How do I download Full-Text (PDFs) from Scopus

Scopus uses a hybrid workflow to download PDF versions of documents. First, Scopus checks whether full-text access can be verified and downloaded automatically through your Elsevier subscription. If Scopus cannot verify entitlement for one or more selected documents, you can continue with the Scopus Document Download Manager (DDM) browser extension to resolve entitlement on the client side through your own browser environment.

The Scopus Document Download Manager is available from Scopus document results lists and is downloadable through the Google Chrome Store.

The Chrome extension is supported and can be used with Edge Browser (Enabled Feb 25, 2026).

PDF download maximum limit: 20 PDFs per request. 

1. Download PDFs from the Document search results page:

   1. On the Document search results page, select 'Download PDF'.
   2. In the 'Download PDFs' window, select which documents you want to download. You can select up to 20 results:

      • 'First 20 results'
      • 'Results on this page'
      • 'Results' by entering a 'From' and 'To' range
   3. Select 'Download'.
   4. Scopus checks whether full-text access can be verified through your Elsevier subscription.
   5. PDFs that can be verified are downloaded automatically and saved to your default browser download folder.
   6. If full-text access cannot be verified for one or more selected documents, a download summary opens. The summary shows how many PDFs were downloaded automatically and how many could not be verified.
   7. For documents that could not be downloaded automatically, open the 'View publisher links' drop-down. The publisher links for the documents that could not be downloaded are listed there.
   8. Use the publisher links to try downloading the documents individually from the publisher website.
   9. To continue resolving access through your browser, select 'Continue with Download Manager'.

2. Download and enable the Scopus Document Download Manager:
    

   Note: If the Scopus DDM is already installed and enabled, continue with the download steps above.

   If the extension is not installed, follow the installation instructions to add the Scopus Document Download Manager browser extension from the Google Chrome Store.

   1. Select 'Add extension'.
   2. Refresh your browser when prompted.
   3. Return to the Document search results page and select 'Download PDF' again.
   4. Select the documents you want to download and select 'Download'.
   5. PDFs that can be verified automatically are saved to your default browser download folder. Any PDFs that cannot be verified automatically can be accessed through the publisher links or resolved through the Download Manager extension.

   Some PDFs may not be downloaded automatically because Scopus cannot verify full-text entitlement for those documents through your Elsevier subscription. When this happens, open the 'View publisher links' drop-down in the download summary. The publisher download links are listed there for the documents that could not be downloaded. You can try downloading those documents individually from the publisher website in your own browser environment, where your IP address, institutional authentication, or other access credentials may allow the publisher to confirm access.

   Why a Browser Extension?

   System requirements for Windows and Mac