Hey, how can we help?

Secure your BioRender account and safeguard your team’s scientific work with two-factor authentication (2FA). This added layer of protection helps prevent unauthorized access and ensures compliance with modern security standards.

Starting February 10, 2025, two-factor authentication (2FA) will be mandatory for an initial group of Premium accounts. All remaining premium account holders will be automatically enrolled on February 24, 2025.

All affected users will receive an email notification specifying their enforcement date. Please check your email inbox to confirm when 2FA setup will be required for your account.

Sections in this guide:

• How to enable and manage 2FA in BioRender as an administrator
• How to request extra time to complete 2FA setup as an administrator
• How to use 2FA if you are a member of a team or organization
• How to enable 2FA as an individual user
• Why BioRender requires two-factor authentication
• Frequently asked questions

How to enable and manage 2FA in BioRender

If you’re an admin

Admins can enable 2FA early and choose which authentication methods are available to their team. If no action is taken, 2FA will automatically be enabled on the enforcement date.

1. Log in to your BioRender account.
2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select "Edit Profile & Settings".

3. Go to the "Settings" tab.

4. Click "Enable Two-Factor Authentication".

5. Choose the authentication methods you want to allow. You will need to select one:
   1. Authenticator app (recommended)
   2. Email

   3. SMS (availability varies by region)

      

6. Click "Save changes:
7. Review member accounts in your “Account Overview & User Tab”. You will see if 2FA has been enabled under the “2FA” column. 

How to reset 2FA for users in BioRender if you are an administrator

Reset 2FA for an individual user

1. Go to your “Account Overview and Users” tab.
2. Find the user whose 2FA needs to be reset.
3. Click the 'more options' menu represented by "..." next to the user's name.
4. Select "Reset 2FA".
5. Confirm the reset when prompted.

Bulk reset 2FA for multiple users

1. In the Account Overview and Users” tab, check the box next to each user you want to reset.
2. Click the "Actions" dropdown at the top.
3. Select "Reset 2FA".
4. Confirm the reset action.

Admins can also change allowed methods anytime before enforcement. Members will be prompted to set up 2FA the next time they log in after it's enabled.

How to request extra time to complete 2FA setup as an administrator

If you're unable to complete 2FA setup by your enforcement date, an organizational or team Administrator may request a short-term, 30 day exemption.

To request an extension, the admin must contact BioRender Support (support@biorender.com) before the enforcement date. These exceptions are limited and are used for time-sensitive cases.

If approved, the extension will allow affected users a short 30 day grace period before March 10th to complete setup.

What admins need to provide when requesting a 2FA exemption

When contacting BioRender Support to request a short-term exemption, Admins must provide the following information:

• Organization name
• List of affected user emails
• Reason for the delay
• Planned completion date for 2FA setup

Note: Exemptions are temporary. All team and organizational accounts must complete 2FA setup as soon as possible.

If you’re a member of a team or organization

Your setup timing may vary based on your team or your organization’s 2FA settings. 

If your Admin has already enabled 2FA, you'll complete the setup the next time you sign in with their chosen, preferred method (Authenticator app, SMS, Email).

Logging in with 2FA for the first time

1. Navigate to your log in page (If 2FA has been enabled for your account, proceed to step 2).
2. If you are part of an organization or team, your authentication method will become available. If a specific authentication method is not visible, it means the option has been disabled or excluded by your administrator.
   • Authenticator app (recommended)
   • SMS (if available)
   • Email 

3. Follow the prompts to complete setup.
4. Enter the verification code to secure your account (example below is for email authentication).

Recovery code 

If it is your first time setting up 2FA, you will be prompted to save your recovery code. We recommend copying it and keeping it somewhere safe.

How to enable and manage 2FA in BioRender

How to enable 2FA as an individual user

You may be prompted to set up 2FA earlier, depending on where your account falls in the phased rollout.

1. Log in to your BioRender account at biorender.com.
2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select "Edit Profile & Settings".
3. Navigate to the "Settings" tab.

4. Select “Authentication” under settings.
5. Select "Enable 2FA”.

6. Save your changes.
7. You will then be prompted to select your preferred verification method.

8. Next time you log in, you will be prompted to log in with 2FA through your preferred method.

Why BioRender requires two-factor authentication

2FA helps secure the scientific work created on the platform. This change supports industry-standard security and compliance expectations across research, organizational, and team environments.

