Mendeley locks your references into Elsevier’s ecosystem. The desktop app is discontinued, the web version requires an Elsevier account, and your data lives on Elsevier servers with no WebDAV export option.
Zotero stores references locally and syncs attachments to any WebDAV server you choose. TurtleTech provides managed WebDAV storage on European infrastructure, starting at EUR 1.25/month for 2 GB.
This post walks through the full migration: export from Mendeley, import into
Zotero, and configure WebDAV sync to zotero.turtletech.us.
What you need#
- Zotero 7 (free, runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux)
- A Mendeley account with your existing library
- A TurtleTech Zotero WebDAV account (book a free consultation or email info@turtletech.us)
Step 1: Export from Mendeley#
Zotero has a built-in Mendeley importer that pulls your entire library, including PDFs, annotations, folders, and metadata.
- Open Zotero
- Go to File > Import…
- Select Mendeley Reference Manager
- Sign in with your Mendeley/Elsevier credentials when prompted
- Zotero downloads your full library, including attached PDFs
The import preserves folder structure as Zotero collections. Depending on library size, this takes 2-30 minutes.
If the direct import fails (Elsevier occasionally changes their API), export
from Mendeley as BibTeX (.bib) instead:
- In Mendeley, select all references (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A)
- Go to File > Export and choose BibTeX format
- In Zotero, go to File > Import… and select the
.bibfile - Manually drag PDFs into the corresponding Zotero entries
The direct importer handles PDFs automatically; the BibTeX fallback requires manual attachment but preserves all metadata.
Step 2: Configure WebDAV sync#
Once your library is in Zotero, point file sync at TurtleTech:
- Open Zotero Settings (Edit > Settings on Windows/Linux, Zotero > Settings on macOS)
- Go to the Sync tab
- Under File Syncing, change the dropdown from “Zotero” to “WebDAV”
- Enter the URL:
https://zotero.turtletech.us/dav/USERNAME/zotero/(replaceUSERNAMEwith your TurtleTech username) - Enter your TurtleTech username and password
- Click Verify Server
Zotero confirms the connection with a green checkmark. If verification fails,
check that the URL ends with a trailing slash and that you are using the
credentials from your TurtleTech account (manage your password at
https://auth.turtletech.us).
Step 3: Sync#
Click the green sync button in Zotero’s toolbar (or press Ctrl+Shift+S). Zotero uploads your attachment files to TurtleTech’s WebDAV storage. The initial sync takes a few minutes depending on library size.
After the initial sync, Zotero syncs automatically in the background. New PDFs you add are uploaded within seconds.
What about Zotero’s built-in sync?#
Zotero syncs metadata (titles, authors, tags, notes) through Zotero’s own servers for free, regardless of your file storage choice. WebDAV only handles attachment files (PDFs, snapshots, etc.). You still need a free Zotero account for metadata sync.
This means you get the full Zotero experience – the only difference is where your PDFs are physically stored.
Pricing#
| Plan | Monthly | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | EUR 1.25 | 2 GB |
| Standard | EUR 3.75 | 6 GB |
| Research | EUR 7.50 | 20 GB |
Early adopters (first 100 users) receive 50% off for the lifetime of their subscription. Get in touch to claim the launch rate.
Your files are stored on European infrastructure (Backblaze B2, Amsterdam) under Icelandic jurisdiction with full GDPR compliance.