# Papers AI docs

Everything you need to help you get the most from Papers AI.

Papers AI is a browser-based workspace where you can write, run code, explore data, manage tasks, and ask an AI about all of it without switching tabs. It opens in any modern browser. 

You can save work on your device and keep everything local or save to the cloud to work across devices and share with collaborators.

{% hint style="success" %}
New here? Start with the [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart): a quick walkthrough that creates a project, asks the AI about a dataset, and writes up the answer.
{% endhint %}

## Browse by topic

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><h4>Getting started</h4></td><td>Your first project, the workspace tour, and the ideas worth knowing up front</td><td><a href="/getting-started/quickstart">Quickstart</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Using AI</h4></td><td>Send a prompt, review proposed changes, and connect your own model</td><td><a href="/using-ai/using-ai">Using AI</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Writing and editing</h4></td><td>Word, Markdown, MyST, LaTeX, and Typst: editing, compiling, and inserting figures</td><td><a href="/writing-and-editing/working-with-word-documents">Writing and editing</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Managing projects and files</h4></td><td>The file tree, project settings, and staying in sync offline</td><td><a href="/managing-projects-and-files/the-file-tree">Managing projects and files</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Notebooks and data</h4></td><td>Run Python or R, explore data files, and plan on a Kanban board</td><td><a href="/notebooks-and-data/notebooks">Notebooks and data</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Collaborating</h4></td><td>Share a project, co-edit in real time, and comment on specific content</td><td><a href="/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access">Collaborating</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Citing and references</h4></td><td>Connect a reference manager and insert citations</td><td><a href="/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations">Citing and references</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Glossary</h4></td><td>Key terms used throughout these docs</td><td><a href="/reference/glossary">Glossary</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


# Quickstart

A ten-minute walkthrough that creates a project, loads a dataset, asks the AI about it, and writes up the answer.

This walkthrough takes about ten minutes. By the end you'll have a project with a dataset, an AI conversation that read it, and a short write-up that quotes one of its findings.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Create a project

1. Open Papers AI in Chrome, Edge, or another modern browser.
2. Click **New project** and give it a name.
3. Choose where to save it:

   * **Temporary**: saved only in your browser, with no extra setup. Good for just trying things out; Papers AI will prompt you to save it somewhere more permanent later.
   * **Local folder**: saved directly to a folder on your device. Only available in Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Arc, and a few others; see [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project) for the full list).
   * **Cloud**: accessible from any device and easy to share with collaborators later. Requires signing up if you haven't already.

   Any of these work for this walkthrough. If you pick **Local folder**, choose an empty folder when prompted.
4. Click **Create project**.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add a dataset

On the **Add files** screen, switch to **Choose from device** and drop in a `.csv` file. If you don't have one handy, save this snippet as `sample.csv` first:

{% code title="sample.csv" %}

```csv
date,product,units_sold
2026-01-04,bagel,42
2026-01-04,muffin,18
2026-01-05,bagel,55
2026-01-05,muffin,12
2026-01-06,bagel,31
2026-01-06,muffin,27
```

{% endcode %}

Click **Add files**, then open `sample.csv` from the file explorer. Papers AI opens CSV files in a data viewer, not a text editor. You should see six rows in a table.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Ask the AI a question about the data

1. Open the right sidebar if it's hidden, and make sure it's on the AI tab.
2. In the prompt box, click the attachment button and pick `sample.csv`.
3. With the `sample.csv` chip visible above the prompt input, ask a question, for example: `What does sample.csv contain, and which product sells better?`
4. Send.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Attaching the file is required. The AI can see your file tree, but it only reads a file's contents once you attach it.
{% endhint %}

You should get an answer that names both products and compares them (in this example, bagels outsell muffins). If the answer is vague or invents numbers, the file wasn't attached. Check for the chip and resend.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Turn the answer into a paragraph

1. In the file explorer, add a new file called `notes.md`.
2. Copy a sentence from the AI's answer into the file, or paraphrase it. Add a heading at the top.

Your work saves automatically. A **Saved** indicator in the header confirms it, next to a badge showing whether the project is temporary, local, or in the cloud.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Open a project from your device

If you already have a project on your device you can open it in Papers AI, simply by selecting the folder it's saved in. The files will all stay on your device.

From the dashboard, choose **Open from device** instead of **New project**. Papers AI reads supported files from the folder you choose and adds them to a new project. See [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project).

**You want a writing-first flow without the dataset step.** Skip steps 2 and 3. Create `notes.md` from step 4 and write directly. You can come back to the AI later from the right sidebar.

## If something looks wrong

<details>

<summary>The CSV opens in a code editor, not a table</summary>

The file may have a different extension. Rename it to end in `.csv` and reopen.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Local folder isn't an option when creating a project</summary>

Local storage needs a browser feature that Safari and Firefox don't support. Use Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser, or choose **Temporary** or **Cloud** instead.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A file you imported won't open</summary>

Some file types (like `.pptx` or `.key`) aren't supported yet. They stay in your file list, but you'll need to open them in a compatible application.

</details>


# Core concepts

The handful of ideas worth knowing before you start clicking around.

Papers AI works a bit differently from most writing tools. This page explains the ideas that people coming from Word, Google Docs, Overleaf, Jupyter, Cursor, or RStudio usually ask about first.

If you haven't opened the app yet, read [Workspace tour](/getting-started/workspace-tour) first. That page covers where things live on screen. This page covers how the pieces fit together underneath.

## Where your project is saved and who can see it

{% hint style="info" %}
The first time you open Papers AI without an account, you land directly in a temporary starter project so you can look around before signing up. When you create your own project, you can choose **Temporary** too, alongside saving it to your device or the cloud. See [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project).
{% endhint %}

These are two separate questions with two separate answers. Don't confuse them: a project's storage location and its access level are independent.

{% columns %}
{% column %}

### Where it's saved

* **Temporary**: stored only in your browser, with no device folder behind it. Quick to start, but you can lose it if you clear your browser's cache or site data.
* **Local**: the project lives in a folder on your device. It isn't accessible from other devices and can't be shared until you save it to the cloud.
* **Cloud**: the project is stored on Papers AI's servers. It's accessible from any device you sign into, and it can be shared. Saving to the cloud requires an account, so you'll be asked to sign up if you haven't already.
  {% endcolumn %}

{% column %}

### Who can see it

* **Private**: only you can see and edit it. This is the default for every new project, and the only option for temporary and local projects.
* **Shared**: you've invited one or more collaborators, who can view or edit depending on their role. Only cloud projects can be shared.
  {% endcolumn %}
  {% endcolumns %}

A cloud project can be shared or completely private. Temporary and local projects are always private, simply because nobody else can reach them. That's a side effect of storage location, not a separate access setting.

Since a temporary project only exists in your browser, Papers AI prompts you to save it somewhere more permanent (your device or the cloud) whenever you navigate away from it. See [Managing your projects](/managing-projects-and-files/managing-your-projects).

## Projects and files

A project is the container. Files live inside it. A project usually mixes file types. A typical one might hold a `.docx` draft, a `.csv` dataset, a `.bib` bibliography, and a `.kanban` board. Papers AI doesn't separate files by type in the explorer; the folder structure is yours.

## Which editor opens for each file type

Papers AI picks the editor by file extension. A `.docx` opens in the Word-style editor, a `.md` file opens in the prose editor, a `.csv` opens in the data viewer, an `.ipynb` opens in the notebook editor. A few file types (`.pptx`, `.key`, and other presentation formats) aren't supported yet; they can live in your project, but Papers AI can't open or edit them. See [Supported file types](/getting-started/supported-file-types) for the full list.

## Using AI

The AI sits in the right sidebar. It can see your whole project: every file, not just the one you have open. It can also propose edits to your files; those changes go through a review step before they land, so you can check them the way you'd review a pull request.

