Mathematica

For decades, Mathematica has defined the state of the art in technical computing—and provided the principal computation environment for millions of innovators, educators, students, and others around the world.

01/29/2026: Caltech users accessing Mathematica resources on the https://account.wolfram.com website will now use access.caltech credentials to login.

Instructions

Retrieve Caltech's Mathematica license server address information from your software.caltech.edu Mathematica purchase receipt.

Standalone vs. Network Desktop Installations:

• If you plan on using Mathematica when your computer is connected to the Caltech network, IMSS strongly recommends you do a network installation of Mathematica. If you need to run Mathematica without being connected to the Caltech network, you will need to do a standalone installation. Standalone installations require that you update your license file every year.
• Network installations do not require you to change your license file, since IMSS changes the license file on the license server for you.
• For standalone installations of Mathematica, the MathID number can be found in the dialog box viewed upon installation. (The top of this dialog box says, "Please personalize your copy of Mathematica.") You may also retrieve a MathID number as the value of $MachineID from within Mathematica.
• Network installations of Mathematica don't need a MathID to use the network license server.
• Mathematica for Students is only available as a stand alone installation.

Network activation instructions for Mathematica (Desktop):

1. After Installation, launch Mathematica.
2. The Wolfram Product Activation dialog appears on your screen. Click Other ways to activate.
3. From the activation method dialog, select Connect to a Network License Server.
4. Enter the license server address information from your software.caltech.edu Mathematica purchase receiptand click Activate.

Standalone activation instructions for Mathematica (Desktop):

• After installation, launch Mathematica.
• The Wolfram Product Activation dialog appears on your screen. Enter your activation key. To get an activation key, go to:

• You will need to login with your access.caltech credentials.
• Complete the form to have an activation key emailed to you. Upon receipt of the activation key, enter the activation key and click Activate.

Standalone Installations for Mathematica expire annually on January 1st. To renew your Mathematica standalone license:

1. Launch Mathematica and Click on 'Enter Password' when you receive the license error.
2. Enter the license number from your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt.
3. You can view your purchase receipt by logging in and clicking on 'Your Account/Orders'.
4. The next screen will display your MathID number. Click on 'Web' to go directly to http://register.wolfram.com to obtain a new password.
5. If you are given the option of entering a network license server, please enter the license server address information from your software.caltech.edu Mathematica purchase receipt.
6. You must enter a valid @caltech.edu email address to have a password sent to you.

Mathematica Online

Product details: https://www.wolfram.com/mathematica/online/

Getting Access

• Go to https://www.wolframcloud.com/?setsessiontheme=MONLINE
• Select "Sign In", then enter your Caltech email address and sign in using your Caltech username and password
  

Wolfram|Alpha Pro

Product details: https://www.wolframalpha.com/pro/

Getting Access

• Go to https://www.wolframalpha.com/ and select "Sign In" (upper right-hand corner)
• Select "Sign In", then enter your Caltech email address and sign in using your Caltech username and password
  

Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition

Product details: https://www.wolfram.com/wolfram-alpha-notebook-edition/

Getting Access

• Go to https://www.wolframcloud.com/?setsessiontheme=wanotebookedition
• Select "Sign In", then enter your Caltech email address and sign in using your Caltech username and password

To install Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition on the desktop:

• Go to https://www.wolfram.com/siteinfo/
• Enter your Caltech email address and click Continue
• Click the link to download the Wolfram app for your operating system
• When prompted to activate through your organization (SSO), sign in with your Caltech login (for details, see instructions: https://support.wolfram.com/54713)