Mendeley Desktop -

It includes a built-in PDF viewer that supports highlighting, sticky notes, and text search within your documents.

is a legacy reference management software designed to help researchers organize, share, and cite their research papers. While it has been largely superseded by the newer Mendeley Reference Manager , it remains a favorite among many academics due to specific local-storage features and a highly functional interface. Current Status and Availability Mendeley Desktop

If you already have it installed, you can continue to sign in, use, and sync your library as usual. It includes a built-in PDF viewer that supports

It features a dedicated tool to find and merge duplicate entries in your library—a feature that was notably absent from early versions of the newer Reference Manager. Mendeley Desktop vs. Mendeley Reference Manager Current Status and Availability If you already have

You can designate specific folders on your computer for Mendeley to "watch." Any PDF you drop into these folders is automatically imported and indexed.

If you are deciding which version to use, consider these primary differences: Mendeley Desktop (Legacy) Mendeley Reference Manager (New) Existing users only; no new downloads Available for all users Storage Local and Cloud sync Cloud-based only Word Plugin Legacy Citation Plugin Mendeley Cite (Microsoft Store add-in) Interface Traditional desktop look Sleek, web-like interface PDF Handling Export PDFs with annotations "Notebook" feature (cloud annotations) Getting Started (for Existing Users) To maintain your Mendeley Desktop library:

Unlike the cloud-only Reference Manager, Mendeley Desktop allows users to store their library and PDFs locally on their computer.