Install and use the Safari extension

The Paperpile Safari extension lets you save references with one click from anywhere on the web. We highly recommend installing it for the best Paperpile experience.

Why install the Paperpile Safari extension

The Paperpile Safari extension provides:

• One-click saving: Add references directly from publisher websites, PubMed, Google Scholar, and other databases. See Add references while browsing using the browser extension for more details.
• Right-click menu: Save references and supplementary files by right-clicking on links. See Save files to Paperpile with the browser context menu for more information.
• Quick library access: Open your Paperpile library from any webpage. See Browser extension settings.
• Automatic PDF downloads: SeeFind and download PDFs automatically for more details.
• Automatic reference details updates: See Update metadata automatically.
• Citation creation in Google Docs: See Get started with Paperpile and Google Docs.

Install the Safari extension

When you first sign up for Paperpile, you'll see a Safari extension setup window encouraging you to add the Safari extension to get all the features of Paperpile:

1. Click Install Safari extension
2. Click Always allow on every website

Enable the extension in Safari

After installing:

1. Open Safari preferences (Safari > Settings)
2. Go to the Extensions tab
3. Find Paperpile in the list
4. Turn on the checkbox next to Paperpile

Safari will prompt you to grant permissions when you first use the extension.

Use the Safari extension

Paperpile button

The Paperpile button appears in your Safari toolbar after enabling the extension. Click it to:

• Save the current page as a reference
• Open your Paperpile library
• Access extension settings

See Save to Paperpile with the extension popup for more details.

Customize the location of the Paperpile button in the Safari toolbar for easy access:

1. Right-click the Safari toolbar
2. Select Customize Toolbar
3. Drag the Paperpile button to your preferred location

Right-click menu

Right-click any link on a webpage and choose Paperpile from the right-click menu to see Paperpile options:

• Save linked resource to… — Adds the linked page as a reference
• Open Paperpile — Opens your Paperpile library in a new tab

If you have a reference selected in your library, you can attach a supplementary file or other document to it:

1. In the webpage with the file you want to attach, right-click the link to the file
2. Choose Paperpile from the menu
3. Select Attach linked file to...

See Save files to Paperpile with the browser context menu for more details.

Where you'll see the extension

The Paperpile extension appears:

• As a button in your Safari toolbar
• In the context menu when you right-click links
• On supported publisher and database websites with Paperpile buttons. See Save from supported databases and websites with the Paperpile buttons for more information.

Extension permissions

Safari will prompt you to grant permission when you first use the Paperpile Safari extension. Select Always Allow on Every Website when prompted.

The extension needs permission to:

• Access all websites: Paperpile searches databases, finds metadata, and downloads PDFs from thousands of different academic websites—too many to whitelist individually. Only bibliographic data you want to add to your library is accessed. Paperpile never accesses or transfers personal or sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
• Read and alter webpage content: Enables Paperpile to identify and extract reference information from publisher websites, PubMed, Google Scholar, and other databases. This is Safari's standard permission for any extension that reads webpage content.

You can change access permissions later for any website in Safari > Settings > Websites.

Uninstall the Safari extension

To remove the extension:

1. Open Safari > Settings
2. Go to the Extensions tab
3. Select Paperpile
4. Click Uninstall

This removes the extension from Safari but doesn't affect your Paperpile library or data.

Troubleshooting

If the Paperpile browser extension behaves strangely, this might be some temporary glitch that can be fixed easily:

• Reload the Paperpile tab
• Quit Safari and open it again
• Sign out of Paperpile and sign in again

The extension button doesn't appear

• Check that the extension is enabled in Safari > Settings > Extensions
• Restart Safari

The extension stopped working

Restart the extension:

1. Open Safari > Settings
2. Go to Extensions
3. Select the checkbox to turn off Paperpile
4. Wait a few seconds
5. Turn it back on
6. Refresh any open webpage tabs

If problems persist, uninstall and reinstall the extension.

Common questions

Does the Safari extension work on iOS and iPadOS?

The Safari extension is for macOS only. For iOS and iPadOS, use the Paperpile mobile apps.

Will the Safari extension work in private browsing?

Yes, if you enable it for private browsing in Safari settings. Go to Safari > Settings > Extensions, select Paperpile, and turn on Allow in Private Browsing.

Can I use the extension offline?

No. The extension needs an internet connection to save references and communicate with your Paperpile library.