Paperpile with LaTeX and BibTeX explained

Paperpile fully supports your LaTeX writing flow with all its BibTeX features. Get the best of both worlds: a modern, full-featured reference manager for collecting and organizing your sources, plus clean BibTeX or BibLaTeX files formatted exactly how you need them. When you write \cite, it just works.

Whether you're starting fresh or have years of existing BibTeX files, Paperpile integrates seamlessly into your LaTeX workflow without changing how you write or compile your documents.

Getting started with existing BibTeX files

If you already have BibTeX files from other reference managers or previous projects, you can import them directly into Paperpile.

See Import BibTeX files

When it's time to write your paper, you have several options to get your references into your LaTeX document.

Get references into your LaTeX documents

Copy individual references

Copy BibTeX entries, citation keys, and LaTeX commands with simple keyboard shortcuts. Perfect when you need just a few specific references while writing.

See Copy and paste BibTeX and LaTeX commands

Export BibTeX files

Export selected references, folders, labels, or your entire library as a BibTeX file. Choose exactly which references to include and customize the output format.

See Export BibTeX files

Automatic BibTeX synchronization

For the most seamless workflow, set up automatic synchronization so your BibTeX files stay current without manual exports. Paperpile can sync a folder, label, or your whole library to:

• GitHub repositories for version-controlled collaboration
• Google Drive for cloud access across devices
• Download links that you can access programmatically in scripts or automation tools

Your BibTeX files update automatically whenever you add or modify references in Paperpile.

See Automatically sync BibTeX files

Overleaf integration

If you write in Overleaf, Paperpile connects directly to your Overleaf projects. Add references to Paperpile and they appear automatically in your Overleaf bibliography. No manual file management is required.

See Use Paperpile with Overleaf

Customize BibTeX output

Paperpile gives you extensive control over how your BibTeX files are formatted:

• Support for both BibTeX and BibLaTeX formats
• Choose which metadata fields to include or exclude
• Control formatting of journal names, preprint entries, and more

See Customize your BibTeX output

Citation key customization

Create citation keys that match your preferred naming convention. Choose from predefined patterns or create custom formats using author names, publication years, titles, and journals.

See Citation keys for pattern options and examples.