diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Editor/EditorController.mjs b/services/web/app/src/Features/Editor/EditorController.mjs
index b9987a3f15..773fe38c6c 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Editor/EditorController.mjs
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Editor/EditorController.mjs
@@ -669,6 +669,24 @@ const EditorController = {
     )
   },
 
+  setReferenceFormat(projectId, newReferenceFormat, callback) {
+    ProjectOptionsHandler.setReferenceFormat(
+      projectId,
+      newReferenceFormat,
+      function (err) {
+        if (err) {
+          return callback(err)
+        }
+        EditorRealTimeController.emitToRoom(
+          projectId,
+          'referenceFormatUpdated',
+          newReferenceFormat
+        )
+        callback()
+      }
+    )
+  },
+
   _notifyProjectUsersOfNewFolders(projectId, folders, callback) {
     async.eachSeries(
       folders,
@@ -732,5 +750,6 @@ EditorController.promises = {
   setPublicAccessLevel: promisify(EditorController.setPublicAccessLevel),
   setRootDoc: promisify(EditorController.setRootDoc),
   setMainBibliographyDoc: promisify(EditorController.setMainBibliographyDoc),
+  setReferenceFormat: promisify(EditorController.setReferenceFormat),
 }
 export default EditorController
diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectController.mjs b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectController.mjs
index f2ded0314d..856d7ca0ba 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectController.mjs
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectController.mjs
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ const updateProjectSettingsSchema = z.object({
     name: z.string().optional(),
     rootDocId: zz.objectId().optional(),
     spellCheckLanguage: z.string().optional(),
+    referenceFormat: z.enum(['bibtex', 'biblatex']).optional(),
   }),
 })
 
@@ -144,6 +145,13 @@ const _ProjectController = {
       )
     }
 
+    if (body.referenceFormat != null) {
+      await EditorController.promises.setReferenceFormat(
+        projectId,
+        body.referenceFormat
+      )
+    }
+
     res.sendStatus(204)
   },
 
diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectEditorHandler.mjs b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectEditorHandler.mjs
index dcf3cd80f5..15884736c6 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectEditorHandler.mjs
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectEditorHandler.mjs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export default ProjectEditorHandler = {
       compiler: project.compiler,
       description: project.description,
       spellCheckLanguage: project.spellCheckLanguage,
+      referenceFormat: project.referenceFormat,
       png2pdf: project.png2pdf,
       deletedByExternalDataSource: project.deletedByExternalDataSource || false,
       imageName:
diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectOptionsHandler.mjs b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectOptionsHandler.mjs
index accb3144df..5ed9a54e4b 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectOptionsHandler.mjs
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectOptionsHandler.mjs
@@ -119,6 +119,15 @@ const ProjectOptionsHandler = {
     const { otMigrationStage } = project.overleaf.history
     return { otMigrationStage }
   },
+
+  async setReferenceFormat(projectId, newReferenceFormat) {
+    if (!newReferenceFormat) {
+      return
+    }
+    const conditions = { _id: projectId }
+    const update = { referenceFormat: newReferenceFormat }
+    return Project.updateOne(conditions, update, {})
+  },
 }
 