It can help you with more than writing: summarizing a dataset, explaining a compile error, drafting citations, or restructuring a rough note are all things it can do. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).

## Sharing

A project is private to you until you choose to share it. If the project is temporary or saved to a local folder, sharing it moves it to the cloud first. For a local-folder project, further changes won't sync back to the folder on your device.

## Next steps

* [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart)
* [Workspace tour](/getting-started/workspace-tour)
* [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project)
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Workspace tour

Where to type, where your work lives, and where to find every feature in the shell.

The first time you open a project, the screen has more on it than most editors. This page covers the basics on day one, and doubles as a reference for "where is X" once you're looking for something specific.

## Where do you type?

In the editor area in the center of the window. The editor opens whichever file you click in the left sidebar, and each open file gets its own tab.

## The shell at a glance

* **Header** (top): project name, save status, **Share**, panel toggles, notifications, help, and **Settings**.
* **Left sidebar**: four icons, each opening a different panel: **Files**, **Search**, **Outline**, and **References**.
* **Editor area**: the file or files you have open, each in its own tab.
* **Right sidebar**: three tabs: **AI**, **Comments**, and **Version History**.
* **Toolbar**: formatting controls, plus the **Code** / **Visual** toggle for formats that support it.
* **Status bar** (bottom): storage/access badge, word count, and format.

## Where does your work live and who can see it?

Every project has a storage location and an access level, and they're independent of each other:

* **Temporary, Local, or Cloud** (storage location): temporary projects live only in your browser; local projects are saved to a folder on your device; cloud projects are saved to Papers AI's servers and reachable from any device.
* **Private or Shared** (access): private projects are visible only to you; shared projects have one or more collaborators. Only cloud projects can be shared.

A badge in the status bar shows both at a glance. Click it for details on where the project is saved and who can see it.

## Find a feature

Looking for something specific? This table covers every panel and control in the shell, not just the obvious ones.

| Feature                        | Where to find it                       | What it does                                                                                                                                                |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Files                          | Left sidebar, **Files** icon           | Your project's file tree: open, create, rename, move, and delete files. See [The file tree](/managing-projects-and-files/the-file-tree).                    |
| Search                         | Left sidebar, **Search** icon          | Search within the current project.                                                                                                                          |
| Outline                        | Left sidebar, **Outline** icon         | The heading structure of the file you have open, for quick navigation.                                                                                      |
| References                     | Left sidebar, **References** icon      | Connect a reference manager or `.bib` file and insert citations. See [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations).       |
| AI                             | Right sidebar, **AI** tab              | Ask the AI about your project and review its proposed edits. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).                                                            |
| Comments                       | Right sidebar, **Comments** tab        | Threaded feedback anchored to specific text or board items. See [Comments](/collaborating/comments).                                                        |
| Version history                | Right sidebar, **Version History** tab | Label, preview, and restore earlier versions of the open file. See [Version history](/writing-and-editing/version-history).                                 |
| Share                          | Header, **Share** button               | Invite collaborators to a cloud project, or send a copy instead. See [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access). |
| Storage and access status      | Badge in the header and status bar     | Shows whether the project is **Temporary**, **Local**, or **Cloud**, and **Private** or **Shared**. Click it for details.                                   |
| Editing mode                   | Toolbar                                | Switch between **Code** and **Visual** for Markdown and MyST files. See [Editing modes](/writing-and-editing/editing-modes).                                |
| Word count and format          | Status bar                             | Glance to confirm the active file's word count and format.                                                                                                  |
| Settings and preferences       | Header, gear icon                      | Theme, auto-save, and language. See [Settings and preferences](/managing-projects-and-files/settings-and-preferences).                                      |
| Adding and managing models     | Model selector in the AI panel         | Enable a built-in model, or connect your own local model or OpenRouter account. See [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model).   |
| Panel toggles                  | Header                                 | Show or hide the left and right sidebars.                                                                                                                   |
| Project switcher and dashboard | Header                                 | Switch to a different project, or return to the dashboard. See [Managing your projects](/managing-projects-and-files/managing-your-projects).               |

## Suggested next steps

* [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart): create a project, ask the AI, write up the answer.
* [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project)
* [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations): connect a reference manager and insert citations.
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)


# Supported file types

What you can create and edit in Papers AI, what you can add for reference, and what isn't supported yet.

Papers AI picks the editor by file extension. Here's what each type gets you.

## Writing and editing

| Type     | Extension | What you get                                                                |
| -------- | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Markdown | `.md`     | Prose editor, with a **Visual** / **Code** toggle.                          |
| MyST     | `.myst`   | Scientific markdown, same editor family as Markdown.                        |
| Word     | `.docx`   | A paginated, Word-style editor with comments, citations, and track changes. |
| LaTeX    | `.tex`    | Source editor with a compile pipeline and PDF preview.                      |
| Typst    | `.typ`    | Source editor with a compile pipeline and PDF preview.                      |

## Data and analysis

| Type      | Extension      | What you get                                                                                                        |
| --------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Notebook  | `.ipynb`       | Mixed code and markdown cells, running Python or R in your browser. See [Notebooks](/notebooks-and-data/notebooks). |
| CSV / TSV | `.csv`, `.tsv` | A table viewer with sorting, filtering, and in-cell editing.                                                        |
| JSONL     | `.jsonl`       | Same table viewer as CSV.                                                                                           |
| Parquet   | `.parquet`     | Recognized, but not yet viewable. Support is coming.                                                                |
| Python    | `.py`          | Plain code editor. Typically used alongside a notebook rather than run on its own.                                  |

## References and planning

| Type             | Extension   | What you get                                               |
| ---------------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Bibliography     | `.bib`      | Powers citation insertion in Word, LaTeX, and Typst files. |
| Kanban board     | `.kanban`   | A dedicated board view for tracking tasks.                 |
| Timeline / Gantt | `.timeline` | A dedicated board view for planning work across time.      |

## Files you can add, but not edit

{% hint style="warning" %}
Presentation and spreadsheet formats (`.pptx`, `.ppt`, `.key`, `.xlsx`, `.xls`) can be added to a project folder (for example when importing an existing folder), but Papers AI can't open or edit them. You'll need a compatible application for those until support is added.
{% endhint %}

These can live in your project and be attached to the AI, but Papers AI doesn't provide an editor for them:

* **PDF** (`.pdf`): opens in a viewer.
* **Images** (`.png`, `.jpg`, `.gif`, `.webp`, `.svg`, and similar): used as figures in your documents.
* **Plain text** (`.txt`): opens in a basic text editor, without the formatting tools of the Markdown or Word editors.

## Changing a file's format

{% hint style="warning" %}
There's currently no built-in way to convert content between formats (for example, turning a LaTeX document into a Word document). To move content across formats, copy and adapt it manually, or ask the AI to help translate a section from one syntax to another.
{% endhint %}

You can change which editor a file uses by renaming its extension (for example `.md` to `.typ`). Papers AI warns you before applying the change, since it's a different editing pipeline. Renaming only changes which editor opens the file. It doesn't convert or reformat the underlying content, so the result is only useful if the content already matches the new format's syntax.

## Next steps

* [Notebooks](/notebooks-and-data/notebooks)
* [Data files](/notebooks-and-data/data-files)
* [Editing modes](/writing-and-editing/editing-modes)
* [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project)
* [Core concepts](/getting-started/core-concepts)


# Create or open your first project

Create a new project and choose where to save it, or open existing files from your device.

The first time you open Papers AI without an account, you land directly inside a starter "Welcome" project. It's a temporary project, like the one described below, so you can look around without an account. When you're ready to create a project of your own, use the steps below; signing up is only required if you want to save it to the cloud.

