Skip to Main Content
Montana State University - Home Montana State University Library - Home Ask the Library

Citation Management Tools

This guide shares helpful citation tools that will keep you organized when collecting multiple citations.

Softec RSA South Africa Software EndNote 2025 banner

Sync Your Library

HELPFUL TIP!

Before starting to use EndNote, it is strongly recommended that you set up an EndNote Online account. This gives you the ability to sync the EndNote Library across devices. Once an account is set up and the library is synced it enables:

  • Access to EndNote Library from anywhere

  • Automatic backup of EndNote Library

How to Sync if you already have an EndNote Web/Online Account

  1. Click Configure Sync in the Groups panel to go to a Sync Configuration dialog. Click the Sync Now button to go to an EndNote Login dialog.
  2. Enter your EndNote account email address.
  3. Enter your EndNote account password.
  4. Click OK. Read the terms and conditions, then click Agree to accept the terms and conditions and to link your account to your new copy of EndNote.
  5. Click Sync to begin synchronizing your EndNote Web/online library with your EndNote library.

How to Sync if you do NOT have an EndNote Web/Online Account

  1. Click Configure Sync in the Groups panel to go to a Sync Configuration dialog.
  2. Click the Configure Sync button to go to an EndNote Login dialog.
  3. Click the Sign Up button to go to an EndNote Registration dialog.
  4. Enter your email address in the EndNote Registration dialog. Retype your email address, and then click the Submit button.
  5. Enter your name and a secure password, read the EndNote End User License Agreement, then click the I Agree button if you wish to create your account.
  6. Click the Sync button to begin synchronizing your EndNote Web/online library with your EndNote library.
  7. Before synchronizing for the first time, you will be prompted to create a compressed library backup. Click the Yes button to create the backup.
  8. Choose the location for your backup, then click the Save button.(NOTE: If you are a new EndNote user and have not added anything to your library you can skip this step.)

Windows Installation

MSU Students, Staff and Faculty can download EndNote at no cost.

The exact installation steps vary depending on what browser you use and settings on your computer. Be sure to close Microsoft Word and other Microsoft Office programs before beginning.

 

  1. Click on the Windows Installer link above
  2. Log in with your NetID and password
  3. SAVE the file
  4. Once the download is complete, click Show in Folder or Open FolderImage of file options, choose extract all
  5. Right Click on the MSU-EndNote2025 file
  6. Choose Extract All
  7. Extract to the default directory with the "Show extracted files when complete" checked
  8. Double click the EN2025Inst file to start the installation

**Note: If you are prompted for a product key, start again and make sure the folder you downloaded is unzipped before running the installer. You can do this by right-clicking on the folder that you downloaded, then choosing "Extract All".

IMPORTANT: DO NOT save your EndNote library to any cloud based location (Box, DropBox, OneDrive, etc.). If you do that EndNote will not function properly. You can sync your EndNote library to EndNote Online, for a cloud back up. 

Problems?

Be sure that you saved and then extracted/unzipped. You should see that the Licensee is MSU Library as shown in this screenshot. It should not ask you to pay for a copy. If that happens, try the installation again, step-by-step as described above.

You may also want to try uninstalling and then re-installing again. If the Licensee does not show as MSU Library, stop the install and try again being sure to extract the files and then click on the EN20Inst file to start the installation. Be sure you are in the non-zipped folder (no zipper icon or 7zip icon).

Mac Installation

EndNote Mac install imageOn a Mac, follow these steps to install EndNote 2025Installing EN20 Windows – Cont'd

  1. Click the Mac Installer File link above
  2. Log in with your NetID and password
  3. Launch the EndNote2025SiteInstaller.dmg file
  4. Double-click the Install EndNote 2025.app
  5. This will bring up an image with "Licensed to" and your license name.
  6. Click Install. Note: This may take some time to complete.
  7. This will launch the EndNote 2025 application to customize the installation
  8. Click through the customizer screens to complete the installation

IMPORTANT: DO NOT save your EndNote library to any cloud based location (Box, DropBox, OneDrive, etc.). If you do that EndNote will not function properly. You can sync your EndNote library to EndNote Online, for a cloud back up.

 Mac Notes:

* Recommendation: Remove the Installer file when finished since it looks just like the program icon

* Drag and drop downloaded citations onto the EndNote 2025 icon on your dock to import. Otherwise, try Firefox rather than Chrome or Safari. to export citations directly into EndNote more easily.