 export default {
@@ -135,5 +144,6 @@ export default {
   setHistoryRangesSupport: callbackify(
     ProjectOptionsHandler.setHistoryRangesSupport
   ),
+  setReferenceFormat: callbackify(ProjectOptionsHandler.setReferenceFormat),
   promises: ProjectOptionsHandler,
 }
diff --git a/services/web/app/src/models/Project.mjs b/services/web/app/src/models/Project.mjs
index 9ca3cd2431..ebc1f9a2a5 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/models/Project.mjs
+++ b/services/web/app/src/models/Project.mjs
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ export const ProjectSchema = new Schema(
       },
     ],
     deferredTpdsFlushCounter: { type: Number },
+    referenceFormat: { type: String },
   },
   { minimize: false }
 )
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/extracted-translations.json b/services/web/frontend/extracted-translations.json
index 081ad605cd..c8e179436e 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/extracted-translations.json
+++ b/services/web/frontend/extracted-translations.json
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@
   "beta_program_already_participating": "",
   "beta_program_benefits": "",
   "beta_program_not_participating": "",
+  "biblatex": "",
+  "bibtex": "",
   "bibtex_duplicates_keys": "",
   "billed_annually_at": "",
   "billed_monthly_at": "",
@@ -1622,6 +1624,7 @@
   "reference_count": "",
   "reference_count_plural": "",
   "reference_error_relink_hint": "",
+  "reference_format": "",
   "reference_manager_linked": "",
   "reference_manager_lowercase": "",
   "reference_manager_searched_groups": "",
@@ -1632,6 +1635,7 @@
   "reference_search_settings": "",
   "reference_search_style": "",
   "reference_sync": "",
+  "references": "",
   "references_from_these_libraries_will_be_included_in_your_reference_search_results": "",
   "refresh": "",
   "refresh_page_after_linking_dropbox": "",
@@ -1806,7 +1810,6 @@
   "select_all_projects": "",
   "select_an_output_file": "",
   "select_an_output_file_figure_modal": "",
-  "select_bib_file": "",
   "select_cells_in_a_single_row_to_merge": "",
   "select_color": "",
   "select_entry": "",
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/connection/join-project-payload.ts b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/connection/join-project-payload.ts
index 5fa4aab408..f48cce8cca 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/connection/join-project-payload.ts
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/connection/join-project-payload.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ import { PermissionsLevel } from '@/features/ide-react/types/permissions'
 export type JoinProjectPayloadProject = Pick<
   Project,
   Exclude<keyof Project, ['rootDocId', 'publicAccessLevel']>
-> & { rootDoc_id?: string; publicAccesLevel?: string }
+> & {
+  rootDoc_id?: string
+  mainBibliographyDoc_id?: string
+  publicAccesLevel?: string
+}
 
 export type JoinProjectPayload = {
   permissionsLevel: PermissionsLevel
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/context/ide-react-context.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/context/ide-react-context.tsx
index 32ea07d88a..3ec4b80598 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/context/ide-react-context.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-react/context/ide-react-context.tsx
@@ -103,12 +103,18 @@ export const IdeReactProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({ children }) => {
     function handleJoinProjectResponse({
       project: {
         rootDoc_id: rootDocId,
+        mainBibliographyDoc_id: mainBibliographyDocId,
         publicAccesLevel: publicAccessLevel,
         ..._project
       },
       permissionsLevel,
     }: JoinProjectPayload) {
-      const project = { ..._project, rootDocId, publicAccessLevel }
+      const project = {
+        ..._project,
+        rootDocId,
+        mainBibliographyDocId,
+        publicAccessLevel,
+      }
 
