Skip to content

Get started with Overleaf

Overleaf is the easiest way to begin writing in LaTeX. It runs in your browser, compiles the document for you and lets several people work on the same project.

You do not need to install LaTeX or understand the complete build system before writing your first section.

1. Create the project from a template

For a practice document, you can create a blank project or use one of Overleaf's beginner templates.

For real work, start with the template required for the document:

  • download the current LaTeX template from the official conference or journal website;
  • upload the template .zip to Overleaf; or
  • use an official publisher template in the Overleaf gallery.

2. Understand the basic project structure

A small project may look like this:

paper/
├── main.tex
├── references.bib
├── sections/
│   ├── introduction.tex
│   ├── method.tex
│   └── results.tex
└── figures/
    ├── system-overview.pdf
    └── experiment.png

The main .tex file contains the document class, packages and overall structure. Larger documents often split individual sections or chapters into separate files using \input{...} or \include{...}.

The .bib file contains bibliography records, while the figures folder keeps the images used in the document.

Do not reorganise an official template until you have successfully compiled it once.

3. Learn the commands you will use constantly

You do not need to memorise all of LaTeX. Begin with a small set of commands:

\section{Introduction}
\subsection{Research question}

This is normal text with \textbf{bold} and \emph{emphasised} words.

We build on prior work in teleoperation~\cite{smith2025teleoperation}.

Figure~\ref{fig:system} shows the complete system.

You will gradually learn figures, tables, equations and lists as you need them. Copying a working example from the same template is usually faster.

4. Compile often and read the first useful error

Overleaf compiles your source into a PDF. Compile after small changes rather than writing for an hour and discovering that something broke near the beginning.

LaTeX error messages can be noisy. Start with the first meaningful error, fix it and compile again. Many later errors are just consequences of the first one.

Common beginner problems include:

  • a missing { or };
  • an unescaped special character such as %, & or _;
  • a misspelled citation or reference key;
  • a missing figure file; and
  • placing \label{...} in the wrong location.

5. Add your Zotero library

The method depends on your Overleaf plan.

Regular workflow

Export the relevant Zotero collection as a BibTeX or Better BibTeX .bib file, then upload that file to the Overleaf project.

When you add or correct references in Zotero, export the collection again and replace the file in Overleaf. Treat Zotero as the main copy of the reference metadata rather than correcting the same item independently in several .bib files.

Direct Zotero integration

Overleaf also provides a direct Zotero integration, but it is currently a premium feature. It can import a Zotero collection as a bibliography file and refresh it when your library changes.

See Citations and references for the complete workflow.

6. Collaborate

Overleaf is very good for collaboration. You can invite co-authors to the project, see their changes in real time and comment on specific lines of the source. Here are some tips for working with co-authors:

  • Use comments for questions rather than leaving unexplained fragments in the text.
  • Do not silently rewrite another person's work if you are unsure what it means.
  • Tell your co-authors before changing the document structure or bibliography system.
  • Compile before you finish an editing session.

For important milestones, download a copy of the project source or otherwise keep a recoverable version outside the live document.

The limits of the free Overleaf plan

The free plan is enough for learning LaTeX and many small papers. Its limitations become more noticeable with large documents, many collaborators or complicated builds.

Premium plans provide features such as longer compile time, more collaborators, fuller project history, Git/GitHub integration and direct reference-manager integration. The exact limits can change, so check Overleaf's current plan limits rather than relying on an old tutorial.

I still recommend starting with Overleaf. When compilation limits, project size, internet access or premium restrictions begin getting in the way, use the same LaTeX source with a local VS Code setup.