Release Notes
Simpler PDF download process
We streamlined how PDFs are downloaded in the browser extension. Downloads now support more scenarios smoothly, reducing interruptions and giving users a more reliable experience.
Cleaner options when adding PDFs
We removed the outdated “Go to publisher with proxy” button to avoid confusion and keep the workflow focused on the most useful actions.
Choose your library when saving PDFs with injected PDF button
When adding a PDF through the “Save PDF to Papers by ReadCube” button, you can now select which library it should be saved to. This helps you stay organized when working across multiple projects.
PubMed results now recognized
We fixed an issue where the extension sometimes didn’t detect search results in PubMed. You can now seamlessly add articles from PubMed into your library again.
Reliable Elsevier downloads
Large PDFs from Elsevier could previously fail to download. This has been resolved, so all file sizes are supported.
Improved Kluwer support
We fixed several issues with downloads from Kluwer to ensure more consistent performance.
Tooltips restored
The tooltip for the “Open library” icon was missing in some versions. It is now back to help you quickly understand the button’s function.
Better handling of invalid searches. Instead of an infinite loading screen, users will now see a clear message when no results are found.
Clearer error notifications. Error messages are easier to notice and understand with an updated UI.
Custom style deletion feedback. A loader indicator now appears when deleting a custom style, making the process clearer and avoiding screen flicker.
Move items between libraries and lists.
Users can now easily reorganize their content by moving items across libraries or lists without having to duplicate them.
UI adjustments. The gear icon in the side panel and right panel info display now stay correctly positioned when scrolling.
Auto-deposit validation. Prevents creating invalid auto-deposit feeds to ensure smoother deposit setup.
Clickable Tags and Lists in the Library Table View
Users can now click directly on tags and lists in the table view to instantly filter items. This reduces extra steps and helps you focus on the most relevant papers faster.
Improved Workflow for Creating Lists While Copying Items
Creating a new list during the “Copy to…” workflow now keeps you in context instead of unexpectedly switching libraries. This ensures your workflow stays clear and uninterrupted.
Research Assistant [Closed Beta]: Smarter File Naming for Deep Research Downloads
Downloaded research output files now have clearer, more descriptive names. This helps keep folders organized and makes files easier to locate later.
Research Assistant [Closed Beta]: Permanent Chat History
Conversations in Research Assistant now include permanent chat history across browsers and devices.
Recommended Page Stability
Fixed an issue where the Recommended page would continuously refresh. Suggested content can now be browsed without interruption, making discovery more seamless.
Tagging on “Copy to…” Lists
Adding tags when copying items to a list now works as expected.
Cleaner Library Navigation
Adjusted spacing in the library’s left navigation panel for a more consistent and polished look, improving readability and navigation.
Better Annotation Handling – Improved stability and quality for freehand annotations on iPad. Annotations remain clearer and easier to read, making note-taking more reliable.
Bug FixesLocate PDF Button – Fixed an issue where the “Locate PDF” button sometimes failed to open a browser window.
App Hanging When Opening or Downloading Documents – Addressed multiple scenarios where the app could freeze when opening or downloading files, resulting in a smoother reading experience.
Redesigned Browser Extension — release that modernizes the look, streamlines access, and removes friction from research workflows. With clearer access indicators, smarter purchasing, and a faster, more reliable experience, the extension now makes it easier than ever for researchers to move seamlessly from discovery to full-text access.
Overall Value
This release isn’t just cosmetic, it’s a strategic step forward. The new extension:
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Saves time by reducing clicks and guesswork on publisher sites.
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Improves access decisions with real-time visibility into open access, subscriptions, and budgets.
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Boosts adoption through simpler onboarding and clearer interactions.
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Strengthens trust and recognition by aligning with the ReadCube ecosystem.
What’s New
Full UI Redesign
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Modern interface.
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Clear Add, Access, and Save buttons (no hidden hover states).
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Stronger brand presence across publisher sites.
Access Status Indicators
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Instantly see if an article is: already saved, free to access, or paywalled.
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Smart logic surfaces tokens, budgets, or subscriptions when available.
Streamlined Purchase Flow
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Clear purchase options for paywalled content.
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Faster path to full-text access with fewer steps.
Smarter Onboarding & Tooltips
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Guided setup for new users.
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Helpful tooltips on key actions.
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Clear visibility of where saved articles go.
Performance Improvements
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Faster load times on publisher sites.
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More reliable DOI and metadata detection.
Accessibility Enhancements
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Higher contrast + icon/text indicators.
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Inclusive design for color vision deficiencies.
New Reference Types:
Added support for new reference types, including Product Label and Standard, as well as a Call Number field for Poster content types. This expands the flexibility of reference management and improves metadata organization.
Copyright Status Improvements:
Copyright status is now displayed by default in the main table, and the copyright check now includes eISSN in addition to ISSN, ensuring more comprehensive coverage.
Literature Review Integration:
Users can now link shared libraries or lists directly to active Literature Review Projects, with automated email alerts to streamline citation management.
CSV/Excel Export Upgrades:
The export UI has been improved, allowing users to select and rename specific metadata fields for export. Additional fields are now included in CSV exports, and missing fields have been restored.
Enhanced Tag Editing:
Autocomplete is now available when editing tags, making it faster and easier to manage metadata.