       // Cast the project from the payload as ProjectMetadata to ensure it has
       // the correct type for the context. It must be close enough because the
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/reference-format-setting.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/reference-format-setting.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..857ebf6720
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/reference-format-setting.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import DropdownSetting from '../dropdown-setting'
+import { useProjectSettingsContext } from '../../context/project-settings-context'
+import { usePermissionsContext } from '@/features/ide-react/context/permissions-context'
+
+export default function ReferenceFormatSetting() {
+  const { t } = useTranslation()
+  const { write } = usePermissionsContext()
+  const { referenceFormat, setReferenceFormat } = useProjectSettingsContext()
+
+  return (
+    <DropdownSetting
+      id="referenceFormat"
+      label={t('reference_format')}
+      options={[
+        {
+          value: 'bibtex',
+          label: t('bibtex'),
+        },
+        {
+          value: 'biblatex',
+          label: t('biblatex'),
+        },
+      ]}
+      onChange={setReferenceFormat}
+      value={referenceFormat || 'biblatex'}
+      translateOptions="no"
+      disabled={!write}
+    />
+  )
+}
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/root-bib-document-setting.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/root-bib-document-setting.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1d50440dfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/root-bib-document-setting.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { useFileTreeData } from '@/shared/context/file-tree-data-context'
+import { useMemo } from 'react'
+import { usePermissionsContext } from '@/features/ide-react/context/permissions-context'
+import DropdownSetting from '../dropdown-setting'
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import { useBibliographyDocId } from '../../hooks/use-bibliography-doc-id'
+
+export default function RootBibDocumentSetting() {
+  const { docs } = useFileTreeData()
+  const { write } = usePermissionsContext()
+  const { t } = useTranslation()
+  const { setMainBibliographyDocId, mainBibliographyDocId } =
+    useBibliographyDocId()
+
+  const validDocsOptions = useMemo(() => {
+    return docs
+      ?.filter(doc => doc.doc.name.toLowerCase().endsWith('.bib'))
+      .map(doc => ({ value: doc.doc.id, label: doc.path }))
+  }, [docs])
+
+  return (
+    <DropdownSetting
+      id="mainBibliographyDocId"
+      label={t('main_bibliography_file_for_this_project')}
+      description={`${t(
+        'this_is_the_file_that_references_pulled_from_your_reference_manager_will_be_added_to'
+      )}`}
+      disabled={!write || !validDocsOptions?.length}
+      options={validDocsOptions ?? []}
+      onChange={setMainBibliographyDocId}
+      value={mainBibliographyDocId ?? ''}
+      translateOptions="no"
+    />
+  )
+}
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/project-settings-context.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/project-settings-context.tsx
index 4b88b8f5fe..046ceca170 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/project-settings-context.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/project-settings-context.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ type ProjectSettingsSetterContextValue = {
   setSpellCheckLanguage: (
     spellCheckLanguage: ProjectSettings['spellCheckLanguage']
   ) => void
+  setReferenceFormat: (
+    referenceFormat: ProjectSettings['referenceFormat']
+  ) => Promise<void>
   setAutoComplete: (autoComplete: UserSettings['autoComplete']) => void
   setAutoPairDelimiters: (
     autoPairDelimiters: UserSettings['autoPairDelimiters']
@@ -67,6 +70,8 @@ export const ProjectSettingsProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
     setRootDocId,
     spellCheckLanguage,
     setSpellCheckLanguage,
+    referenceFormat,
+    setReferenceFormat,
   } = useProjectWideSettings()
 
   const {
@@ -174,6 +179,8 @@ export const ProjectSettingsProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
       setMendeley,
       papers,
       setPapers,
+      referenceFormat,
+      setReferenceFormat,
     }),
     [
       compiler,
@@ -230,6 +237,8 @@ export const ProjectSettingsProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
       setMendeley,
       papers,
       setPapers,
+      referenceFormat,
+      setReferenceFormat,
     ]
   )
 
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context.tsx
index f6aee4a303..a26b34fe3b 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ import FontSizeSetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/appearance-setti
 import LineHeightSetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/appearance-settings/line-height-setting'
 import FontFamilySetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/appearance-settings/font-family-setting'
 import DarkModePdfSetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/appearance-settings/dark-mode-pdf-setting'
+import RootBibDocumentSetting from '../components/reference-settings/root-bib-document-setting'
+import ReferenceFormatSetting from '../components/reference-settings/reference-format-setting'
 