## Create a new project

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Name your project

From the dashboard, click **New project** and give it a name.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose where to save it

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Temporary" %}
Saved only in your browser, with no extra setup and no account required. Papers AI will prompt you to save it somewhere more permanent (your device or the cloud) whenever you navigate away from it; until then, it can be lost if you clear your browser's cache or site data.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Local folder" %}
Saved to a folder on your device. Click **Choose folder** and pick an empty folder. No account required.

Only available in Chromium-based browsers: Chrome, Edge, Opera (desktop), Chrome for Android, and Samsung Internet. Safari and Firefox don't support it, and Brave has partial support.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Cloud" %}
Saved to Papers AI's servers, accessible from any device, and easy to share later. Requires an account: sign up if you haven't already.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Create the project

Click **Create project**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add your files

On the **Add files** screen, either:

* Stay on **Blank files** and pick the file types you want: Markdown, Word, Typst, MyST, or LaTeX for writing; a notebook, Python, or CSV for data; BibTeX for references; a Gantt chart or Kanban board for planning.
* Switch to **Choose from device** and drag in existing files.

Click **Add files**. Your project opens with those files in the file explorer.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Open an existing folder

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Choose the folder

From the dashboard, click **Open from device**, then choose a folder.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review what was found

Papers AI scans the folder for supported file types (`.docx`, `.tex`, `.bib`, `.ipynb`, `.md`, `.csv`, `.txt`, `.pdf`, `.kanban`, `.timeline`) and lists what it found.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Open the project

Review the list, then click **Open \[N] files**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Unsupported file types (like `.pptx` or other presentation formats) still appear in your file list, but Papers AI can't open or edit them. You'll need a compatible application for those.
{% endhint %}

## Start from a template instead

From the dashboard, click **Start from template** to browse ready-made project and file templates in the in-app template gallery, instead of starting blank or importing files.

{% hint style="success" %}
Once your files are in, open the AI tab and ask what's in the project. It's a fast way to get oriented in a folder someone else put together, or to double check an import went as expected. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Local folder isn't an option</summary>

Your browser doesn't support the file access feature this needs. Use Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser, or choose **Temporary** or **Cloud** instead.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A file won't open</summary>

Check its type against the supported list above. Unsupported files need to be opened elsewhere.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The new project opens with no files</summary>

Reopen it and confirm your file selection or folder import completed.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A temporary project disappeared</summary>

Temporary projects only exist in your browser. If your cache or site data was cleared, there's no way to recover it. Choose **Local folder** or **Cloud** for anything you want to keep.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Workspace tour](/getting-started/workspace-tour): orientation to every panel and control.
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai): ask the AI about your new project.
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access): invite collaborators once your project is in the cloud.


# Using AI

Ask AI questions about your project, get it to draft or edit content, and understand exactly what it can see.

The AI panel sits in the right sidebar. It reads the project you have open, accepts files you attach, and can propose edits to your documents.

## Send a prompt

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open the AI tab

Open the right sidebar and switch to the **AI** tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Pick a model

Pick a model from the model selector. See [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model) if none are enabled yet.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Send your prompt

Type your question or request and send it. Attach files or images when you want the AI to use their contents.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review the result

Review the response, and any proposed edits. See [Reviewing AI changes](/using-ai/reviewing-ai-changes).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
The AI is useful well beyond drafting text. Ask it to summarize a dataset, explain a compile error, draft a bibliography entry, or turn a rough note into a structured section. It works across every file type in your project, not just prose.
{% endhint %}

## What the AI can see, and what it can't

Getting a good answer usually comes down to knowing what's actually in context:

* **The file you have open**: its path, so the AI knows what "this file" means.
* **Your project's file tree**: every file's name and path, but not its contents.
* **Files you explicitly attach** to a message: their full contents, for that conversation only.
* **Files the AI opens itself** while working on a request, if the model supports that.
* **Earlier messages in the current conversation**: a new conversation starts with no memory of past ones.

It does **not** automatically see: files in other projects, anything outside Papers AI, comment threads, version history, or your Kanban or timeline boards. If you want the AI to act on a comment or a task, paste the relevant text into your prompt.

{% hint style="success" %}
If an answer feels vague or the AI seems to be guessing, it's almost always a missing attachment. Attach the specific file it needs: three small, relevant attachments beat asking it to "look at the project."
{% endhint %}

## Privacy

The AI sends whatever it can see to the model you've selected. If you're using a cloud model, your prompt and attachments go to that provider. If you'd rather keep everything on-device, connect a local model. See [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model).

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>No response, or it stalls</summary>

Use stop or retry, and check your connection.

</details>

<details>

<summary>It only chats and won't make edits</summary>

The selected model doesn't support actions (chat-only mode). Switch models. See [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model).

</details>

<details>

<summary>Attachments won't attach</summary>

Confirm the file type is supported and retry.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Reviewing AI changes](/using-ai/reviewing-ai-changes)
* [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model)


# Reviewing AI changes

The AI proposes edits for you to review before they land. Accept, reject, or always allow a specific kind of change.

The AI proposes changes; it doesn't apply them straight away. Every edit, rename, or delete stages for your review before it touches your project. Read-only actions (search, compile, running code) happen immediately, without review.

{% hint style="info" %}
This covers edits the AI proposes to existing files. Files a notebook's code cells write directly, like a `.csv` or image output, including when the AI runs that code on your behalf, aren't proposed edits. They're written immediately, the same as if you'd run the code yourself. See [Notebooks](/notebooks-and-data/notebooks).
{% endhint %}

## Review and accept changes

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Ask for an edit

Ask the AI for something that involves editing files.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Open the review

When it's done, open **Review changes** in the AI panel and look through the diff: changed files and highlighted edits.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose what to keep

Choose **Accept** (apply everything), **Always** (apply, and let the AI make this kind of change without asking again in this project), or **Dismiss** (reject everything). For a mixed set of changes, accept or reject them one at a time instead of all at once.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

You'll know it worked when accepted changes appear in your files immediately, and the file tree and any open tabs update to match.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Always** is worth using once you trust the AI with a repetitive task in a given project, for example always letting it fix formatting in your Markdown files. You can undo that trust later from the project's AI permission settings.
{% endhint %}

## Word documents with track changes on

If a Word document has track changes turned on, an AI edit skips the chat changeset card and lands directly as a tracked change in the document instead. Review it the same way you'd review a change from a person, through the track changes controls in the Word toolbar, not the AI panel.

## Undo

Right after accepting, you can undo from the resolved change. This only works for the current session; if you refresh the page or move on, the undo snapshot is gone.

## Limits

* The AI can't write outside your project or touch sensitive files like `.env` or credentials.
* Edits are capped in size; very large rewrites in one go aren't supported.
* It has to read a file before it can edit it.
* If you ask the AI to change a file again while an earlier change to that file is still pending review, the earlier one is marked **Outdated** and you can only dismiss it. Review the newer change instead.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Nothing happened after an edit request</summary>

Usually a no-op: the AI tried to change text that wasn't actually there. Ask it to re-read the file and try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>"Always" didn't stick</summary>

Check that the project is writable and try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A file looks stale after accepting</summary>

Reopen the file tab.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Adding and managing models

Enable a built-in cloud model, or connect your own local model or OpenRouter account so the AI panel has a model to work with.

You need at least one enabled model before the AI panel will respond. Papers AI includes several built-in cloud models, and you can also connect a model you control: one running locally, or a hosted OpenRouter account.

