Export Google Scholar Citations and Data to CSV

Updated 8 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Exporting Google Scholar publication data to CSV gives you a spreadsheet-friendly copy of publication details and citation counts for sorting, reporting, or further analysis. Google Scholar does not provide a one-click CSV export for an entire profile, so the reliable route is to download its BibTeX records and convert them; citation totals and profile metrics may need to be copied separately.

What You’ll Need

A Google Scholar profile, if you are exporting your own publications. To export records for someone else, use their public profile or search results and respect their profile settings.
A desktop browser and a spreadsheet program that can open CSV files, such as Google Sheets or a desktop spreadsheet application.
A BibTeX-to-CSV conversion tool or a short local conversion script. If publication metadata is sensitive, choose a method that processes files on your device rather than uploading them to an unfamiliar service.
A check of what you need: publication fields, citation counts, or both. Scholar’s BibTeX export covers bibliographic records, but it does not reliably include the profile’s live “Cited by” counts as a standard field.

Step-by-Step

Open the right Scholar page. To export your own publication list, sign in to the Google account that manages your Scholar profile, then open the profile. For another author’s publications, open that person’s public profile. You can also search Google Scholar for specific papers, but search results are not a complete substitute for a profile.
Choose the records to export. In a profile, select individual records using the checkboxes beside them. To select all records currently displayed, use the checkbox at the top of the list if available. Scholar may paginate or load more entries as you scroll, so check whether the selected set includes every publication you want. For a focused export, selecting records individually helps avoid including unrelated or duplicate entries.
Open the export menu. Choose Export or the export option shown for the selected records, then select BibTeX. The exact placement can vary with the page layout. If you do not see the option, make sure at least one publication is selected and look for the controls above or below the publication list.
Save the BibTeX text. Scholar will display or download a text file containing entries that begin with a record type such as @article or @inproceedings. If it opens in the browser, use the browser’s save command and keep the file’s .bib extension. Do not save it as a Word document or copy only part of the text; each complete entry is needed for conversion.
Convert the BibTeX file to CSV. Use a BibTeX-aware converter that can read a local .bib file and export CSV. Choose useful columns such as title, authors, year, journal or venue, volume, issue, pages, DOI, and URL. If using a script, use a BibTeX parser rather than splitting text at commas: author names and titles can contain commas, braces, and line breaks. Save the output as a UTF-8 CSV file so accented characters and non-English names are preserved.
Open and inspect the CSV. Import the file into your spreadsheet rather than assuming every app will interpret it correctly. If prompted, choose comma as the delimiter and UTF-8 as the character encoding. Check that each publication occupies one row and that titles, authors, and years appear in the intended columns.
Add citation counts if required. BibTeX export generally does not include the “Cited by” number displayed on Scholar pages. If you need citation counts, record them separately from the profile or paper’s Scholar search result, and add a column such as scholar_citations. Include a date column, for example citation_count_checked, because counts can change. Do not present these manually collected values as part of the BibTeX export.
Save a clean final copy. Keep the original .bib file as a backup, then save the reviewed spreadsheet as CSV. If you made changes in a spreadsheet, check its export settings: CSV stores one sheet at a time and does not preserve formatting, formulas, or multiple tabs.

Common Mistakes

Expecting a direct CSV button: Google Scholar’s profile export is typically BibTeX, EndNote, RefMan, or another citation format, not a complete CSV export. Convert the downloaded records instead of renaming a .bib file to .csv.
Assuming citation counts are included: A BibTeX entry describes a publication; it is not a snapshot of the profile’s citation metrics. Add citation totals separately and label their source and date.
Exporting only the visible page: A profile can have more records than are currently loaded or selected. Scroll, check pagination, and confirm the number of selected records before exporting.
Using a basic text-to-columns split: Commas can appear inside publication fields, so splitting every line at commas often corrupts authors and titles. Use a BibTeX parser and a proper CSV exporter.
Overwriting the source file: Keep the original BibTeX download. You can reconvert it if the CSV has errors or you need different columns.

Tips

Decide on a consistent set of columns before conversion. Common choices include title, authors, year, venue, DOI, and URL.
Retain the BibTeX citation key or another stable identifier if your converter offers it; it can help match records after sorting.
Review possible duplicates, especially when a profile lists a preprint and a later published version separately. Do not delete records automatically without checking them.
For recurring reports, record when you exported the publications and when you checked citation counts. Scholar data may change as records and citations are updated.
Keep a copy of the original export and the final CSV in a clearly named folder so you can reproduce or audit the conversion.

Troubleshooting

No export option appears: Select at least one publication, then inspect the profile’s export controls. If the list is still loading, wait or scroll to load more records. A public profile may display differently from the profile you manage.
The saved file is blank or incomplete: Return to Scholar and export again, ensuring the full BibTeX text or downloaded file is saved. Compare the number of entries in the file with the records you intended to select.
The converter reports invalid BibTeX: Check that the file contains complete entries, including opening and closing braces. Re-download it if text was truncated. Avoid editing braces or punctuation unless you understand the BibTeX structure.
Columns are merged or characters look wrong: Re-import the CSV and specify comma-delimited format and UTF-8 encoding. If titles contain commas, verify that fields are quoted properly; use a converter that produces valid CSV.
Citation counts differ from a previous export: Counts can change, and the profile may show a different set of records or a newer total. Note the date and source of each count, and compare the same publications where possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Google Scholar export a profile directly to CSV?

Scholar generally offers citation-format exports such as BibTeX rather than a complete profile-to-CSV download. Export BibTeX, then convert it to CSV.

Does the BibTeX file include citation counts?

Usually not. It contains bibliographic metadata, while “Cited by” counts are shown separately in Scholar. Collect those counts separately if your spreadsheet needs them.

Can I export another researcher’s publications?

You can export records visible on a public profile, subject to what the profile displays. You cannot export private profile information you do not have access to.

Why are some publications missing?

They may not have been selected, loaded, or listed on the profile. Check the profile, scroll through the full list, and repeat the export for any missing records.

Will the CSV update when Scholar citation counts change?

No. A CSV is a static file. Export or update it again when needed, and date any citation counts you have collected.

Can I open a BibTeX file directly in a spreadsheet?

You can open it as text, but it is not arranged as spreadsheet rows and columns. Convert it with a BibTeX-aware tool first for reliable results.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.