 import { useProjectSettingsContext } from '@/features/ide-settings/context/project-settings-context'
 import { useFeatureFlag } from '@/shared/context/split-test-context'
@@ -149,11 +151,6 @@ export const SettingsModalProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
                 key: 'pdfViewer',
                 component: <PDFViewerSetting />,
               },
-              {
-                key: 'write-and-cite-settings',
-                component: <ReferenceSearchSetting />,
-                hidden: !ReferenceSearchSetting,
-              },
               {
                 key: 'floating-menu',
                 component: <FloatingMenuSetting />,
@@ -236,6 +233,31 @@ export const SettingsModalProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
           },
         ],
       },
+      {
+        key: 'references',
+        title: t('references'),
+        icon: 'book_5',
+        sections: [
+          {
+            key: 'general',
+            settings: [
+              {
+                key: 'mainBibliographyDocId',
+                component: <RootBibDocumentSetting />,
+              },
+              {
+                key: 'referenceFormat',
+                component: <ReferenceFormatSetting />,
+              },
+              {
+                key: 'write-and-cite-settings',
+                component: <ReferenceSearchSetting />,
+                hidden: !ReferenceSearchSetting,
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+      },
       {
         key: 'appearance',
         title: t('appearance'),
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-bibliography-doc-id.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-bibliography-doc-id.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b42255cec8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-bibliography-doc-id.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { useCallback } from 'react'
+import { useProjectContext } from '@/shared/context/project-context'
+import type { ProjectSettings } from '../utils/api'
+import useSaveProjectSettings from './use-save-project-settings'
+import { usePermissionsContext } from '@/features/ide-react/context/permissions-context'
+
+export const useBibliographyDocId = () => {
+  const { project } = useProjectContext()
+  const mainBibliographyDocId = project?.mainBibliographyDocId
+  const saveProjectSettings = useSaveProjectSettings()
+  const { write } = usePermissionsContext()
+
+  const setMainBibliographyDocIdFunc = useCallback(
+    async (
+      newMainBibliographyDocId: ProjectSettings['mainBibliographyDocId']
+    ) => {
+      if (write) {
+        try {
+          await saveProjectSettings(
+            'mainBibliographyDocId',
+            newMainBibliographyDocId
+          )
+        } catch (err) {
+          // TODO: retry mechanism (max 10x before failed completely and rollback the old value)
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    [write, saveProjectSettings]
+  )
+
+  return {
+    mainBibliographyDocId,
+    setMainBibliographyDocId: setMainBibliographyDocIdFunc,
+  }
+}
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings-socket-listener.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings-socket-listener.tsx
index 88393a15b5..338bdb580b 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings-socket-listener.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings-socket-listener.tsx
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettingsSocketListener() {
     [project, updateProject]
   )
 
+  const setReferenceFormat = useCallback(
+    (referenceFormat: ProjectSettings['referenceFormat']) => {
+      if (project) {
+        updateProject({ referenceFormat })
+      }
+    },
+    [project, updateProject]
+  )
+
   useEffect(() => {
     // data is not available on initial mounting
     const dataAvailable = !!project
@@ -53,6 +62,7 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettingsSocketListener() {
       socket.on('imageNameUpdated', setImageName)
       socket.on('png2pdfUpdated', setPng2pdf)
       socket.on('spellCheckLanguageUpdated', setSpellCheckLanguage)
+      socket.on('referenceFormatUpdated', setReferenceFormat)
       return () => {
         socket.removeListener('compilerUpdated', setCompiler)
         socket.removeListener('imageNameUpdated', setImageName)
@@ -61,6 +71,7 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettingsSocketListener() {
           'spellCheckLanguageUpdated',
           setSpellCheckLanguage
         )
+        socket.removeListener('referenceFormatUpdated', setReferenceFormat)
       }
     }
   }, [
@@ -68,6 +79,7 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettingsSocketListener() {
     project,
     setCompiler,
     setImageName,
+    setReferenceFormat,
     setPng2pdf,
     setSpellCheckLanguage,
   ])
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings.tsx
index faa2c614b2..a61a75328f 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/hooks/use-project-wide-settings.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,15 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettings() {
     [saveProjectSettings]
   )
 