What to expect during the 2FA rollout and grace period

• 2FA is being rolled out in phases. Some accounts may be prompted earlier based on their cohort or Admin settings.
• For teams and premium members who have an optional enrollment period, this will allow a short period to prepare before enforcement begins.
• After February 24, 2026 premium users who haven’t set up 2FA will be prompted to do so the next time they log in.
• Time-limited exemptions may be available by admins but must be requested in advance and resolved quickly.
• 2FA will be required for all Premium BioRender users, regardless of subscription type.

Frequently asked questions

I wasn’t prompted to set up 2FA yet - should I be concerned?

Please check your email (and junk mail folder) to see where you are in the phased rollout.

I can’t access my 2FA method anymore. What should I do next?

Contact your Admin or BioRender Support for help restoring access. 

Can I choose which method to use for 2FA?

Yes. You can select from the available options if they are available for your region. If you do not see a specific method available, it is not an option at this time. 

If you are on a Team or Organizational license, your Admin will have set the preference: authenticator app, email, or SMS (where supported).

Why are some people seeing 2FA earlier than others?

BioRender is rolling out 2FA in phases. Your setup timing may vary depending on where your account falls in the phased rollout.

What happens if I do nothing?

You’ll be required to complete 2FA setup the next time you sign in after it’s enforced for your account.

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.

Looking to publish your BioRender figure? This guide will walk you through how to export your figure properly, cite it correctly, understand the license terms, and know who has publishing rights. 

Can I publish my figure in a journal?

How to export a figure for publication

Only users on a Premium plan (except for the Undergrad Plan) can generate a publication license.

Step-by-Step:

1. Open your figure in the BioRender Editor or Gallery
2. Click “Export”
3. Check  ☑️ “I would like a publication license with this export”
4. Enter your figure title and manuscript info
5. Select “Yes” if publishing open-access or “No” if closed-access.
6. Click “Download License”. You’ll get a PDF document of the license and a Unique Citation + URL for your figure.

If you forget to download the license, simply re-export the same figure (as long as you still have Premium access) to generate a license.

Citation Guidelines

When you export with a publication license, BioRender will generate an Unique Citation + URL. You can include the citation in the figure legend, references section, or acknowledgments. Check which aligns with your journal’s preferences. 

Your citation will look like this:

Created in BioRender. Smith, J. (2025). BioRender.com/c248457

Which citation do I use?

⚠️ If you’re using a free trial or undergrad account, you do not have publishing rights. 

Do I need to be the first author to publish my figure?

If you're on an Individual plan: 

You must appear as one of the following author positions:

• First author,
• Co-first author, or
• Last author

If you’re a middle author, or not listed as an author, you cannot publish the figure.

If you're on a Team, Lab, Institutional, or Enterprise plan: You can publish BioRender figures regardless of your author order (even if you're not listed as an author at all).

Publishing Checklist

Before submitting your manuscript, make sure you’ve completed all the steps below:

✅ You’re on a Premium BioRender plan (Individual, Team, Lab, or Institutional)

✅ You exported your figure with a publication license

✅ You selected the correct journal type:

• "Yes" for open-access journals (CC-BY 4.0 license)
• "No" for closed-access journals

✅ You included your unique citation + URL in your manuscript

Generally, you do not need a publishing license at the submission stage of a journal article. While a publication license is required for allowing a journal to publish your work, it is typically requested after your manuscript has been accepted for publication. We recommend keeping a copy of your publication license for your records if you are exporting it during the submission stage.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to export a separate CC-BY license and publication license? 

No. Selecting "Yes" for open-access in the export flow gives you a combined CC-BY 4.0 publication license.

Can I change a figure from closed to open-access later? 

Yes. Simply generate a new publication license with updated settings.

What if I edit my figure after exporting it?

Re-export it to generate an updated license and citation link.

I submitted my paper but forgot to include a BioRender citation or license. What should I do?

If your figure was exported properly, you still have rights to publish it. Reach out to your journal to see if the license PDF or citation can be included during revisions or proofs.

Do I need a publication license at the submission stage of my article?

Generally, you do not need a publishing license at the submission stage. While a publication license is required for allowing a journal to publish your work, it is typically requested after your manuscript has been accepted for publication. We recommend keeping a copy of your publication license for your records if you are exporting it during the submission stage.

Related articles

• How to cite your BioRender figure
• Publishing in open-access resources
• Publishing in closed-access resources
• Publication License: Terms of Use
• Author listing requirements for publishing BioRender figures
• How to reuse and republish a BioRender figure (without modifications)

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.

With ChemRender Beta, you can generate accurate 2D chemical structures directly in BioRender using either a molecule name or a SMILES string (a common chemistry format). You can then fine-tune the look (like atom colors and line thickness), plus resize, rotate, and adjust transparency.

