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EndNote

How EndNote works

EndNote flow chart

Getting EndNote

Download

Download EndNote

Use your JCU login and password to download EndNote for free using the JCU license. You should use the latest version if possible
If you have problems logging into the download site try using another browser or clear your browser cookies, cache and history.

Installing EndNote

To install EndNote - Windows

  1. Close all Office products (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) or the Word plug-in will not install correctly.
  2. Uninstall any previous versions of EndNote from your computer. This will not affect your saved EndNote library (but we do recommend saving a back-up copy of your library just in case). 
  3. Click on the Download EndNote link OR come in to the library to borrow a USB with the program on it from the Library Services Desk.
    • Login to the Download EndNote site.
    • Click Register in the left menu. Agree to the conditions and wait for the email to confirm registration.
    • Once registration is confirmed click on Download in the left menu. Agree to the conditions and then choose the operating system Windows and version 20 and click download.
  4. In your Downloads folder double click on Endnote20.exe and say yes when prompted if you want to install the software. 
  5. A black command window will open; leave the window open as it will close automatically when the software is fully installed.
  6. You should now be able to find EndNote in the Start>Programs menu. If you cannot locate it go to the EndNote application folder on your computer and click on EndNote.exe. This  will probably be at This PC > C: > Program Files (x86) > EndNote 20 > EndNote.exe


 

To install EndNote - Mac

  1. Close all Office products (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) or the Word plug-in will not install correctly.
  2. Uninstall any previous versions of EndNote from your computer. This will not affect your saved EndNote library (but we do recommend saving a back-up copy of your library just in case). 
  3. Click on the Download EndNote link OR come in to the library to borrow a USB with the program on it from the Library Services Desk.
    • Login to the Download EndNote site.
    • Click Register in the left menu. Agree to the conditions and wait for the email to confirm registration.
    • Once registration is confirmed click on Download in the left menu. Agree to the conditions and then choose the operating system Mac and version 20 and click download.
  4. Click on EndNote20.pkg in your Downloads folder
  5. Click on the Installer icon at the bottom of your screen and follow the prompts.

Issues with downloading EndNote

Chrome blocking EndNote download

If you get an error message saying:

EndNote20.exe is dangerous, so Chrome has blocked it.

In Chrome, click on the three dots (top right), then Downloads then Keep dangerous file

EndNote asking for a product key

EndNote should not ask for a product key if it is installed correctly using the download link on this page.

  1. If you have downloaded it from a location other than JCU, uninstall the software and download it from this link.
  2. When downloading the software you need to register first. If you have not registered or have not yet received the email to confirm your registration the product key will not be downloaded with the software. Uninstall the software and download it again after registering and receiving confirmation of your registration.
  3. If neither of the above apply, try exiting and re-starting Endnote and if that does not work try re-booting your computer.

If this does not solve the problem it is likely that the software has not been installed completely or correctly. This is more likely to occur for Windows machines. 

  • When running the installation file for Windows a black command screen will open. Do not close this window or it will interrupt the download process and cause this error. The black window will close automatically when the software is installed correctly.
  • When you download the software it is a zipped file and you will be prompted to extract the files. During this process two files should be extracted - a .msi file and a .dat file which should be in the same folder, usually named EndNote. To find them click the Windows key on your keyboard and search for EndNote.
  • If you cannot find these files, go through the download process again, but note where the files download and unzip to so you can locate them.
  • Click on the .exe file to install the software.

If you get the same problem, contact us and tell us if you are on a personal PC or a JCU work computer, which version of Windows you are using and whether you get any messages as part of the process (take screenshots, if you can).

 

JCU staff - Make Me Admin

JCU staff wishing to install EndNote on their work machines can do so using the link above or the Software Center. Before installing software onto a JCU staff machine, you will need to make yourself Admin for that machine. You can get Make Me Admin instructions from the IT Knowledge Base in Service Now.

Windows: C > Program Files > Make Me Admin > MakeMeAdminUI.exe > Grant Me Administrator Rights

Mac: 

Installation issues - Windows

When installing EndNote onto WIndows 10 or 11 machines, you may get an error stating 'For security and performance this mode of Windows only runs verified apps from the Store'. This indicates that the computer is currently running in S mode.

To install EndNote you need to switch out of S mode. To do this:

  • Open Settings  > System  > Activation.

  • In the Switch to Windows 11 Pro section, select Go to the Store. (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "Go to the Store" link that appears there.)

  • On the Switch out of S mode (or similar) page that appears in the Microsoft Store, select the Get button. After you see a confirmation message on the page, you'll be able to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store.

Notes: 

  • Switching out of S mode is one-way. If you make the switch, you won't be able to go back to Windows 10 or Windows 11 in S mode. 
  • There is no charge to switch out of S mode.

EndNote tab in Word is missing

 

Go to your EndNote application folder and double click on Configure EndNote.exe. This is usually located at:

This PC > C: > Program Files (x86) > EndNote 20 > Configure EndNote.exe

  1. In Word, click on File > Options > Add-ins
  2. Next to Manage, select Disabled Items > Go
  3. Select any EndNote items > Enable > OK
  1. In Word, click on File > Options > Add-ins
  2. Next to Manage, select COM Add-ins > Go
  3. Select EndNote Cite While You Write > OK

Installation issues - Mac

Apple blocking EndNote installation

If you get the following message:

“EndNote20.pkg” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
This software needs to be updated. Contact the developer for more information.

Click OK to close the message

  1. Click on the Apple Icon (top left) > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General tab > Make sure that ‘App Store and identified developers’ is ticked > Open Anyway
  2. If you get the same error message, click Open
  3. Click on the Installer icon at the bottom or go to Downloads again and click on EndNote20.pkg again

Another potential fix involves finding the EndNOte2o.pkg file in your downloads, then:

  1. Press control+click on the EndNote installer icon,
  2. Choose Open from the menu that appears
  3. Follow any prompts

Your add-in isn't compatible with this version of Word

 

  1. Quit EndNote and Word.
  2. Go to Applications folder.
  3. Right click on Microsoft Word.
  4. Click 'Get Info'
  5. Tick 'Open using Rosetta'.
  6. Open Microsoft Word
 Mac EN Word Add-in error

EndNote tab is not showing in Word

If you have installed EndNote on your Mac but the EndNote tab is not showing in Word:

  1. In EndNote, click on the EndNote tab (top left)
  2. Click Customizer...
  3. Tick the box next to 'Cite While You Write'
  4. Click 'Next' etc.

EndNote 20 Interactive tutorials from JCU - Getting Started

EndNote X20 logo

Before you start...

If you are using your own computer, make sure you have the latest versions of Word and EndNote installed. JCU computers will already have them installed.

Getting started with EndNote - Interactive tutorials from JCU

Tip

TipSome videos and instructions within this guide are for older versions of the software. There may be some differences in the way some parts of the product appear, such as buttons looking different but the functions have not changed.

EndNote overview

Windows

The following video playlist contains 19 videos covering EndNote essentials for Windows. Click on the hamburger menu in the top left corner to see the list of all available videos in the series.

Mac

Note that the first method of reference capture searching through the EndNote program (from minutes 1:30 to 3:09) does not work for most JCU databases and is not recommended to use.

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Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License. Content from this Guide should be attributed to James Cook University Library. This does not apply to images, third party material (seek permission from the original owner) or any logos or insignia belonging to JCU or other bodies, which remain All Rights Reserved.

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