+  const setReferenceFormat = useCallback(
+    async (newReferenceFormat: ProjectSettings['referenceFormat']) => {
+      await saveProjectSettings('referenceFormat', newReferenceFormat).catch(
+        debugConsole.error
+      )
+    },
+    [saveProjectSettings]
+  )
+
   const setPng2pdf = useCallback(
     async (newPng2pdf: ProjectSettings['png2pdf']) => {
       await saveProjectSettings('png2pdf', newPng2pdf).catch(debugConsole.error)
@@ -46,6 +55,8 @@ export default function useProjectWideSettings() {
     setCompiler,
     imageName: project?.imageName,
     setImageName,
+    referenceFormat: project?.referenceFormat,
+    setReferenceFormat,
     png2pdf: project?.png2pdf ?? png2pdfEnabled,
     setPng2pdf,
     rootDocId,
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/utils/api.ts b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/utils/api.ts
index 21c2db2665..967edbfae7 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/utils/api.ts
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/ide-settings/utils/api.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ export interface ProjectSettings {
   rootDocId: string
   spellCheckLanguage: string
   name: string
+  mainBibliographyDocId?: string
+  referenceFormat?: 'bibtex' | 'biblatex'
 }
 
 type SaveUserSettings = Partial<
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/types/project-metadata.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/types/project-metadata.tsx
index f559b12948..2601201616 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/types/project-metadata.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/types/project-metadata.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ export type MyAccessRequest = Pick<
 
