---
title: How to reserve a DOI
description: "--- - [Home](https://info.figshare.com) - - [User Guides](https://info.figshare.com/user-guides/) - - How to reserve a DOI Reserving a DOI is the best way to add a reference to your data or other outputs in a manuscript submitted for publication. On the upper…"
url: "https://info.figshare.com/user-guide/how-to-reserve-a-doi/"
updated: "2026-09-15"
category: Adding or editing metadata
---

# How to reserve a DOI

---

- [Home](https://info.figshare.com)
-
- [User Guides](https://info.figshare.com/user-guides/)
-
- How to reserve a DOI

Reserving a DOI is the best way to add a reference to your data or other outputs in a manuscript submitted for publication. On the upper right side of the metadata entry page click the ‘Reserve DOI’ or, if you are at an institution you may see a ‘Manage Identifiers’ link.

![](https://info.figshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DOI-management-1-1024x362.png)

*Image caption: Find the Reserve DOI link in the upper right of the metadata entry page. Left image: the Reserve DOI link that is the default for all accounts. Right image: the Manage Identifiers link that replaces the Reserve DOI link for users at some institutions.*

With the Item Type Based Metadata release, Figshare institutions will see the following Item actions menu, including an option to Manage Identifiers.

![](https://info.figshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ITBM_institutions_doi.png)

*Image caption: In the Item Type Based Metadata release, institutions will see an Item actions list that includes a Manage Identifiers link.*

Clicking either will open a pop up with some information on using the DOIs and the option to reserve one. ‍ Here’s is the view for figshare.com accounts and some accounts in institution Figshare repositories:

![](https://info.figshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/reserveDOI2-1024x504.png)

*Image caption: figshare.com accounts and other default accounts will see this pop up after clicking Reserve DOI.*

If you are using your institution’s Figshare repository, you may see additional options depending on how your administrators have configured the repository. In addition to reserving a DOI, institutional users may have the option to add a pre-existing DOI or Handle:

![](https://info.figshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/manageIdentifier3-1024x755.png)

*Image caption:* *For accounts at some institutions, the Manage identifiers will open a pop up with options to use a preexisting DOI or reserve a DOI.*

Once a DOI is reserved and before the item becomes public, you can disable the DOI if needed.