Release Notes
AI Access Control
Added organization-level settings that restrict AI interactions (Chat with PDF and Chat with Library) to content from sources approved by an organisation, ensuring responsible use and better data governance across all AI features.
Search for Users in Shared Libraries
Users can now easily find collaborators within shared libraries using the new user search option, making it simpler to manage access and collaboration.
Trial Feed Management
Improved handling of feed activation and reactivation for trials and downgrades to ensure smoother transitions and accurate system updates.
Main Menu Resizing: Resolved a layout issue that affected the main menu panel when resizing the window.
Form Template Limits:
Users can now create form templates with up to four stages. This limit helps prevent configuration issues and ensures smoother workflows when setting up Literature Review forms.
Reviewer Display in Literature Review:
We have fixed an issue where edits made by a different reviewer were not reflected in the reference table or reports. The correct editor’s name is now captured, improving review traceability and accuracy.
Bulk Add Notes: You can now add notes to multiple items at once, making it easier to annotate or categorize several entries in a single action.
Bulk Add Color Labels: Apply color labels to multiple items simultaneously to visually organize your library faster.
AI Email Summaries: AI-powered email summaries are now sent only to users who have access to this feature, ensuring relevance and reducing inbox clutter.
Updated ‘Product Label’ Metadata: Interface labels have been refined to use more accurate wording for clarity and consistency.
Modal Behavior Update: Improved modal behavior when clicking outside or pressing ESC, reducing potential errors and improving user experience.
Bug FixesMatch List Scrolling: We have fixed an issue where the scroll bar in the Match list was not functioning correctly.
Avatar Display in Chat with Papers: We have corrected a minor visual glitch with avatars showing three initials.
Dropdown Checkbox Alignment: We have fixed inconsistent alignment of checkboxes within dropdown menus.
Fixed an issue where citation styles containing a “+” character in their name could cause SmartCite to stop responding or enter an endless loading loop when selecting a bibliography.
Resolved a UI issue where the previously used search term in SmartCite remained visible in the search bar even after leaving the filtered view or performing actions like adding or updating citations. The search field now properly clears when the context changes.
Adding tags in bulk.
Users can now add tags for multiple items at once. This new bulk “add tags” functionality makes it much faster to organize large libraries and maintain consistent tagging across many references.
Download new desktop app from Tools page.
We have added a dedicated “Downloads” section where users can download the latest desktop app directly from within the app.
List item removal behavior.
We have improved how the system handles removing items from lists to ensure the UI updates immediately and consistently.
Bug Fixes
Patent number import. Fixed an issue where patent identifiers longer than 10 digits were not imported correctly.
Share as public list not available in some cases. Restored access to the “Share as public list” option for all users with appropriate permissions.
Select all behavior. Fixed an issue where “Select all” stayed active after navigating away, ensuring selection always reflects visible items.
Bulk Actions Menu in Library and Search
A new bulk actions menu has been introduced to improve user experience by making available actions more explicit and visually accessible. This menu adds a floating component in both Library and Search modules to easily select and manage multiple papers, including actions like adding to library, tagging, and using AI assistant features. This consistency enhances how users interact with and manage their papers efficiently.
Library Menu Optimization
The Library menu has been tidied by grouping related options, making it easier for users to find and access essential features. List creation has been moved to a dedicated icon next to the gear icon, streamlining workflow for creating various lists. This reduces clutter and supports a more intuitive navigation experience.
Toolbar Enhancements for Select/Deselect All
The Select/Deselect All toolbar options have been improved so that users no longer need to click these buttons multiple times unnecessarily. The system now disables options when already selected or deselected, preventing redundant actions and saving time.
UI Header and Footer Updates in Library and Search
The Library and Search modules now feature updated headers and footers aligned with new design guidelines, providing a cleaner, more modern interface. Notable changes include moving the current library name to the footer, introducing a select all button in footers, adjusting the search bar placement, and adding visual improvements that help users better understand their context and selections.
Toast Notification Component
A new toast notification system has been implemented to confirm successful user actions clearly and reassuringly. This provides concise feedback for actions such as adding papers, creating lists, merging duplicates, and more. Toasts appear unobtrusively in the bottom-right corner and auto-dismiss, ensuring users stay informed without interrupting workflow.
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:
-
Saves time by reducing clicks and guesswork on publisher sites.
-
Improves access decisions with real-time visibility into open access, subscriptions, and budgets.
-
Boosts adoption through simpler onboarding and clearer interactions.
-
Strengthens trust and recognition by aligning with the ReadCube ecosystem.
What’s New
Full UI Redesign
-
Modern interface.
-
Clear Add, Access, and Save buttons (no hidden hover states).
-
Stronger brand presence across publisher sites.
Access Status Indicators
-
Instantly see if an article is: already saved, free to access, or paywalled.
-
Smart logic surfaces tokens, budgets, or subscriptions when available.
Streamlined Purchase Flow
-
Clear purchase options for paywalled content.
-
Faster path to full-text access with fewer steps.
Smarter Onboarding & Tooltips
-
Guided setup for new users.
-
Helpful tooltips on key actions.
-
Clear visibility of where saved articles go.
Performance Improvements
-
Faster load times on publisher sites.
-
More reliable DOI and metadata detection.
Accessibility Enhancements
-
Higher contrast + icon/text indicators.
-
Inclusive design for color vision deficiencies.