 export interface ProjectMetadata extends ProjectSettings {
   _id: string
-  mainBibliographyDocId?: string
   members: ProjectMember[]
   invites: ProjectMember[]
   editAccessRequests?: EditAccessRequest[]
diff --git a/services/web/locales/da.json b/services/web/locales/da.json
index d0cfff2ad4..240d49f1b4 100644
--- a/services/web/locales/da.json
+++ b/services/web/locales/da.json
@@ -1566,7 +1566,6 @@
   "select_all_projects": "Vælg alle projekter",
   "select_an_output_file": "Vælg en outputfil",
   "select_an_output_file_figure_modal": "Vælg en outputfil",
-  "select_bib_file": "Vælg .bib fil",
   "select_cells_in_a_single_row_to_merge": "Vælg celler i en enkelt række at flette",
   "select_color": "Vælg farven __name__",
   "select_folder_from_project": "Vælg mappe fra projekt",
diff --git a/services/web/locales/en.json b/services/web/locales/en.json
index 8bc3256610..7867d27ac3 100644
--- a/services/web/locales/en.json
+++ b/services/web/locales/en.json
@@ -283,7 +283,9 @@
   "beta_program_not_participating": "You are not enrolled in the beta program",
   "beta_program_opt_in_action": "Opt-in to beta program",
   "beta_program_opt_out_action": "Opt-out of beta program",
+  "biblatex": "BibLaTeX",
   "bibliographies": "Bibliographies",
+  "bibtex": "BibTeX",
   "bibtex_duplicates_keys": "The file __fileName__ contains more than one entry with the citation key __key__. Only the first occurrence is shown in this list.",
   "billed_annually_at": "Billed annually at <0>__price__</0> <1>(includes plan and any add-ons)</1>",
   "billed_monthly_at": "Billed monthly at <0>__price__</0> <1>(includes plan and any add-ons)</1>",
@@ -2116,6 +2118,7 @@
   "reference_count": "__count__ reference",
   "reference_count_plural": "__count__ references",
   "reference_error_relink_hint": "If this error persists, try re-linking your account here:",
+  "reference_format": "Reference format",
   "reference_manager_linked": "Reference manager linked",
   "reference_manager_lowercase": "reference manager",
   "reference_manager_searched_groups": "__provider__ search groups",
@@ -2127,6 +2130,7 @@
   "reference_search_settings": "Reference search settings",
   "reference_search_style": "Reference search style",
   "reference_sync": "Reference manager sync",
+  "references": "References",
   "references_from_these_libraries_will_be_included_in_your_reference_search_results": "References from these libraries will be included in your reference search results.",
   "refresh": "Refresh",
   "refresh_page_after_linking_dropbox": "Please refresh this page after linking your account to Dropbox.",
@@ -2340,7 +2344,6 @@
   "select_all_projects": "Select all projects",
   "select_an_output_file": "Select an Output File",
   "select_an_output_file_figure_modal": "Select an output file",
-  "select_bib_file": "Select .bib file",
   "select_cells_in_a_single_row_to_merge": "Select cells in a single row to merge",
   "select_color": "Select color __name__",
   "select_entry": "Select entry",
@@ -2729,7 +2732,7 @@
   "this_could_be_because_we_cant_support_some_elements_of_the_table": "This could be because we can’t yet support some elements of the table in the table preview. Or there may be an error in the table’s LaTeX code.",
   "this_field_is_required": "This field is required",
   "this_grants_access_to_features_2": "This grants you access to <0>__appName__</0> <0>__featureType__</0> features.",
-  "this_is_the_file_that_references_pulled_from_your_reference_manager_will_be_added_to": "This is the file that references pulled from your reference manager will be added to.",
+  "this_is_the_file_that_references_pulled_from_your_reference_manager_will_be_added_to": "New references are saved to the .bib file you select here. If your project doesn’t have one yet, add a .bib file to choose it.",
   "this_is_your_template": "This is your template from your project",
   "this_organization_is_tax_exempt": "This organization is tax exempt",
   "this_policy_applies_to_all_projects_owned_by_your_group_members": "This policy applies to all projects owned by your group members. Project owners can apply stricter sharing rules for individual projects.",
diff --git a/services/web/locales/zh-CN.json b/services/web/locales/zh-CN.json
index ef70497d2f..5060a73b17 100644
--- a/services/web/locales/zh-CN.json
+++ b/services/web/locales/zh-CN.json
@@ -1782,7 +1782,6 @@
   "select_all_projects": "全选",
   "select_an_output_file": "选择输出文件",
   "select_an_output_file_figure_modal": "选择一个输出文件",
-  "select_bib_file": "选择 .bib 文件",
   "select_cells_in_a_single_row_to_merge": "在一行中选择单元格合并",
   "select_color": "选择颜色 __name__",
   "select_folder_from_project": "从项目中选择文件夹",
diff --git a/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/reference-format-setting.test.tsx b/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/reference-format-setting.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a258a85778
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/reference-format-setting.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import { screen, within, render } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { expect } from 'chai'
+import fetchMock from 'fetch-mock'
+import { SettingsModalProvider } from '@/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context'
