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EndNote 21 for Windows: Getting Started

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Getting Started

What is EndNote?

EndNote is a powerful reference management program designed to help you:

  • Create a personal library to collect and manage references and full text documents in one place.
  • Search and import references from various databases including Google Scholar.
  • Create in-text citations and reference lists in your writing automatically.
  • Share references or entire library with other users.

EndNote is available for both Windows and Mac, as well as an online version.

Watch the following video for an overview of EndNote for Windows.

Downloading and Installing EndNote on PCs

 

EndNote is supplied by the University for all current staff and students.

  • For your home PCs, download from the University's software download site 
  • For UoN PCs used by staff and HRD students, download from the Software Centre on their PC
  • All UoN computers on campus have been automatically updated to EndNote 21

 

Before Upgrading and Installing EndNote

 

  • 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 without checking system requirements first.
    • Compatibility and system requirements - check the EndNote website
    • EndNote updates - within EndNote via Help > Check for Updates
  • Ensure that all Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Outlook) are closed before starting the installation.

 

 

How to Download and Install EndNote for Windows on a Home PC

 

  1. Close All Office Applications: Ensure that all Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Outlook) are closed before starting the installation.

     

  2. Download the Installer: Visit the University's software download site and download the EndNote Windows installer.

    A screenshot of installing EndNote from UON site on PC

     

  3. Run the Installer: Locate the downloaded EndNote installer in your 'Downloads' directory and double-click it to start the installation.

     

  4. Handle Security Messages: If you encounter any error messages due to your browser or PC security settings, choose to trust the app and proceed with the installation.

    A screenshot of installing EndNote with error message on PC

     

  5. Accept the License Agreement: Read and accept the EndNote License Agreement by clicking "I Agree."

    A screenshot of installing EndNote user aggreement on PC

     

  6. Install EndNote: The EndNote application will now install automatically. This process may take several minutes.

     

  7. Complete the Installation: Once the installation is complete, click the "Close" button.

     

  8. Launch EndNote: Open the Start menu, find EndNote, and click to launch the application.

     

  9. Dismiss Popup Messages: If you see any update messages or the "Cite While You Write" message, you can either ignore or cancel them.

    A screenshot of installing EndNote to dismiss messages on PC

     

  10. Start Using EndNote: EndNote will open, ready for you to create a new library!

     

 

Due to the security settings of your computer, you may encounter error messages when you try to download and install the EndNote package. Here are some of the screenshots of the error messages provided by our students and their 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 to advise you that the automatically chosen download site is not commonly used for installation files.

To confirm that it’s the correct site, hover your mouse over the warning message, click on the ellipsis (the three dots), and select Report this file as safe.

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

How to open EndNote in MacOS anyway

Why won't EndNote download onto my Windows PC?

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.

 

Watch our video on how to install EndNote on a home PC below.

 

Creating A New EndNote Library

After installing EndNote, your first task is to create an EndNote library to store your references and documents.

Click the following headings to see the details.

  1. Naming your library: Assign a unique and meaningful name to your EndNote library e.g. "John Citizen’s PhD Thesis on Autism 2025", instead of using the default My EndNote Library.
  2. Saving your library: Save your EndNote library to your computer’s hard drive. Avoid saving it in cloud-syncing folders or drives like OneDrive or SharePoint, as these locations can corrupt your library over time.
  3. Using a Single Library: While you can create multiple EndNote libraries, it’s best to keep all your references in one library and use Groups to organise them. There is no limit to the number of references you can store in an EndNote library.
  • Open EndNote then select File > New….  
  • The New Reference Library Window appears.  
    • Give your library a unique and meaningful name, e.g. John Citizen’s PhD Thesis on Autism 2025
    • Select the folder to save your Library on your local computer (NOT on any cloud server)
    • Click Save.   

Screenshot for creating a new EndNote library on PC

  • When you create an EndNote library, a Data Folder associated with your library is also created and saved in the same foler as your EndNote library. For example, if you create an EndNote library called Sam’s Library, a folder called Sam’s Library.Data will also be created.
  • This occurs automatically. Documents and images attached to EndNote records are stored in this Data folder. 
  • The Data folder is a critical part of your library.  Whenever you copy, move or backup a library, include not only the library (the .enl file), but also its associated Data folder (the .Data folder) and all of its contents; otherwise, you may lose the attached files and referencing data. 

Watch the following video on how to create a new EndNote library.

 

EndNote and Cloud Servers  

 

EndNote is not designed for compatibility with cloud services such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box Sync, Google Drive or iCloud. Saving a working EndNote library in cloud servers can lead to file corruption over time.

  • 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. 
  • You may save a backup copy or a compressed copy of your EndNote library in the cloud storage, but do not open or use the library directly from the cloud. 

  • If you ever need to use the backup copy of your EndNote library, download the copy of the files to your computer’s local hard drive, and then work from there.

  • You can Sync your desktop library to EndNote online if needed. See details at the section on EndNote Online, Syncing & Sharing