With our new Desktop app, we have gotten a lot of sync questions. This article should help clear the air but if it doesn't don't despair! You can always email our support team to get help or questions answered.
Q: I used the old ReadCube legacy app. How do I get the new desktop to recognize my existing library?
A: Not a problem! A while back, we pushed an update to the legacy app that enabled us to capture the existing file paths associated to the PDFs you stored locally so we were all ready for when you wanted to move to the new app. When you open the new ReadCube Papers desktop app, we will automatically sync your library and make those files visible in the new app.
If you would like to have all of your future papers automatically downloaded locally, please set the library to “Sync Offline” (See below) - otherwise we will keep them in the cloud until you open them in the desktop app to read. You can always set "Sync Offline" status at any time, and all of the papers not already local will sync.
The default folder for new papers downloads will not be the same as your Readcube Legacy app, nor will any folder structure settings and file naming rules, but you can easily re-set that via File Management.
We recommend you don’t use the old desktop and new desktop at the same time as it can cause some issues.
Q: I want to transfer my local files. How do I do that?
A: Want to move all of those papers out of a local folder into your own ReadCube library folder? Look at our file management tips as well as our watch folder page on how to move them(no duplicates) or copy them.
Q: How do I sync my library offline using the new desktop app?
A: You can open those PDFs that are directly accessible from the ReadCube Papers Desktop app offline by selecting the option on our app to have the PDFs Available Offline(the option currently selected is grayed out).
Want to move all of those papers out of your ReadCube library folder? Look at our file management tips on how to move them(no duplicates) or copy them. The uploader will match any existing DOI’s and merge the PDF and metadata together.
Q: I accidentally deleted my local folder with all my PDFs. Do I have to download them one by one to get them back?
A: No problem! If you accidentally delete your folder on your computer with all of your PDF's you can simply toggle your offline settings to online only and then back to available offline(See above) and the application will pull everything back down for you.
Q: If I delete a PDF from my local computer folder does it delete it from the cloud?
A: Nope! If you delete any files from your computer folder it only deletes that copy - it will not delete it from the cloud. All of your annotations and PDF's are saved in the cloud. As soon as you try and read that paper again the desktop app will go ahead and download the freshest copy available to you. Even if you choose to have you library sync offline, if you have actively removed the local files, it won't automatically replace it unless you engage with the paper. Need something deleted from your library? Just right click on the reference and choose delete from the library.
Q: If I delete a paper from my ReadCube Papers library (desktop or web), and I have that PDF synced offline in my library folder locally, does it delete that local copy too?
A: If you delete a paper from your ReadCube Papers library, it will be deleted from the cloud and as you sync your devices - removed from your devices. We do not remove the physical copy from your desktop. You will need to delete that separately.
Q: Can I choose which PDFs can be synced offline or does it have to be my whole library?
A: If you choose, Sync Offline, you will download entire personal or shared libraries initially and it will auto download new papers you have added to you library as you go - leaving you with a full-offline copy of your library. You can't however choose specific lists or sublists within those libraries to only download.
If you only want to download PDFs as you go, you can click the Download PDF button in the right panel. Also anything you want to read on the desktop is downloaded locally first.
We are excited to announce that we have updated our Papers by ReadCube Chrome extension to Manifest version 3 (MV3). This upgrade enhances performance, boosts security, and aligns with Google's latest browser technology, ensuring a more seamless and secure user experience.
What you need to do:
After the update, you may notice that your browser extension has been temporarily turned off. This is a routine part of Chrome’s update process. To reactivate the browser extension, please follow these steps:
Open your Chrome extensions page: chrome://extensions
Toggle the Papers by ReadCube back on.
A dialog box will appear, listing the permissions needed. Click the re-enable button.
Refresh your browser tab, and continue using the extenstion.
Periodically, we implement updates to optimize our browser extension, which may necessitate manual re-enabling.
Permissions explanation
While re-enabling the extension, in the dialog box that appears on screen, you will find a brief summary of the changes. This is what each of the changes mean:
Read and change your data on a number of websites: The browser extension reads content from visited websites to get articles data and pdf content in order to populate your ReadCube library with added articles. If you click ‘Show Details’ it will display all of the URLs that the browser extension is requesting access to.
Read your browsing history: We use the reading browser history permission to send DOI information from open tabs to our server when users add articles to their ReadCube library. This permission is required to facilitate the PDF download workflow. We do not track your browsing history.
Additional Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues following the steps above, try the following solutions:
Restart Chrome. Close and reopen your Chrome browser completely.
Update Chrome. Ensure you are using the latest version of Chrome by navigating to chrome://settings/help.
Contact Support: If problems persist, reach out to our support team at support@readcube.com for further assistance.