## Enable a model

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open Manage models

Open **Manage models** from the model selector in the AI panel.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Turn a model on

Turn on a built-in cloud model from the **Cloud models** tab, or switch to **Your models** to connect your own.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Select the model in the AI panel

Pick the model you want to use from the selector in the AI panel.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Connect your own model

In **Manage models**, switch to the **Your models** tab. There are two ways to connect a model you control.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Local models" %}
Run a model on your own machine with Ollama or LM Studio.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Switch to Local models

In **Your models**, switch to the **Local models** tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Enter the server address

Enter your server's address, for example `http://localhost:1234`.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add an API key (optional)

Add an API key if your server requires one.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Connect

Click **Connect**, then select the model in the AI panel and send a test prompt.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="OpenRouter" %}
Connect a hosted OpenRouter account instead of running a model yourself.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Connecting an OpenRouter account currently requires a **Plus** plan.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Switch to OpenRouter

In **Your models**, switch to the **OpenRouter** tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Enter your API key

Enter your OpenRouter API key.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Connect

Click **Connect**, then select a model from OpenRouter in the AI panel and send a test prompt.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
External models run outside Papers AI's control. Responses may be inaccurate or produce unexpected edits.
{% endhint %}

API keys are never written to disk. They clear when you close the tab or disconnect.

{% hint style="success" %}
If privacy is the main reason you're connecting your own model, remember it only covers what you send to the AI. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai#privacy) for what that includes.
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* A separate **Usage** tab in **Manage models** shows your usage against your plan's quota.
* The OpenRouter option is limited to Plus plans; local models aren't.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Connection fails</summary>

Check the server address or API key, that your local server is running, and that it allows browser connections.

</details>

<details>

<summary>No models listed</summary>

Refresh the server's model list.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The AI only chats and won't take actions</summary>

Your server or model doesn't support tool use. Try a different one.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Settings don't persist</summary>

Model choice is saved per browser; API keys clear on tab close by design. That's expected, not a bug.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)
* [Reviewing AI changes](/using-ai/reviewing-ai-changes)


# Working with Word documents

Open a .docx file into a paginated, Word-style editor with comments, citations, and track changes.

Opening a `.docx` file takes you into a paginated editor that looks and behaves like Word, not raw source.

## Edit and export

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open the file

Open a `.docx` file from the file explorer, or import one into your project.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Edit

Edit directly in the paginated view. Add comments and citations as you go.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Track changes

Use track changes to review, accept, or reject edits.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Save or export

Save. To get the file back out, use the export/download action: it writes a real `.docx` file.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Ask the AI to draft or rewrite a section for you, then review and apply the change the same way you'd review any other proposed edit. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Exporting directly to PDF or PowerPoint from a `.docx` isn't supported yet. Export the `.docx`, then convert it in Word or another tool.
* In a shared project, editing can pause briefly while the document finishes syncing.
* Older, plain-text-only versions in version history may not restore with full visual fidelity. See [Version history](/writing-and-editing/version-history).

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The file won't load correctly</summary>

Confirm it's a valid `.docx` and try reopening it.

</details>

<details>

<summary>You can't edit a shared document</summary>

Check your role. Viewers can't edit.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Citations look stale</summary>

Use the citation refresh action in the toolbar.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Changes disappeared after switching tabs</summary>

Save or export before switching; unsaved edits can be lost otherwise.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Inserting images and figures](/writing-and-editing/inserting-images-and-figures)
* [Version history](/writing-and-editing/version-history)
* [Working with Markdown and MyST](/writing-and-editing/working-with-markdown-and-myst)
* [Working with LaTeX and Typst](/writing-and-editing/working-with-latex-and-typst)


# Working with Markdown and MyST

Markdown and MyST are lightweight markup formats with a Visual mode for word-processor-style editing, alongside raw Code mode.

Markdown (`.md`) and MyST (`.myst`) are lightweight markup formats. Unlike LaTeX and Typst, they have a **Visual** mode (a structured, word-processor-style view) as well as **Code** (raw source).

## What you get

* A toggle between **Code** and **Visual** editing, remembered per file. See [Editing modes](/writing-and-editing/editing-modes).
* A live rendered preview. MyST also surfaces a Problems panel for anything that fails to parse, the same way LaTeX and Typst do; plain Markdown has no compile step or diagnostics; it just renders. See [Compiling and fixing errors](/writing-and-editing/compiling-and-fixing-errors).
* Citation insertion from the References panel. See [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations).
* Standard Markdown image syntax for figures. See [Inserting images and figures](/writing-and-editing/inserting-images-and-figures).

{% hint style="success" %}
Ask the AI to draft a section, restructure a rough note, or clean up formatting, then review and apply the change. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## The block editor

In **Visual** mode, Markdown and MyST use a block-based editor. Type `/` at the start of a line to open a menu of blocks you can insert: headings, lists, tables, images, code blocks, and more, without remembering the underlying Markdown syntax.

{% hint style="info" %}
Slash commands are a Visual-mode feature. In **Code** mode you're editing raw source, so `/` just inserts the character.
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Kanban boards (`.kanban`) and timelines (`.timeline`) are MyST-based files under the hood, but they open in their own dedicated board view rather than as editable Markdown. See [Kanban and timeline boards](/notebooks-and-data/kanban-and-timeline-boards).
* MyST supports the same citation and image syntax as Markdown, plus additional scientific-writing directives.

## Next steps

* [Editing modes](/writing-and-editing/editing-modes)
* [Working with LaTeX and Typst](/writing-and-editing/working-with-latex-and-typst)
* [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations)


# Working with LaTeX and Typst

LaTeX and Typst are source-based formats that compile to a PDF preview, with citation support and standard figure syntax.

LaTeX (`.tex`) and Typst (`.typ`) are source-based formats. There's no Visual mode. You write and edit raw markup, and Papers AI compiles it to a paged PDF preview.

## What you get

* A source editor for the markup itself.
* A compile pipeline that produces a PDF preview, running entirely in your browser. See [Compiling and fixing errors](/writing-and-editing/compiling-and-fixing-errors).
* Citation insertion from the References panel, with a project-wide style you can override in source. See [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations).
* Standard figure syntax for images: `\includegraphics` for LaTeX, Typst's own figure syntax for Typst. See [Inserting images and figures](/writing-and-editing/inserting-images-and-figures).

{% hint style="success" %}
Ask the AI to draft a section, explain a compile error, or write a figure block for you, then review and apply the change. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Some LaTeX packages aren't included in the built-in distribution and can't be installed on demand.
* There's currently no built-in way to convert a LaTeX or Typst file to another format like Word. See [Supported file types](/getting-started/supported-file-types).

## Next steps

* [Compiling and fixing errors](/writing-and-editing/compiling-and-fixing-errors)
* [Working with Markdown and MyST](/writing-and-editing/working-with-markdown-and-myst)
* [Bibliography and citations](/citing-and-references/bibliography-and-citations)


# Editing modes

Switch between raw source and a word-processor-style view for supported formats. Papers AI remembers which mode you last used per file.

Some file types can be edited two ways: **Code** (raw source) or **Visual** (a structured, word-processor-style view). The toggle lives in the toolbar.

## Switch modes

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open a compatible file

Markdown (`.md`) or MyST (`.myst`).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Toggle the mode

Use the **Code** / **Visual** toggle in the toolbar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Keep editing

Papers AI remembers your choice for that file, but only on the device you made it on.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Markdown opens in **Visual** by default; MyST opens in **Code** by default. Board files (`.kanban`, `.timeline`) and dedicated editors (Word, notebooks, images, data files) don't have a toggle. They always open in their own view.

## Things to know

* Mode memory is per file, per device. It doesn't sync across your other devices or to collaborators.
* Renaming or moving a file resets its remembered mode.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The toggle is missing</summary>

The file type doesn't support both modes. Check [Supported file types](/getting-started/supported-file-types).

</details>

<details>

<summary>A board file won't switch to Code</summary>

Expected: `.kanban` and `.timeline` only support Visual.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Working with Markdown and MyST](/writing-and-editing/working-with-markdown-and-myst)
* [Supported file types](/getting-started/supported-file-types)
* [Compiling and fixing errors](/writing-and-editing/compiling-and-fixing-errors)


# Compiling and fixing errors

Compile LaTeX and Typst to a PDF preview, get the same diagnostics for MyST's live preview, and use the Problems panel to fix errors.