+import {
+  EditorProviders,
+  projectDefaults,
+} from '../../../helpers/editor-providers'
+import ReferenceFormatSetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/reference-format-setting'
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event'
+
+// bibtex is listed first as it differs from the component's default
+// ('biblatex'), so selecting it is guaranteed to trigger a change.
+const OPTIONS = [
+  {
+    label: 'BibTeX',
+    value: 'bibtex',
+  },
+  {
+    label: 'BibLaTeX',
+    value: 'biblatex',
+  },
+]
+
+describe('<ReferenceFormatSetting />', function () {
+  afterEach(function () {
+    fetchMock.removeRoutes().clearHistory()
+  })
+
+  it('defaults to BibLaTeX', function () {
+    render(
+      <EditorProviders>
+        <SettingsModalProvider>
+          <ReferenceFormatSetting />
+        </SettingsModalProvider>
+      </EditorProviders>
+    )
+
+    const select = screen.getByLabelText(
+      'Reference format'
+    ) as HTMLSelectElement
+    expect(select.value).to.equal('biblatex')
+  })
+
+  it('each option is shown and can be selected', async function () {
+    render(
+      <EditorProviders>
+        <SettingsModalProvider>
+          <ReferenceFormatSetting />
+        </SettingsModalProvider>
+      </EditorProviders>
+    )
+
+    const saveSettingsMock = fetchMock.post(
+      `express:/project/:projectId/settings`,
+      {
+        status: 200,
+      },
+      { delay: 0 }
+    )
+
+    const select = screen.getByLabelText('Reference format')
+
+    for (const option of OPTIONS) {
+      const optionElement = within(select).getByText(option.label)
+      expect(optionElement.getAttribute('value')).to.equal(option.value)
+      await userEvent.selectOptions(select, [optionElement])
+
+      expect(
+        saveSettingsMock.callHistory.called(
+          `/project/${projectDefaults._id}/settings`,
+          {
+            body: { referenceFormat: option.value },
+          }
+        )
+      ).to.be.true
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/root-bib-document-setting.test.tsx b/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/root-bib-document-setting.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..716a8123ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web/test/frontend/features/ide-settings/settings/root-bib-document-setting.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+import { screen, within, render } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { expect } from 'chai'
+import fetchMock from 'fetch-mock'
+import { Folder } from '../../../../../types/folder'
+import { SettingsModalProvider } from '@/features/ide-settings/context/settings-modal-context'
+import {
+  EditorProviders,
+  projectDefaults,
+} from '../../../helpers/editor-providers'
+import RootBibDocumentSetting from '@/features/ide-settings/components/reference-settings/root-bib-document-setting'
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event'
+
+const OPTIONS = [
+  {
+    label: 'main.bib',
+    value: '123abc',
+  },
+  {
+    label: 'another.bib',
+    value: '123abcd',
+  },
+]
+
+describe('<RootBibDocumentSetting />', function () {
+  const rootFolder: Folder = {
+    _id: 'root-folder-id',
+    name: 'rootFolder',
+    docs: [
+      {
+        _id: '123abc',
+        name: 'main.bib',
+      },
+      {
+        _id: '123abcd',
+        name: 'another.bib',
+      },
+      {
+        _id: '123abce',
+        name: 'main.tex',
+      },
+    ],
+    fileRefs: [],
+    folders: [],
+  }
+
+  afterEach(function () {
+    fetchMock.removeRoutes().clearHistory()
+  })
+
+  it('only lists .bib files as options', function () {
+    render(
+      <EditorProviders rootFolder={[rootFolder as any]}>
+        <SettingsModalProvider>
+          <RootBibDocumentSetting />
+        </SettingsModalProvider>
+      </EditorProviders>
+    )
+
+    const select = screen.getByLabelText(
+      'Main bibliography file for this project'
+    )
+
+    expect(within(select).getByText('main.bib')).to.exist
+    expect(within(select).getByText('another.bib')).to.exist
+    expect(within(select).queryByText('main.tex')).to.be.null
+  })
+
+  it('each option is shown and can be selected', async function () {
+    render(
+      <EditorProviders rootFolder={[rootFolder as any]}>
+        <SettingsModalProvider>
+          <RootBibDocumentSetting />
+        </SettingsModalProvider>
+      </EditorProviders>
+    )
+
+    const saveSettingsMock = fetchMock.post(
+      `express:/project/:projectId/settings`,
+      {
+        status: 200,
+      },
+      { delay: 0 }
+    )
+
+    const select = screen.getByLabelText(
+      'Main bibliography file for this project'
+    )
+
+    // Reverse order so we test changing to each option
+    for (const option of [...OPTIONS].reverse()) {
+      const optionElement = within(select).getByText(option.label)
+      expect(optionElement.getAttribute('value')).to.equal(option.value)
+      await userEvent.selectOptions(select, [optionElement])
+
+      expect(
+        saveSettingsMock.callHistory.called(
+          `/project/${projectDefaults._id}/settings`,
+          {
+            body: { mainBibliographyDocId: option.value },
+          }
+        )
+      ).to.be.true
+    }
+  })
+})