You find an extension that looks useful, add it through SAMSON Connect, and then open SAMSON expecting to see a new tool. Nothing seems to have changed. Before adding it again or assuming it failed, work through a few checks: the extension may not support your setup, may be waiting for a restart, or may provide something other than a visible app or editor.
1. Check compatibility first
Open the extension’s page on SAMSON Connect and look beneath its name for the operating systems and SAMSON versions it supports. An extension that is unavailable for your operating system or the version you are using may not appear in SAMSON. Some default extensions may also depend on your current plan.
The documentation illustrates where to check operating-system availability:
If the extension is not available for your platform, contact the team through the SAMSON Connect Forum or by email at contact@samson-connect.net.
2. Restart SAMSON if it was already open
SAMSON downloads and installs newly added extensions when it launches. If you added an extension while SAMSON was running, close and relaunch the program so it can pick up the new addition. This is an easy step to miss: adding an extension on the website does not necessarily make it appear immediately in an already-running session.
3. Look for what the extension actually provides
Not every extension adds a button or a panel. Some provide apps, which you can look for under Home > Apps; others provide editors, available from the editor menu on the left side of the viewport. But extensions can also add importers, exporters, visual or interaction models, render presets, commands, and other functionality.
Use Find everything at the top of SAMSON to search for available apps, editors, and commands. If you are looking for an importer or another feature type, check the extension’s description and documentation rather than relying only on whether a new app or editor is visible.
4. Check the SAMSON Log for evidence
If compatibility and a restart do not explain the issue, open Interface > Show log. Filter the log for the extension’s name. This can help you determine whether SAMSON attempted to load it and whether any errors were reported. The documentation notes that relevant problem lines are colored red.
If you find an error, use the log’s Submit button to send it to the support team. Include your user email and a short description of what you expected to happen. That context makes the log more useful than a report that simply says the extension is missing.
Keep the version in mind
SAMSON checks for extension updates when it launches, but extensions are updated only for the latest version of SAMSON. If you are using an older SAMSON version, update SAMSON when an update is available, then relaunch and check the extension again.
This gives you a practical order of operations: verify platform and version support, restart SAMSON, search for the feature in the right place, and then inspect the log. For the full FAQ and related guidance, see the SAMSON FAQ.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.