This page covers **LaTeX**, **Typst**, and **MyST**: the three formats that produce diagnostics through the Problems panel. LaTeX and Typst compile to a paged PDF preview; MyST renders a live prose preview instead, but still surfaces the same Output and Problems panels for anything that fails to parse.

Plain **Markdown** doesn't go through this pipeline at all. It renders live with no compile step and nothing to diagnose, so there's nothing on this page for `.md` files specifically. See [Working with Markdown and MyST](/writing-and-editing/working-with-markdown-and-myst).

## Compile and preview

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open a compilable file

`.tex`, `.typ`, or `.myst`.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Set compile mode

In the preview toolbar: **Auto** (recompiles as you type), **On Save**, or **Manual**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Compile

Click **Compile** if you're not on Auto.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Check diagnostics

Open the bottom panel to check **Output** (the raw log) and **Problems** (a structured list of issues).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Jump to the issue

Click a problem to jump straight to that line in your source.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Fix and recompile

Repeat until the Problems list is clear.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Paste a confusing error from the Output log into the AI and ask it to explain what's wrong. It's often faster than tracing the log yourself. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Compile controls and the Problems panel only appear for `.tex`, `.typ`, and `.myst` files. A `.docx` file or a plain `.md` file has neither, since there's nothing to compile or diagnose.
* Compiling runs in your browser. Some LaTeX packages aren't included in the built-in distribution and can't be installed on demand.
* Exporting directly to Word or PowerPoint from a compiled file isn't supported. Export the PDF and convert it elsewhere if you need another format.
* PDF export is available from the preview toolbar for formats that produce a paged PDF (LaTeX, Typst).

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>No Compile button</summary>

The active file isn't a compilable format.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Preview looks stale</summary>

Recompile manually and check for source errors.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Compile fails with a package error</summary>

The log names the missing package. Not everything can be installed on demand; check whether there's a browser-compatible alternative.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Working with LaTeX and Typst](/writing-and-editing/working-with-latex-and-typst)
* [Working with Markdown and MyST](/writing-and-editing/working-with-markdown-and-myst)
* [Editing modes](/writing-and-editing/editing-modes)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Inserting images and figures

Add image files to your project and reference them from a Word document, LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown file.

Add an image to your project, then reference it from whichever file you're writing in. In Word documents, you can resize, rotate, flip, reposition, and caption an image directly in Papers AI (see the Word tab below). Papers AI doesn't crop images, in Word or any other format; edit the image in another tool and re-import it with the same filename to refresh every reference automatically.

## Add an image

1. Drag the image file into the file explorer, ideally into a folder like `figures/`.
2. Use a stable, descriptive filename before you reference it anywhere. Renaming later means updating every reference by hand.

## Reference it in your document

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Word" %}
Use the image tool in the DOCX toolbar to insert it, then drag to resize or reposition. Right-click the image for more controls: rotate or flip it, set how text wraps around it (inline, square, behind text, or in front of text), and add a caption. Captions number themselves automatically as "Figure N."
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="LaTeX" %}
Use `\includegraphics`, wrapped in a `figure` environment for a caption and a label you can cross-reference:

{% code title="main.tex" %}

```latex
\begin{figure}[h]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.6\textwidth]{figures/overview.png}
\caption{The workspace shell.}
\label{fig:overview}
\end{figure}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Typst" %}
Reference the image with Typst's own figure syntax, pointing at the same project-relative path.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Markdown" %}
Use standard Markdown image syntax:

```markdown
![alt text](figures/overview.png)
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

Compile or preview afterward to confirm the image renders. For LaTeX, check the path matches exactly, since paths are case-sensitive.

{% hint style="success" %}
If you're not sure how to write the figure or caption syntax for your format, ask the AI. Tell it the filename and caption, and it can draft the block for you. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The image doesn't appear in preview</summary>

Check the file path and reference syntax, then recompile.

</details>

<details>

<summary>You moved the file and now references are broken</summary>

Update the path in every document that referenced it.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The rendered output has broken image links</summary>

Search for the old filename and replace it with the current path.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Working with Word documents](/writing-and-editing/working-with-word-documents)
* [Compiling and fixing errors](/writing-and-editing/compiling-and-fixing-errors)


# Version history

Label, preview, and restore earlier versions of a file.

Every file keeps a history of saved snapshots, so you can compare drafts or recover something you overwrote.

## Browse and restore

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open version history

Open the file, then open **Version History** in the right sidebar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Label a checkpoint (optional)

Click **Label version** to name a checkpoint worth finding again later.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Preview an older version

Select an older version from the list to preview it.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Restore or go back

Click **Restore** to replace the current content with that version, or **Back to current** to leave without restoring.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Restoring adds a new entry to the history (for example, "Restored from v12") rather than deleting anything. It's just another change you could undo the same way.

## Things to know

* **Cloud projects** load history from the server. **Local projects** store history in your browser, capped at five snapshots per file.
* If a cloud project goes offline, the history panel shows an offline notice until you reconnect. Your local edits keep working, but past versions aren't reachable until then.
* Older Word document versions saved before a format change may show a **Plain text** badge and restore without full visual formatting.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The version list is empty</summary>

The file may be new, with no saved snapshots yet.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The panel says offline</summary>

Reconnect. Cloud version history needs a live connection to load.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A restored Word document looks plain</summary>

Check for the **Plain text** badge on that version; older snapshots may not have structured formatting to restore.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Working with Word documents](/writing-and-editing/working-with-word-documents)


# The file tree

Navigate, create, rename, move, and organize the files in your project from the left sidebar.

The file tree in the left sidebar is where you do everything file-related in a project: open, create, rename, move, and delete.

## Working with files

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Create

Create a new file or folder with **Add file**, **New File**, or **New Folder**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Open or act on a file

Click a file to open it. Right-click for more options: **Open in Editor**, **Open Preview**, **Rename**, **Duplicate**, **Download**, or **Extract Here** for a `.zip`.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Reorganize

Drag files and folders to reorganize, or use copy/cut/paste.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Batch actions

Select multiple items for batch actions like delete, move, or **Download as ZIP**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Useful shortcuts: `F2` renames, `Cmd/Ctrl+Backspace` deletes, `Cmd/Ctrl+C/X/V` copy, cut, and paste.
{% endhint %}

## Organizing a large project

Once a project outgrows a flat list of files, group them into folders by purpose, for example `docs/`, `notebooks/`, `data/`, and `figures/`. Keep naming consistent so files stay easy to find in search.

{% hint style="success" %}
If you're not sure how to structure a growing project, describe what's in it and ask the AI to suggest a folder layout, then apply the reorganization yourself with drag-and-drop or **Rename**.
{% endhint %}

Renaming or moving a file only updates the file tree. It doesn't rewrite paths that other documents use to reference it. Update any `\includegraphics`, Markdown image links, or similar references yourself afterward.

## Things to know

* Deleting a file is immediate. There's no recycle bin.
* In a shared project, viewers can't rename, move, or delete files.
* Clicking a `.pdf` opens or downloads it using your browser's own PDF handling, not inside the editor.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>You can't rename or delete a file</summary>

Check whether the project is shared and your role is view-only.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A paste or download fails</summary>

Retry. If it keeps failing, you may be near a storage limit.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A .zip won't extract</summary>

Confirm the archive isn't corrupted and try again.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Managing your projects](/managing-projects-and-files/managing-your-projects)
* [Inserting images and figures](/writing-and-editing/inserting-images-and-figures)


# Managing your projects

Rename, star, duplicate, or delete a project, or save a temporary or local project somewhere more permanent.

Once a project exists, day-to-day management happens from the dashboard or the project dropdown in the header.

