Your workspace at a glance
Folio has three core areas: your source library (where all your references live), the editor (where you write), and the AI assistant panel (where Cold Start, Scholar AI, Audit, and Proofread live). Everything connects — sources you add are available to cite in any document, and AI features draw from what's in your library.
Step 1 — Add your first source
Open the Sources page from the navigation bar and click + Add. You can paste a URL, a DOI (like 10.1000/xyz123), an ISBN, or upload a PDF directly.
Folio extracts metadata automatically — title, authors, year, journal, abstract. The source appears in your library immediately, formatted in all supported citation styles and ready to cite.
Step 2 — Create a document
Go to the Dashboard and click + New → Blank document. Give it a title and start writing. Your document autosaves every few seconds — there's no manual save button because you don't need one.
Step 3 — Use Cold Start
If you're staring at a blank page, open the AI panel and click Cold Start. Describe your paper topic — the more specific you are, the better the output. Cold Start searches the literature and returns a structured research brief with a suggested thesis angle, an outline, and sources worth reading.
Step 4 — Write with citations
While writing, type @ to search your source library inline. Select a source and press Tab to insert a formatted citation. The bibliography at the bottom of your document builds automatically as you cite — no manual reference list management.
Next steps
- Adding sources in depth
- How citations work
- Using Scholar AI
- Importing an existing library (Zotero & more)
Going further
Once you are set up, Folio covers the rest of the research process too:
- Discover literature across Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex and CrossRef — and track your field with Radar.
- Build a synthesis matrix from your sources.
- Prove the work is yours with an authorship & integrity report.
- See what each tier unlocks in Plans and billing.