You add a SAMSON Extension from the Marketplace, return to your molecular model, and can’t find the feature you expected. It’s a common and frustrating moment: the extension may not have installed yet, may not support your setup, or may provide a tool that doesn’t appear where you first looked.
Before removing it or adding it again, work through these checks in order. They help distinguish an installation problem from an extension that is present but exposed somewhere else in SAMSON.
1. Check platform and version compatibility
Open the extension’s page on SAMSON Connect and look just below its name for its availability. Confirm that it supports both your operating system and the version of SAMSON you are running. An extension that is unavailable for your platform will not become usable just because it was added to your account. If the page says it should be available but your operating system is not listed, contact the SAMSON team.
Availability is also worth checking when working on a shared project across computers: an extension that works on one colleague’s system may not be offered for another operating system or SAMSON version.
2. Restart SAMSON if it was already open
Newly added extensions are downloaded and installed when SAMSON launches. If you added an extension while SAMSON was running, close and restart the application, then give it a chance to complete its startup checks. SAMSON also checks for extension updates when it launches; extension updates are provided for the latest SAMSON version, so keeping the application current can matter.
3. Look for the kind of tool the extension provides
Not every extension adds a visible app or editor. Some provide importers or exporters, visual or interaction models, render presets, commands, or other capabilities. So, an extension can be installed successfully without adding a new button to the place you expected.
For apps, check Home > Apps. Editors are available from the editors menu on the left side of the viewport. You can also use Find everything at the top of SAMSON to search for apps, editors, and commands. If you don’t find anything there, consider whether the extension might instead contribute a different type of tool, such as an importer or visual model. The extension’s page and description can help clarify what it includes.
4. Use the SAMSON Log to check what happened
If the extension appears compatible and you have restarted SAMSON, open Interface > Show log. Filter the log for the extension’s name. This can help you see whether SAMSON loaded it and whether an issue was reported. Red lines indicate problems to investigate.
If you need help, use the log’s Submit button and include your user email and a short description of what you were trying to do. That gives the support team useful context alongside the log, rather than leaving them to guess which extension or setup is involved.
A quick checklist
- Confirm the extension supports your operating system and SAMSON version.
- Restart SAMSON if it was open when you added the extension.
- Search for the extension’s actual tool type—not only for a new app or editor.
- Check the log and submit it with a clear problem description if something looks wrong.
For more answers about accounts, installation, updates, and extensions, see the SAMSON FAQ.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.