Reader basics

How the screen where you read a PDF is laid out, and how to turn pages, zoom, jump to a page, use the outline and set bookmarks.

Applies to Mendeley and Zotero editions Windows · Mac · iPad Free

What is on the screen

  • Mac · iPadTop bar: on the left, back, the sidebar, the figure panel, research themes, 1 screen / 2 screens and Open papers; on the right, undo, redo, the tools and ….
  • Mac · iPadBottom: a status bar with the annotation count, sync, show/hide annotations and the Ink OFF / Ink ON switch. The round button at the bottom right (a page icon) switches to Reading Mode.
  • WindowsAbove the paper: the PDF | Reading switch, the tools, sync, export, the figure panel and the side panel.
  • Sidebar / side panel: page thumbnails, annotations and the outline.
    • Mac · iPadIt also lists the paper's figures and tables.
    • WindowsIt also has Bookmarks, and History for your annotations (see Undo and change history).

The tools can be reordered and hidden. See Customizing the toolbar.

Turn pages

  • Scroll, or use the page keys on a keyboard (see Keyboard shortcuts).
  • iPadWhen you scroll, a page bar appears at the bottom. Its tick marks show the pages that have annotations.
  • Rectoly remembers where you stopped in each paper and opens it there next time.

Zoom

  • Pinch on a touch screen.
  • Mac⌘ + scroll wheel, or ⌘+ / ⌘−. ⌘0 fits the page width.
  • WindowsCtrl + mouse wheel, or Ctrl+= / Ctrl+−. Ctrl+0 fits the page width. Zoom in, Zoom out, Fit width and Fit page are in the toolbar too.

Go to a page

  1. Press the page number.
    • Mac · iPadIt reads like "p.3/12".
    • WindowsIt is in the toolbar. Ctrl+G opens it too.
  2. Type the page number and confirm.

Page flow

Choose how the pages are arranged: a continuous vertical column, a horizontal row, or one page at a time.

  • Mac · iPadIn the reader's settings, Page turning (Vertical / Horizontal / One page at a time).
  • WindowsSettings › Reader › Page layout (Paged / Vertical / Horizontal).

Outline

Open the outline and press a heading to jump there.

  • Mac · iPadThe Outline tool, or the outline in the sidebar.
  • WindowsThe Outline tab of the side panel.

If the PDF has no outline of its own, Rectoly builds one from the headings and tells you it is estimated.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks mark places you want to come back to.

  • Mac · iPadBookmarks are set in Reading Mode, with the floating bookmark button or ⌘D. The list is under … › Bookmarks.
  • WindowsChoose Bookmark this page in the toolbar, or press Ctrl+D. The list is the Bookmarks tab of the side panel.

On phones and small windows

  • iPadOn iPhone only three tools fit in the top bar; the rest are under ….
  • WindowsIn a narrow window, the tools that do not fit go under More tools.

Updated September 20, 2026