## Common actions

* **Rename**: from the project dropdown, or the dashboard's project card menu.
* **Star**: pin a project for quick access from the **Starred** tab.
* **Duplicate**: create an independent copy with its own files.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Delete** is permanent, with a confirmation step. There's no recovery after deleting.
{% endhint %}

## Save a project somewhere more permanent

A temporary project only exists in your browser until you save it. From the project dropdown, choose **Save to device** (needs a Chromium-based browser) or **Save to cloud** (needs an account). Papers AI also prompts you to do this automatically whenever you navigate away from a temporary project.

A local project already lives on your device, but still isn't reachable from anywhere else. To make it reachable from other devices or shareable, save it to the cloud from the project dropdown, or just click **Share**, which saves it to the cloud automatically as the first step. See [Core concepts](/getting-started/core-concepts) for the difference between storage location and access.

## Finding a project

The dashboard's **Local**, **Cloud**, and **Shared with me** tabs filter by storage location and access. Use search or the **Starred** tab if a project isn't where you expect it.

## Things to know

Project names can be up to 255 characters.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>A shared link doesn't open a project</summary>

Confirm you're logged in and try the link again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>You can't find a project</summary>

Check the Local/Cloud/Shared with me tabs and clear any active search or filter.

</details>

## Next steps

* [The file tree](/managing-projects-and-files/the-file-tree)
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)


# Working offline and syncing

Keep editing when your connection drops, and understand how Papers AI catches up once you're back online.

Temporary and local projects work offline by default. Everything is already in your browser or on your device. Cloud projects also keep working offline: your edits save locally and sync automatically once you reconnect.

## What happens when you lose connection

A status indicator shows your current state: **Saved**, **Connected**, **Connecting...**, or **Offline**. Keep editing regardless. There's no separate "go offline" step, and no manual "sync now" button to remember. When you reconnect, Papers AI resolves everything automatically, including edits two collaborators made to the same text while both were offline.

## Diagnosing a stuck or broken state

Two different problems can look similar. Tell them apart before troubleshooting further:

{% hint style="warning" %}
**A permissions problem**: your role changed to view-only, or your access was removed. Check [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access).

**A connectivity problem**: the status indicator is stuck on **Connecting...** or **Offline**. Reconnect and give it a moment.
{% endhint %}

If a file changed outside your current session (for example, a local folder edited by another program), you'll be asked to **Keep mine** or **Load external** before continuing.

## Things to know

* Images, PDFs, and other binary attachments sync through a separate path from text. If one fails (too large, unsupported type, or storage full), your text edits still show as **Saved**. Watch for a separate toast about the failed attachment.
* A local folder project can lose disk permission mid-session, for example if you close and reopen the browser. Re-grant it to resume writing to disk.
* If sync looks broken after reconnecting, [Version history](/writing-and-editing/version-history) is the way to recover a known-good state.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Stuck on Offline or Connecting for a long time</summary>

Check your network, then reopen the project.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A collaborator says they can't see your latest changes</summary>

Check for a failed attachment-sync toast. Text and attachments sync separately.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Still can't edit after reconnecting</summary>

Your role or access may have changed. Check sharing settings.

</details>

## Next steps

* [The file tree](/managing-projects-and-files/the-file-tree)
* [Version history](/writing-and-editing/version-history)
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)


# Settings and preferences

Personal editor preferences like theme and auto-save, separate from settings for an individual project.

**Preferences** (the gear icon in the header) cover your personal defaults across every project: theme, auto-save, and language. **Project Settings**, reached from the project dropdown, covers one project's metadata and deletion instead. AI model selection is separate: see [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model).

## Adjust your preferences

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open Preferences

Open **Settings** → **Preferences**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### General

Set language and startup behavior.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Editor

Set **Auto Save** and other editing defaults.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Theme

Set your theme (**Light**, **Dark**, **System**) from **Settings**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Changes apply immediately.

## Project settings

Open a project's name dropdown for **Project settings**: metadata, a file breakdown, and **Delete project**.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Deleting a project is permanent and can't be undone.
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Preferences are saved per browser. They don't follow you to another device unless you're logged in and Papers AI syncs your profile.
* Some account actions require you to be logged in. You'll be prompted if you try one anonymously.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Can't find Preferences</summary>

Open the gear icon in the header.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A setting didn't stick</summary>

Confirm you're logged in if it's a profile-level setting, rather than a per-browser one.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Managing your projects](/managing-projects-and-files/managing-your-projects)
* [Adding and managing models](/using-ai/ai-models-and-your-own-model)


# Notebooks

Mix executable Python or R code with markdown in a single file, run it in your browser, and read the outputs inline.

Notebooks (`.ipynb` files) mix code and markdown cells in one document. Code runs entirely in your browser (Python via Pyodide, R via WebR), so there's no server or separate runtime to set up.

## Create and structure a notebook

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Create the file

Create a new file with a `.ipynb` extension, or add one from the **Add files** screen when creating a project.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add cells

Add cells with **Add cell**, choosing **Code** or **Markdown** for each. Use markdown cells for headings and explanations, and code cells for executable steps.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Reorder and save

Drag cells to reorder them, then save. The cell order, types, and content persist when you reopen the file.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Run cells and read outputs

* Run a single cell with its per-cell run control, or use **Run cell & advance** to run it and move to the next cell.
* Use **Run all cells** to execute the whole notebook top-to-bottom.
* Each cell shows its output underneath (text, a table, a plot, or an error) along with an execution count.
* If a cell hangs or a variable seems out of sync, use **Stop execution**, **Restart kernel**, or **Restart and run all** from the notebook toolbar.

{% hint style="info" %}
Useful shortcuts: `Shift+Enter` runs the current cell and advances; `Mod+Enter` runs it in place; `Mod+Shift+Enter` runs the whole notebook.
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* Supported languages are Python and R.
* The kernel needs a few seconds to start on first use. Running a cell while it's still starting queues the request rather than failing.
* Restarting the kernel clears all variables. Rerun your setup cells afterwards.
* Runtime state (variables, outputs) is saved between sessions, but a hard refresh or a storage error can reset it. Rerun your setup cells if that happens.
* Code you run, including code the AI runs on your behalf, can write files directly into your project, like a `.csv` or image output. Unlike edits the AI proposes elsewhere, these writes aren't staged for review; they happen immediately, the same as if you'd run the code yourself. See [Reviewing AI changes](/using-ai/reviewing-ai-changes).

{% hint style="success" %}
The AI can see your notebook like any other file. Attach it and ask for help writing a cell, explaining an error in the output, or summarizing what a block of code does. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>A cell won't run</summary>

Check whether another cell is still executing, or restart the kernel and try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Outputs look stale or out of order</summary>

Use **Run all cells** to rebuild state from the top.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Import or module errors</summary>

Check that any packages you rely on installed successfully. See the package manager in the notebook toolbar.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The notebook won't open</summary>

Confirm the file is valid `.ipynb` JSON. An empty or corrupted file reopens as a fresh starter notebook.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Data files](/notebooks-and-data/data-files)
* [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart)
* [Core concepts](/getting-started/core-concepts)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Data files

CSV, TSV, and JSONL files open in a table viewer with sorting, filtering, and in-cell editing.

CSV, TSV, and JSONL files open in a dedicated table viewer instead of a text editor.

## View and edit

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open the file

Open a supported data file (`.csv`, `.tsv`, `.jsonl`) from the file tree.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Browse and filter

Use **Table view** to browse rows and columns, sort by clicking a column header, and filter rows with the filter input.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Edit

Edit a cell directly by clicking into it, or switch to **Code view** to see or edit the raw file content instead.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Attach a data file to the AI and ask it a question about the contents. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai) and the [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart) for a worked example.
{% endhint %}

## Things to know

* **Parquet** (`.parquet`) files are recognized but not yet viewable. Open in **Code view**, or convert to CSV or JSONL first.
* Pagination is fixed at 100 rows per page.
* Files up to 50 MB parse without warnings; the hard limit is 200 MB.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The viewer won't open</summary>

Confirm the extension is `.csv`, `.tsv`, or `.jsonl`.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Rows fail to parse</summary>

Switch to **Code view** and check for malformed delimiters or broken JSON lines.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Data looks stale</summary>

Reopen the file tab.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Notebooks](/notebooks-and-data/notebooks)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Kanban and timeline boards

Track tasks on a Kanban board or plan work across time on a timeline, as first-class file types in your project.

