EndNote – update your references automatically

Now available: AI-powered summaries, reference chat and smarter reference discovery. Read more here.

Summary:
EndNote’s Update References feature ensures your reference data stays accurate and complete by retrieving the latest bibliographic information from online databases. This saves time, reduces manual editing, and improves citation accuracy for research projects.

Benefits of Updating References in EndNote

1. Ensures accuracy 
   Retrieves the most up-to-date metadata, including title, author, journal, and publication year.
2. Completes missing data 
   Fills in missing fields such as DOI, volume, issue, and page numbers.
3. Saves time 
   Eliminates manual lookup and editing for each reference.
4. Improves citation quality 
   Ensures references meet publisher and academic formatting requirements.

How to update references in EndNote

Step 1 – Select References to Update

• Highlight one or more references in your EndNote library that you want to update.

Step 2 – Run the Update Command

• Go to References > Find Reference Updates.
• EndNote will search online sources (e.g., CrossRef, PubMed) for matching records.

Step 3 – Compare and Apply Changes

• The Find Reference Updates dialogue will show the existing data alongside the updated data.
• Choose one of the following:
  1. Update All Fields – Replaces existing data with the latest version.
  2. Update Empty Fields – Fills in only missing data.

Afterwards, review and save

• Review the changes for accuracy.
• Click Update to apply changes to your library.

Best practices for reference updates

• Use official database records for the most accurate updates.
• Always double-check before replacing all fields, especially if your existing record contains custom notes or formatting.
• Periodically run updates for older references to maintain accuracy.