# Importing .bibtex files with JabRef 4.1 on macOS Sierra 10.12.6

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/importing-bibtex-files-with-jabref-4-1-on-macos-sierra-10-12-6/1060>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [February 20, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/importing-bibtex-files-with-jabref-4-1-on-macos-sierra-10-12-6/1060 "2018-02-20T14:22:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19b73/32.png) [@ooter](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ooter)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/importing-bibtex-files-with-jabref-4-1-on-macos-sierra-10-12-6/1060/1 "2018-02-20T14:22:42Z")

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I recently installed macOS Sierra along with JabRef 4.1 but to my surprise when I try to import files with the .bibtex extension (e.g., downloaded directly for APS journals) into my existing libraries, these files are not active in the JabRef Import dialog box. This is something I have routinely performed for years with previous versions of JabRef. Is there something I am doing wrong here? BTW, if I change the file extension for the same files to .bib, then JabRef is happy to import them but this is too fiddly to do for each reference. Please help!

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/importing-bibtex-files-with-jabref-4-1-on-macos-sierra-10-12-6/1060/2 "2018-02-20T18:01:50Z")

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Hi,

i’m sorry, it seems like you stumbled across a bug - at least in the gui. As a workaround you could try  
importing from the command line, that should work.  
[http://help.jabref.org/en/CommandLine#import-file--i-filenameimport-format](http://help.jabref.org/en/CommandLine#import-file--i-filenameimport-format)

Regards  
Christoph

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 9:05am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/importing-bibtex-files-with-jabref-4-1-on-macos-sierra-10-12-6/1060/3 "2018-02-21T09:05:24Z")

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Another more simpler idea as workaround would be to associate the bibtex extension on your OS to open with JabRef