Kanban boards (`.kanban`) and timelines (`.timeline`) are files like any other in your project. They just open in a dedicated board view instead of a text editor.

## Create and use a board

1. Create a new file with a `.kanban` or `.timeline` extension, or pick **Kanban Board** / **Gantt Chart** from the new-file options.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Kanban" %}
Add columns and cards, and drag cards between columns as work progresses.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Timeline" %}
Define phases and place items in sequence.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

2. Use the board toolbar to search and filter by label or assignee.
3. Save. Layout and card placement persist when you reopen the file.

## Things to know

* Boards only have a visual view. There's no raw source/code mode for `.kanban` or `.timeline` files.
* Renaming a board file to a different extension resets its structure. It's treated as a new document type, not a conversion.
* In a shared project, you can copy a link to a specific card or item; local-only projects don't support these deep links.

{% hint style="info" %}
The AI doesn't read your board automatically as context. If you want it to act on a task, paste the relevant text into your prompt. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The board opens as plain text</summary>

Confirm the file extension is `.kanban` or `.timeline`.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Drag-and-drop isn't working</summary>

Reload the tab and try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Your board structure didn't save</summary>

Save, close, and reopen. If it's still missing, check **Code view** for malformed content.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Notebooks](/notebooks-and-data/notebooks)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Share a project and manage access

Invite collaborators to a cloud project for live co-editing, or send a copy of your files for them to work on separately.

There are two ways to get a collaborator working with your project: share it for live co-editing, or send them a copy of your files. If you're unsure, sharing is the lower-friction default. Sending a copy is for when you specifically want them to have an independent copy, possibly offline, possibly without a Papers AI account.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Share for live co-editing" %}
Only cloud projects can be shared. If your project is currently temporary or local, saving it to the cloud is the first step; this requires an account, so you'll be asked to sign up if you haven't already.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open Share

Click **Share** in the project header. If the project isn't already in the cloud, Papers AI saves it there first, then opens the sharing controls.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Invite

Invite collaborators by email or by copying an invite link.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Assign a role

Choose a role for each collaborator:

* **Viewer**: can view, but not edit.
* **Editor**: can view and edit.
* **Admin**: can view and edit, and can also manage sharing (invite, remove, and change other collaborators' roles).
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Manage access later

To remove someone's access later, open **Share** again and remove them from the members list.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

You'll know it worked when the project shows a **Shared** badge and your collaborator can open it from their own dashboard.

#### Stop sharing

As the project owner, you can remove all collaborators and return the project to **Private** from the **Share** panel. This doesn't move the project back to local storage. It stays in the cloud, just private again.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Papers AI doesn't currently support transferring project ownership to another collaborator. Whoever created the project stays the owner for its lifetime.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Send a copy instead" %}
Use this when the other person should have their own independent copy: to work offline, to hand off without requiring a Papers AI account, or because you want to keep the original untouched.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Download

From the file tree or project menu, use **Download** (or **Download as ZIP** for the whole project).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Send it

Send the file however you'd send any file: email, a shared drive, or a sync tool like Dropbox.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### They import it

The recipient imports it as their own project using **Open from device**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Edits don't sync back and forth this way. You each have an independent copy from that point on.

{% hint style="success" %}
Ask the AI to draft the invite message, or a short handoff note summarizing what's in the project, so your collaborator knows where to start. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Share is missing or disabled</summary>

Only the project owner and editors with admin rights can manage sharing.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A collaborator lost access</summary>

Check whether their invite was revoked, their role was changed, or the project was set back to private.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The Share button isn't visible at all</summary>

You aren't logged in. Log in from the account menu.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Real-time collaboration](/collaborating/real-time-collaboration)
* [Create or open your first project](/getting-started/create-or-open-your-first-project)
* [Core concepts](/getting-started/core-concepts): the difference between storage location and access.


# Real-time collaboration

Once you share a project, edits sync between collaborators automatically, with no manual save or refresh.

Real-time collaboration switches on the moment you share a project. A private, unshared project has no collaboration state at all.

## Working together

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open a shared project

A status indicator (**Saved**, **Connected**, **Connecting...**, **Offline**) shows the collaboration state, alongside an avatar stack of who's active.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Edit as normal

Changes propagate to everyone automatically. No save or refresh needed.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Handle a dropped connection

If the status drops to **Connecting...** or **Offline**, keep working locally; it recovers on its own once the connection returns.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Resolve external changes

If a file changed outside your current session, choose **Keep mine** or **Load external** before continuing.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

You'll see a collaborator's cursor and which file they have open, but not what they're typing until they save or apply it.

## Things to know

* **Viewer** role collaborators see live edits and can comment, but can't edit. An owner or admin has to change their role to unlock that.
* If your access is revoked mid-session, the project closes for you; ask the owner to reinstate it.
* Very large files may not sync to the server; reduce the file size if edits aren't reaching collaborators.
* Image and file attachments sync separately from text. A failed attachment upload doesn't block your text edits from showing as **Saved**.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Stuck on Connecting...</summary>

Confirm your network is working; if it's stuck for more than 30 seconds, reopen the project.

</details>

<details>

<summary>You can view but not edit</summary>

Check your role. **Viewer** is read-only by design.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The project became inaccessible</summary>

Your access was likely revoked. Ask the project owner.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)
* [Comments](/collaborating/comments)
* [Working offline and syncing](/managing-projects-and-files/working-offline-and-syncing)


# Comments

Leave threaded feedback on specific text, kanban cards, or timeline items, without editing the file itself.

Comments let you and your collaborators discuss specific content without changing it.

## Add and manage comments

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Start a thread

Select the text or board item you want to discuss, and start a thread from the **Comments** panel in the right sidebar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Post it

Write your comment and post it.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Reply

Reply to continue a discussion, using `@mentions` where useful.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Share or resolve

Use **Share Link** to send someone a direct link to a specific thread. Mark the thread **Resolved** when you're done, or reopen it if the conversation continues.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Comments appear both in the **Comments** panel and as floating cards anchored to the relevant content in the editor. There isn't an inline, Word-style comment mode yet.

## Things to know

* In a private, unshared project, comments are local to your session only. Nobody else sees them. Sharing the project turns on real cross-user delivery.
* Viewers can create and reply to comments; resolving a thread needs to be the author or an editor; deleting a thread needs admin access.
* Comment bodies are capped at 5,000 characters, quotes at 500 characters, and mentions at 20 per comment.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>You can't add or update a comment</summary>

Check your connection and role, then retry.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A thread link doesn't jump to the right place</summary>

The content it was anchored to may have been edited or removed.

</details>

<details>

<summary>@mentions don't suggest anyone</summary>

Confirm the project has other members. Mentions only work for people with access.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Real-time collaboration](/collaborating/real-time-collaboration)
* [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access)


# Co-writing across formats

Two collaborators can work in the same project at once, one in Word, one in Markdown or LaTeX, without either needing the other's tool.

A shared project can hold multiple file formats at once, so two collaborators can each write in the format they prefer without stepping on each other.

