl' suffix. A folder with the same name as the library, ending in 'Data' will also be created - this must be kept in the same location as the library.
If you do not have an existing EndNote library:
If you already have an EndNote library:
You can backup your library by selecting 'File' > 'Save a Copy'.
Creating a reference:
To edit a reference, double click the reference in the library window, and select 'Edit' from the panel that opens to the right.
Importing a reference:
Importing a PDF:
Groups in EndNote 21 can help you to organise your references. You may also share groups with your colleagues if you are working collaboratively on a project.
How to create a group:
How to share a group:
In the library window, each reference is displayed on a line, showing information such as author, year, title, and journal title.
A paperclip icon next to a reference indicates an attached file, such as a PDF. A 'fig+' indicates an attached graphic or image in the relevant field.
Clicking on any reference will open up a window to the right, with tabs for viewing and editing the citation, and for viewing the PDF.
Customising your library window
Open the 'Edit' window and select 'Preferences'. From here, you can select various options, including:
Last reviewed: 23 August 2024