Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, you can download our apps from the App Store to your iPad or iPhone.  Access to the Scientific American or Scientific American Mind Tablet Edition for iPad is included with all Scientific American or Scientific American Mind Subscription Plans. Alternatively, iPad-only subscriptions and single issues of the Scientific American and Scientific American Mind Tablet Editions may be purchased via Apple within the App.

Also, it's important that your iOS is up-to-date.

The Tablet Edition for iPad is included with all individual subscriptions.  If you subscribe to Scientific American and/or to Scientific American Mind, simply download the app from the App Store to your iPhone or iPad and follow the instructions provided here in the FAQ to activate your access.

If you purchased your subscription here on our website, your digital access was activated with your online purchase.  If you purchased your subscription over the phone or via an offer mailed to you, you can activate your access with the following instructions.  You will need your account number to complete these instructions; please call us at 800-333-1199 if you do not have it handy:

If you do not have an account at ScientificAmerican.com already:
Go to www.ScientificAmerican.com and click on Register.
Click on the "I am already a subscriber" box.
Enter your account number.
Click on "Look up Account"
Complete the fields which were not populated by your account information.
Agree to our Terms of Use
Click Create My Account

You will need to verify your account with an email that will be automatically sent to you.  Check your spam folder for this email if you do not receive it right away.  When your account is verified, and you can see your qualifying subscription in My Account at ScientificAmerican.com, the same email and password will work in our iPad app.
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The iPad app downloads directly into your iPad or iPhone's Newsstand.

If you already have an account at ScientificAmerican.com, please sign in and then select My Subscriptions from the My Account menu.  If you do not see your subscription there, please click on "Don't see all your subscriptions?", enter your account number in the field that pops up, and click on Add.

When your subscription is visible in My Subscriptions, you can then sign into the App with the same email and password that you use to sign into ScientificAmerican.com.

Our iPad app recognizes your email address as your username, not your screen name.

Please make sure that you completed all necessary steps for authentication.  This means that you will have to verify your account via a link sent to you in the verification email.  The email is automated and is sometimes sent to your spam or junk folder.

If you still require assistance, please email your account details to ipad@sciam.com or call 1-800-333-1199 to reach our Customer Care Representatives.  We would be happy to assist you!

To discuss your Apple subscription or in-App purchase, please contact Apple:  http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098

Apple customers should not use the in-App sign-in for Scientific American customers. If you are an Apple customer, tap the gear in the upper right corner, then tap “Restore All Purchases” to reset your Apple subscription/purchase.

The app allows you to download and view issues of Scientific American's Tablet Edition. The Tablet Edition includes all of the editorial content featured in a print issue of Scientific American, as well as bonus interactive material. You can also purchase single issues or iPad-only subscriptions from within the app.

The Scientific American Tablet Edition contains everything in the print magazine, from cover to cover, plus multimedia extras such as audio, video, and slide shows.

The app contains full issues from July 2012 forward. Archival issues are not available at this time. 

When you open the Scientific American Tablet Edition for iPad app, it will tell you if there is a new issue ready for download. You can also get update notices from the App Store when new issues are available.

Sharing of purchased issues is not available.

Yes! To subscribe to both please click here.

The app itself is free. Once installed on your iPad, issues from July 2012 forward are available at no cost, and you can either purchase single issues for $5.99 or purchase a subscription ($34.99 for a year) to download issues as they become available. The iPad edition is included for active US, Canadian, and International Scientific American Print and Digital subscribers who purchased their subscriptions at the suggested retail price. Other subscribers may upgrade their subscriptions by extending their current subscriptions by one year.

If you buy a subscription through the App Store or your iTunes account, your subscription with Apple will automatically renew until you cancel it. Here is a link to more information from the App Store: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098

Your subscription will automatically renew until you cancel it through your iTunes or GooglePlay account.

For assistance with your iTunes purchase: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098

For assistance with your GooglePlay purchase:  https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7018481

After you re-install the app and launch it, a dialog box will appear that says "Do you want to restore your previous purchases?" Tap the "Restore" button and enter your iTunes password. If this dialog box does not appear, or you would like to restore your purchases at another time, tap the gear in the upper right corner of the Library view and select "Restore All Purchases."

At this time, we only offer an app for iPad.  However our new website design allows you to view, purchase, and enjoy paid material from any mobile device.  

Please send your questions to ipad@sciam.com.