Information Panel Improvements:
The full list path is now displayed on mouse hover in the information panel, providing better context for items.
Improvements and updated for Endnote, Mendeley , Zotero imports
Regular updates for the different imports.
CSV Export:
Fixed issues where certain fields were missing from CSV exports and resolved bugs related to exporting from complex libraries.
Annotation Linking:
Improved the ability to generate anchor links for annotations, enhancing navigation and referencing.
EndNote Import:
Addressed a timeout bug affecting a limited set of users importing from EndNote.
AI Assistant Now Works on All Articles
We fixed an issue where the AI Assistant wouldn’t work on unresolved articles, incorrectly showing a “daily quota reached” message. You can now use the assistant as expected, even on articles that haven’t been matched yet.
PDF Viewer Stability Improvements
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Fixed a bug where users couldn’t exit the PDF viewer if no match was found – controls are now visible in all cases.
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Improved layout handling so the app no longer displays behind the status or navigation bar on devices like Google Pixel 6a.
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Fixed an issue where warning messages like “No match found” were partially hidden.
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Resolved a crash that occurred when closing a PDF opened via the Annotations tab.
Shared Library Fixes
Leaving a shared library now works smoothly, even if syncing or indexing is still in progress.
Inline References Are Easier to Navigate
We’ve improved the navigation for inline references in PDFs—making them easier to click and ensuring they open correctly.
Dark Theme Support on Login
If your system is in dark mode, the app login screen now matches the theme for a more consistent experience.
Better PDF Downloads
Improvements to how PDF references are downloaded, ensuring more complete and reliable access.
Occasional App Freezes When Opening PDFs
We resolved an issue where the app could hang when trying to open certain documents or annotations. Everything should now load more smoothly.
Leaving a Shared Library Didn’t Always Work
Some users had trouble leaving a Discoverable Library. That’s now fixed – you can leave libraries without any hiccups.
App Hanging in Specific Edge Cases
We addressed a few app stability issues reported through our monitoring tools. If you experienced freezing while working with PDFs, things should now run more reliably.
Framework Upgrade: Angular 19
We’ve upgraded the underlying framework of our web app to Angular 19. This is a technical optimization that helps us keep our platform stable, secure, and easier to maintain going forward. There is no visible change to the user experience, but it ensures we stay up to date with the latest performance and security improvements.
New Features
Mendeley import support in the web application
You can now import references directly from Mendeley in the web app—bringing it to parity with our desktop tools and making it easier to centralize your research materials.
Improvements
Tags and Lists in the Library table view
You can now add Tags and Lists as optional columns in the library table view. This helps users quickly scan and organize references, especially in large libraries where context matters. These columns are off by default and can be toggled on via the column picker. Long values are truncated with hover-to-expand support, so you still get the full picture without cluttering the interface.
Smarter RIS import for conference papers
We’ve added logic to correctly identify and import RIS files that use uncommon field combinations (e.g., GEN + M3 – Conference Abstract), ensuring accurate classification.
Clearer error messages in AI Assistant
Instead of vague errors like “Something went wrong,” the Assistant now surfaces more helpful messages—for example, if a PDF is too large to process—so users know what to fix.
Bug FixesLibrary tag menu now updates correctly after article copy
Previously, when copying an article with tags between libraries, the tag menu didn’t update until refresh. This now updates in real time.
Revision tab now opens as expected
When switching between articles, the Revisions tab will now open properly, just like other tabs (e.g., Metrics).
AI Assistant table results no longer overflow
Large multi-column tables from the AI Assistant are now formatted correctly and don’t break the layout.
Library navigation no longer flickers
We fixed a subtle visual glitch where the sidebar would briefly shift when switching from another module into the library.
Custom field names display properly
Long custom field names no longer overflow in the side panel.
Dark mode: Notes field now has visible text
In dark mode, the text color in the Notes field has been fixed—white text on a white background is a thing of the past.
System Theme Option Now Available in Settings
Building on the recently introduced dark theme, we’re excited to add support for the System Theme option. This allows the app to automatically match your device’s light or dark mode, creating a more seamless and personalized experience.
Help Center Update
We launched a new and refreshed Help Center! Now, ReadCube users can find answers to questions with articles sorted by topic, watch training videos, and easily access live training.
Support for Second Link Resolver
You can now configure a second link resolver in ReadCube, perfect for organizations that require access to multiple resolvers. The second resolver appears just below the primary one in the interface, enabling seamless access without disrupting existing workflows. This update offers greater flexibility and efficiency in resource access.
Streamlined Bib Import for Large Files
Importing large .bib files is now smoother and more reliable, thanks to our integration with the browser’s stream API. This enhancement prevents browser crashes and significantly improves performance, ensuring a faster and more reliable import process.
Streamlined Author Order in Article Sidepanel
To maintain the integrity and significance of author sequencing, we’ve removed the alphabetical sort option from the article sidepanel. This update ensures that the order of authors remains consistent and reflects the true contribution hierarchy, aligning with values such as lead authorship and research sponsorship.
Custom Fields Values Now Fully Visible on Hover
Navigating long values in custom fields just got easier. Now, when you hover over a custom field value, a tooltip displays the full value. This enhancement ensures clarity and a smoother user experience, especially for values that differ only at the end.
