Direct comparison
Mendeley Reference Manager vs. Desktop
Mendeley Desktop isn't distributed for new installs anymore. What Mendeley Reference Manager changed, what the rewrite dropped, and how to migrate a library.
Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Ask CASRAI · included with Regulatory Radar
Ask about Mendeley Reference Manager vs. Desktop
Ask CASRAI answers research-administration questions and cites the passages behind every claim — and says so when the corpus does not cover something, instead of guessing. It comes with a Regulatory Radar subscription at $29 a month, alongside the daily digest of regulatory changes and the dashboard of what changed.
150 questions a day, on this site, over the API, or inside your own tools through the CASRAI MCP server.
Everything CASRAI publishes — this page, the dictionary, the guides and the news — stays free to read, with no account and no card.
How do Mendeley Desktop (classic), Mendeley Reference Manager compare side by side?
The table below compares Mendeley Desktop (classic), Mendeley Reference Manager across 8 procurement-relevant dimensions, from current status through new account sign-up.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Mendeley Desktop (classic) | Mendeley Reference Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Not distributed for new installs; existing installs get security fixes only, no new features | Elsevier's actively developed reference manager |
| Where your library lives | Installed desktop app, local file-system folder structure | Browser-based web library (cloud), no local folder tree |
| Citing in Word | Built-in Word plugin, part of the same application | Separate Office add-in, Mendeley Cite, installed independently |
| Auto-import from a folder | Watched folder (auto-imports new PDFs dropped into a chosen folder) | No equivalent — manual upload, browser extension, or drag-and-drop only |
| Citation style editing | Built-in CSL style editor | No in-app editor; relies on the shared CSL style repository |
| Full-text PDF search | Full-text search across the local library | Available, but commonly reported by users as less complete than Desktop’s |
| Group libraries / collaboration | Supported | Supported (same account-level feature) |
| New account sign-up | Not applicable — app is not offered for new installs | Standard path for any new Mendeley user |
Common questions
Common questions about Mendeley Desktop (classic) vs Mendeley Reference Manager
Is Mendeley Desktop still supported?
+
Existing installs continue to receive maintenance and security fixes, but Elsevier is not distributing it for new installs and active development has moved to Mendeley Reference Manager.
Can I still download Mendeley Desktop on a new computer?
+
It is not offered as a new download through Elsevier's normal channels; a fresh install should generally plan on Mendeley Reference Manager plus Mendeley Cite instead.
Will I lose my annotations or highlights when I switch?
+
Annotations tied to your synced Mendeley account carry over. Anything that existed only in an unsynced local Desktop library needs to be synced or exported first.
Is there a way to get watched folders back in Reference Manager?
+
Not as a built-in feature. The closest workaround is the browser extension's "Save to Mendeley" or manual drag-and-drop.
