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EndNote 21:  Downloading and installing

Manage your references and create in-text citations and reference list

Downloading and Installing EndNote

Download and Install EndNote

 

  • For your home computers, download from the University's software download site to ensure your EndNote is within the UON subscription.   
  • For UON computers used by staff members and HRD students:
    • Download EndNote for Windows from the Software Centre
    • Download EndNote for Mac from the Self Services
  • All UON computers on campus are automatically updated to EndNote 21

Please Note:

  • Before upgrading, back up your EndNote libraries and the .DATA folder, and uninstall earlier versions of EndNote​.
  • To avoid compatibility issues, do not upgrade your EndNote or computer OS without checking system requirements first.
    • Compatibility and system requirements - check the EndNote website
    • EndNote updates - within EndNote via Help > Check for Updates
  • For MacOS 14 users: EndNote 21 is compatible with macOS Sonoma but EndNote 20 and earlier are not. We suggest upgrading to EndNote 21.

 

See our EndNote Essentials video on How to Install EndNote on a Mac laptop below.

 

Troubleshooting for Windows and Mac Computers

Depending on the security setting of your computer, you may encounter error messages when you try to install your downloaded EndNote package. Here are some of the screenshots of the error messages provided by our students and our suggested solutions. 

Also many thanks to those students who sent us the screenshots for helping other students.

 

Example Screenshots  Suggested Solutions
error message for EN 20 download

Error message:

EndNote20/21_setup.exe isn’t commonly downloaded

That is a built-in feature of Microsoft Edge.

It is advising the download site is not a common download location for application installation files and is advising the user to ensure they trust the file is from a trusted source.

You should hover your mouse over the text, click on the ellipsis and then click Report this file as safe.

Alternatively, use a different browser to download the installer such as Mozilla Firefox or Chrome. 

How to open EndNote in MacOS anyway

Why won't EndNote download onto my Windows computer?

 

The security settings on a Windows PC may prevent unknown apps from being downloaded on to your computer.

To allow the download, you may need to temporarily change your settings:

  1. Search for Windows Security in the Start menu (Windows 10) or select Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security (Windows 11).
  2. Select App & Browser Control and click on the Reputation-based protection settings link.
  3. Under Potentially unwanted app blocking untick Block downloads (Windows 10) or turn off SmartScreen and Potentially unwanted app blocking (Windows 11).
  4. Download EndNote then immediately restore the security settings.

Depending on the security setting of your computer, you may encounter error messages when you try to install your downloaded EndNote package. Here are some of the screenshots of the error messages provided by our students and our suggested solutions. 

Also many thanks to those students who sent us the screenshots for helping other students.

 

Screenshots of Error Message Suggested Solutions

EndNote doesn't open.

When you first open EndNote after downloading, no windows will open. However, you can see the app open in the dock at the bottom and the EndNote menu in the ribbon at the top.

Click File > New to create a library, and you will see the application open in a window.

Error message download EndNote on Mac

 

How to open EndNote in MacOS anyway

 

Error message:

EndNote cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.

 

The security settings on most macOS may prevent you from opening and running your EndNote download. The default settings for these computers do not allow any files to be opened unless they have been downloaded from the App Store.

To override your security settings and open EndNote anyway, follow these 3 steps:

  1. Use Finder to locate the EndNote installer downloaded.
  2. Control-click (or right click) the EndNote icon, then choose Open from the shortcut menu.
  3. Click Open .

 

You can also grant an exception for EndNote to open by clicking the Open Anyway button in Privacy & Security settings. This button is available for about an hour after you try to open the app.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
  2. Go to Security, then choose Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified developers.
  3. Click the Open Anyway button.

 

 

Do not store your working Library on any cloud servers

  • To avoid corrupting your EndNote Library, it is strongly recommended that you do not store your working Library on any cloud servers (including DropBox, OneDrive, SharePoint, and OwnCloud).
  • The reason that EndNote corrupts within cloud storage servers relates to the way multiple files are saved.  EndNote files must be saved in a set sequence; when cloud servers transfer data they may change the sequence of file saves, eventually leading to file corruption.
  • The EndNote Cite While You Write feature can be used on Word documents that are stored in a cloud service like DropBox, OneDrive, Box Sync, Google Drive and iCloud.
  • MacOS iCloud Settings: With macOS Sonoma, you may have your Desktop and Documents folder set to the iCloud by default. To disable this setting, see the section "Turn off Desktop and Documents" from this Apple knowledge base article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206985

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