Extract real BibTeX entries from academic PDF references without errors. RefBib uses trusted sources like CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, and DBLP to give you correct citations. No guesswork, no AI inventions.

RefBib helps you get clean and accurate BibTeX citation entries from academic papers in PDF format. It scans your PDF references, then looks up the official citation details from major databases. You get the exact BibTeX format for your research, reports, or papers without manually searching each source.

RefBib works on Windows and does not require any coding skills.

• Windows 10 or higher (64-bit recommended)
• At least 4 GB of RAM
• 100 MB of free disk space for installation
• Internet connection for citation lookup services
• PDF files with text-based references (not scanned images)

• Extract BibTeX directly from academic PDF references
• High accuracy using trusted databases: CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, and DBLP
• Easy-to-use interface designed for non-technical users
• Supports multiple references in one PDF
• Saves time on manual citation entry
• Export BibTeX entries you can use in your bibliography manager

Click the big green button or go directly to the download page here:

Download RefBib from GitHub

This link takes you to the GitHub page where you can find the latest releases.

On the GitHub page, look for the "Releases" section. It often appears on the right sidebar or under the "Code" tab in a section labeled "Releases."

Open the latest release to find the downloadable files.

On the release page, download the Windows installer file. It will typically have a .exe extension and include the version number in its name, such as RefBib_Setup_v1.0.exe.

Save this file to a location you can easily find, like your Desktop or Downloads folder.

1. Double-click the downloaded .exe installer file.
2. You might see a Windows security warning. Click “Run” to continue.
3. Follow the instructions in the setup wizard:
   • Choose an install location (the default is usually fine).
   • Click “Install” to begin.
4. Once installation finishes, select “Finish” to close the wizard.

Find the RefBib app icon on your Desktop or in the Start Menu. Double-click it to open.

• Click the “Open PDF” button.
• Navigate to the folder where your academic PDF files are stored.
• Select the PDF file you want to extract citations from and click “Open.”

• After loading the PDF, RefBib will scan it for reference sections.
• It automatically searches CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, and DBLP for each reference found.
• The process may take a few moments, depending on your internet speed and the number of references.

• Once finished, you will see a list of extracted BibTeX entries.
• Review the list to make sure every citation looks correct.
• If some entries are missing or incomplete, you can try reloading the PDF or selecting specific references for another lookup.

• Click “Save BibTeX” to save all extracted entries to a .bib file.
• This file can be used with tools like Zotero, Overleaf, or any LaTeX editor.

RefBib offers useful settings to customize your experience:

• Auto-Detect References: Adjust how aggressively RefBib scans PDFs.
• Database Priority: Choose which citation database to check first.
• Output Format: Pick between standard BibTeX or BibLaTeX styles.
• Update Frequency: Set how often RefBib checks for software updates.

You can access these settings by clicking the gear icon in the app.

If RefBib does not extract references as expected:

• Verify your PDF contains selectable text in the references section.
• Ensure you have an active internet connection for database queries.
• Try reopening the PDF or restarting the app.
• Check if you have the latest version of RefBib installed.
• Confirm your system meets the minimum requirements.

For technical issues, check the GitHub Issues page on the RefBib repository.

RefBib is designed to support students, researchers, and anyone who deals with academic papers. It cuts down the time needed to find correct citations from complex documents. Since it references real sources, your bibliography stays accurate and trustworthy.

Download RefBib from GitHub
Click here to visit the page and get started with RefBib today.