Running into issues when installing SAMSON can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to dive into your molecular design projects. One common roadblock experienced by users is encountering an error message that says your credentials are invalid or your activation key does not work. Don’t worry—this blog post will walk you through how to fix it quickly so you can get back to modeling.
What’s Causing the Problem?
The error typically shows up during installation, right after you enter your login credentials and your SAMSON key. It’s usually due to either:
- A mistyped or incorrectly copied key
- Wrong email address (not the one linked to your SAMSON account)
Quick Fix Checklist ✅
Before digging deeper, make sure you’ve checked the following:
- Email match: Are you using the exact same email address you registered with on SAMSON Connect?
- Correct SAMSON Key: Make sure your key does not contain extra characters or spaces. It should be copied exactly from your account.
Where to Find Your SAMSON Key 🔑
If you’re not sure where your SAMSON key is located, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your account at SAMSON Connect
- Go to your Account page
- Copy your SAMSON key from there
You can also access user guides and troubleshooting tips from the Getting Started section of the documentation.
Still Not Working?
If everything looks correct but it’s still not working, there could be an issue with:
- Account activation: Did you receive and click on the confirmation email you got at registration?
- Network restrictions: If you’re installing SAMSON on a university or corporate network, sometimes firewalls block the activation request.
In these cases, you can simply reach out to the SAMSON team at contact@samson-connect.net for fast assistance. Providing your email address and any relevant screenshots can speed up the process.
Pro Tip for Academic Users
If you’re working in academia, be sure to sign up with your institutional email. This enables academic status, which grants access to many Extensions for free and offers significant discounts. Didn’t get your academic status within 1–2 business days? Contact the team for manual validation.
Final Thought
This minor bump in the installation process is usually quick to fix, and once you’re past it, you’ll have access to the full power of SAMSON for your molecular modeling and design workflows.
For more detailed installation FAQs, visit the official SAMSON documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at www.samson-connect.net.