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Grid Tools First-Run Activation Guide

Installing the extension is only half of the setup for paid plans. Signing in from the extension links your browser session to your Grid Tools account, verifies your entitlement tier, and unlocks the correct set of tools. The free tools work without an account, but users who skip sign-in find paid features locked or tools that appear inactive.

Without Grid Tools

The daily workaround

Toolbar visible but tools locked
Without completing activation, the toolbar shows but Pro tools display as unavailable even if a subscription was purchased.
No sign-in prompt appears automatically
The activation flow requires clicking the Grid Tools icon in the browser toolbar — it does not launch on its own after install.
Entitlement tier unclear
First-time users often cannot tell whether they are on Free, Pro, or Team, or which specific tools each plan includes.
Sign-in confusion with Smartsheet accounts
Grid Tools uses its own account system, separate from your Smartsheet login, which causes confusion during first-run setup.
Screenshot: Grid Tools toolbar with Pro tools shown as locked
Grid Tools toolbar with Pro tools shown as locked
Screenshot: Extension popup before sign-in showing no account linked
Extension popup before sign-in showing no account linked
Screenshot: Grid Tools popup Account section while signed out
Popup Account section before email-code verification

With Grid Tools

How Grid Tools handles it

Passwordless sign-in
Open the popup, enter your email, send a code, and verify the 6-digit code from your email.
Free, Pro, or Team status
After sign-in, the popup shows the current plan and any applicable daily usage counter while entitled tools unlock.
Separate account from Smartsheet explained
The guide clarifies that your Grid Tools account is independent of your Smartsheet login and explains why.
Confirmation checklist at the end
Verify the popup sign-in status, Account plan, daily usage when applicable, toolbar lock state, and at least one expected tool.
Screenshot: Grid Tools extension icon in browser toolbar prompting first-run activation
Grid Tools extension icon in browser toolbar prompting first-run activation
Screenshot: Grid Tools sign-in panel open inside the browser extension popup
Grid Tools sign-in panel open inside the browser extension popup
Screenshot: Grid Tools popup Account section showing Pro after successful verification
Popup Account section showing the verified Pro plan

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Grid Tools account to use the free tools?

No. The free tools work without an account. Signing in links your Grid Tools account so a Pro or Team subscription can unlock the full toolkit.

Is my Grid Tools account the same as my Smartsheet account?

No. Grid Tools uses a separate account system. You sign in to Grid Tools through the browser extension popup, not through Smartsheet.

What if my Pro tools are still locked after signing in?

Verify that the email used to sign in matches the email on your Grid Tools subscription. If it still does not unlock, see the troubleshooting guide.

Does activation need to be repeated in each browser?

Yes. If you use both Chrome and Firefox, you need to complete the activation flow separately in each browser.

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