A reference export is useful for exchange, but it is not a complete replacement for your working library.
Find the active data first
Zotero recommends the Show Data Directory button in its Advanced settings to locate the folder actually in use. That folder contains the database and stored attachments. Linked attachments can live elsewhere, so they need their own backup coverage. Using the application’s location button is more reliable than guessing from an old path found in a tutorial.
Close the application before copying
The documentation says to close Zotero before copying, moving or deleting its data files. For a manual backup, copy the whole data directory to a separate backup location, preferably another device, while retaining the working original. Keep dated copies rather than repeatedly replacing your only backup. Our suggested check is to confirm that the copy includes the database and attachment folders and that you know where any externally linked files reside.
Understand what export leaves out
Zotero warns that export and import do not provide a complete library transfer and can break connections with word-processor documents or create duplicates. Sync also keeps the latest state rather than a complete historical backup. Before a major migration, follow the official transfer instructions and preserve both machines’ existing data. A successful copy is not yet a tested recovery; practise restoration with an isolated copy before depending on it for important work.
Go straight to the people who make it.
Zotero: data directory and backupsZotero: moving a library and export limitationsSource check: 2026-09-29. General guidance; follow your device’s current instructions.