## Set it up

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Share once

Share the project once, giving both collaborators the **Editor** role. See [Share a project and manage access](/collaborating/share-a-project-and-manage-access).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Each opens their own file

Each collaborator opens or creates their own file: a `.docx` for the Word writer, a `.md` or `.tex` for the source writer.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Work at the same time

Both can work in the same project at the same time. If you both open the same file, you'll see each other's cursors; otherwise your edits stay independent until you look at the same content.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Discuss across files

The **Comments** panel shows every thread in the project, not just the file you have open, so either person can reply without switching files. See [Comments](/collaborating/comments).

## Bring it together at the end

Each format compiles or exports on its own. Papers AI won't merge a `.docx` and a `.tex` into one output automatically. If you need everything in one deliverable, decide which format wins and copy the other content into it before your final compile or export.

{% hint style="success" %}
Ask the AI to reformat or merge a section from one format into another, for example turning Markdown notes into a polished paragraph you paste into the Word draft. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Variations

* **Three or more writers, three or more formats.** The same pattern extends. Everyone opens their own file.
* **One person reviews only.** Give them the **Viewer** role. They can read everything and comment, but not edit.
* **Shared bibliography.** A `.docx` and a `.tex` file in the same project can cite from the same `.bib` file.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>You can't see what your collaborator is working on</summary>

You'll only see their cursor if you're both viewing the same file at the same time. Otherwise, just check the file tree for their changes.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Your collaborator can't edit</summary>

Check their role. **Viewer** is read-only.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Real-time collaboration](/collaborating/real-time-collaboration)
* [Working with Word documents](/writing-and-editing/working-with-word-documents)


# Bibliography and citations

Connect a reference manager, or use a .bib file directly, to insert citations into LaTeX, Typst, MyST, and Word documents.

The **References** panel in the left sidebar connects to reference managers so you can browse your library and insert citations without leaving the editor. It works for LaTeX, Typst, and MyST files. Word documents use a separate citation picker in the DOCX toolbar instead.

## Insert a citation

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open References

Open the **References** panel in the left sidebar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Connect a source

Connect a reference manager (Zotero, Mendeley, or the ReadCube reference manager) if you haven't already, or set a `.bib` file as your source instead. Use **Create new .bib file...** if you don't have one yet.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Find the reference

Search or browse for the reference you want.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Insert it

Click **Insert citation**. Papers AI adds the citation key at your cursor and, if you're using a `.bib` file as the source, appends the entry to it.

For a Word document, use the **Insert citation** and **Citation style** controls in the DOCX toolbar instead of the References panel.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
If you're not sure a reference is formatted correctly, ask the AI to check or clean up a `.bib` entry for you. See [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai).
{% endhint %}

## Remove a citation source

In a Word document, each source inside a multi-source citation has its own remove control in the citation popover. Open the popover, find the source you want to drop, and remove just that one. The citation renumbers automatically. Removing the last remaining source deletes the whole citation.

## Citation style

Set a project-wide default from the **Citation style** picker in the References panel header. It covers LaTeX, Typst, and MyST citations and their preview rendering, with a bundled set of styles that now includes field-specific conventions like Vancouver, AMA, and NLM, alongside the usual APA/IEEE defaults.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Word" %}
Word documents use their own separate **Citation style** control in the DOCX toolbar, independent of the References panel picker.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="LaTeX" %}
The project-wide style applies automatically. Override it in source with `\bibliographystyle{...}` if you need something the picker doesn't offer.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Typst / MyST" %}
The project-wide style applies automatically to the preview and rendered output.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Things to know

* PubMed isn't a connected provider. Export your references as RIS or BibTeX from PubMed, then add the file as a `.bib` source.
* Citation insertion is disabled for file types that don't support citations, and for board files.
* A Word document's `BIBLIOGRAPHY` field becomes static text once it's round-tripped through Papers AI. Word can still manually refresh it from the document's sources, but it's no longer a live, auto-updating field.

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>Insert citation is unavailable</summary>

Check that the active file format supports citations.

</details>

<details>

<summary>No references appear</summary>

Reconnect your provider, or refresh the panel.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The wrong .bib file gets updated</summary>

Re-select your default `.bib` file in the References panel.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A citation appears unresolved</summary>

Confirm the key exists in your `.bib` file, then refresh.

</details>

## Next steps

* [Working with Word documents](/writing-and-editing/working-with-word-documents)
* [Using AI](/using-ai/using-ai)


# Glossary

Key terms used throughout the Papers AI docs.

| Term              | Definition                                                                                                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Account           | Your individual Papers AI account and profile.                                                                                                                |
| Admin (role)      | A collaborator role that can view and edit a project, and also manage sharing (invite, remove, and change other collaborators' roles).                        |
| Cloud             | Storage location: the project is saved on Papers AI's servers and accessible from any device you sign into.                                                   |
| Cloud project     | The complete term for a project saved to the cloud.                                                                                                           |
| Collaborator      | Anyone invited to view or edit a project who isn't the owner.                                                                                                 |
| Editor (role)     | A collaborator role that can view and edit a project.                                                                                                         |
| Kernel            | The runtime that executes a notebook's code cells. Restarting it clears all variables.                                                                        |
| Local             | Storage location: the project is saved to a folder on your device and isn't accessible from other devices.                                                    |
| Local project     | The complete term for a project saved locally.                                                                                                                |
| Notebook          | A file (`.ipynb`) that mixes code and markdown cells, run in your browser with no server required.                                                            |
| Private           | Access level: only the project owner can see or edit it. The default for every new project.                                                                   |
| Project owner     | The person who created the project. Can invite collaborators, change project settings, and delete the project.                                                |
| Save to cloud     | Move a project (temporary or local) to the cloud, making it accessible from other devices and shareable. Requires an account.                                 |
| Save to device    | Move a temporary project to a folder on your device, making it a local project.                                                                               |
| Share             | Give one or more collaborators access to a cloud project.                                                                                                     |
| Shared            | Access level: one or more collaborators have been invited to a project.                                                                                       |
| Temporary         | Storage location: the project is saved only in your browser, with no device folder or cloud copy. Can be lost if you clear your browser's cache or site data. |
| Temporary project | The complete term for a project stored temporarily, before it's saved to a device or the cloud.                                                               |
| AI                | The in-app assistant, available from the right sidebar. Can see your project's files and propose edits to them.                                               |
| Viewer (role)     | A collaborator role that can view but not edit a project.                                                                                                     |


# Papers AI data processors

Papers AI may engage the entities listed below to assist it in connection with its products and services, including to provide hosting and infrastructure services, AI model inference, and technical support, and which may therefore involve the processing of personal data.

Where you are an institution or organization, and we are processing that personal data as your “processor” (as defined in the GDPR), such entities will be considered “subprocessors”.

| Third Party Service Provider Name | Location | Function                            |
| --------------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Google Cloud Platform             | US       | Hosting                             |
| Google                            | US       | <p>Data processing<br>Analytics</p> |
| OpenRouter                        | US       | Application operations              |
| Anthropic                         | US       | Data processing                     |
| OpenAI                            | US       | Data processing                     |
| x.AI                              | US       | Data processing                     |
| Mixpanel                          | US       | Analytics                           |
| Sentry                            | US       | Application operations              |
| Customer.io                       | US       | User communication                  |
| Tavily                            | US       | Application operations              |
| Brave Search                      | US       | Application operations              |
| FrontApp                          | US       | Support                             |
| Stripe                            | US       | Payment processing                  |
| OneTrust                          | US       | Consent management                  |

Papers AI is provided by Digital Science. As such, various Digital Science group companies may also be involved in connection with the development and delivery of Papers AI products and services, including as customer contracting entities and service providers, namely:

* Digital Science UK Ltd (UK)
* Digital Science & Research Solutions Ltd (UK)
* Digital Science & Research SRL (Romania)
* DS Digital Science GmbH (Germany)
* Digital Science & Research Solutions Inc (US)

Please refer to our Privacy Policy or the data processing terms we have agreed with you, as applicable, for further information. Not all service providers will be used for every user.

*Last updated: 20 August 2026*