Ways to add a molecule

You can import a molecule in two ways:

1. Search by molecule name (best for common, known compounds)
2. Paste a SMILES string (best for novel or non-public compounds)

💡 Tip: For reaction schemes, import each reactant/product molecule individually, then build the scheme in BioRender using arrows and labels.

1. Importing by molecule name

BioRender searches for named molecules in NIH’s PubChem repository.

Steps to import by name:

1. Open BioRender Editor
   • Select ChemRender from the side panel.
2. Search by name
   • Type a common name (for best results) or other synonym.
3. Visually inspect the matched molecule
   • Check the corresponding 2D structure and the matched name that appears below.
4. Add to the canvas
   • Translate, resize and rotate the molecule to fit your illustration
5. Use the edit panel to adjust style
   • Adjust styling like atom colors, thickness (bold/heavy lines), and transparency

💡 Tip: If your first search doesn’t work, try another common synonym. Some identifiers (like CAS numbers or manufacturer IDs) can work, but are not as reliable as more common names.

2. Importing by SMILES

SMILES is a common chemistry format and encodes a molecule’s structure in a text string (for example, aspirin’s SMILES string is : CC(=O)OC1=CC=CC=C1C(=O)O).

Steps to import by SMILES:

1. Open BioRender Editor
   • Select ChemRender from the side panel.
2. Render your SMILES string
   • Paste in your SMILES string.
3. Visually inspect the resulting molecule
   • Check the corresponding 2D structure
   • Note: Structures from SMILES will not have a name associated with it.
4. Add to the canvas
   • Translate, resize and rotate the molecule to fit your illustration
5. Use the edit panel to adjust style
   • Adjust styling like atom colors, thickness (bold/heavy lines), and transparency

💡 Tip: If you’re importing with SMILES, make sure stereochemistry is included in the string (for example using @ / @@). If it’s missing, the imported structure won’t specify stereochemistry.

Frequently asked questions

What file formats does ‘ChemRender’ support?

Currently, a molecule’s name and SMILES are supported.

Does ‘ChemRender’ support stereochemistry?

ChemRender supports stereochemistry. If you add a molecule by its name, it will visualize the known stereochemistry in the retrieved structure. If you import by SMILES, stereochemistry must be encoded in the SMILES; otherwise it won’t be specified.

Can ‘ChemRender’ support reaction schemes?

Full reaction scheme import isn’t supported, but you can import the individual small molecules and build schemes using BioRender arrows/textboxes.

How do I get a SMILES string?

• Export/copy SMILES from tools like ChemDraw or ChemSketch.
• Many computational chemistry workflows output SMILES.
• You can also look up examples on PubChem by searching a molecule of interest

Why does my molecule look different?

A SMILES string doesn’t include 2D coordinates, so the chemical structure is generated algorithmically. As a result, the same SMILES can generate structures that look different across tools while maintaining the exact same information. Also, related molecules may render with different orientations.

What kinds of molecules can I import?

• Best suited for single small molecules.
• Complex ring systems/stereocenters can produce artifacts in automated 2D rendering.
• Multi-component molecules may work, but results aren’t guaranteed (e.g., multiple APIs/salts).
• Large macromolecules (peptides/DNA/RNA) can be encoded in SMILES, but 2D structures aren’t the preferred representation (other formats like HELM are better suited).

Can ‘ChemRender’ support ChemDraw files?

Not at this time - proprietary formats like ChemDraw .cdx aren’t supported. You will need to export from ChemDraw (or similar) as SMILES, then use that to draw your novel molecule. Or you can use a molecule’s name if available.

How does ‘ChemRender’ compare to ChemDraw?

ChemRender focuses on generating an accurate 2D structure from SMILES with limited styling edits; it does not support full atom-level editing and other features available on ChemDraw. We see ChemRender as a first step to building additional tools to help visualize chemistry.

Need help or have feedback?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the web app on the bottom right-hand corner.

We’re excited to share the new BioRender canvas-built to make scientific figure creation faster, simpler, and more intuitive. The new canvas features a refreshed layout, smarter search powered by AI, and streamlined editing tools that help you move from idea to finished figure.

To learn how to opt in and start using the new canvas, please refer to this article.

Whether you're starting from a blank canvas or customizing a ready-made template, everything’s been rethought to save you time and help you stay focused on your science.

Explore the key updates below, and check out the related articles at the end for guides on using specific features.

New features at a glance

• Personalized template recommendations
• Smart search
• Context bar for quick actions
• Multi-selection and alignment
• Unified export and sharing
• Clean canvas editing

1. Personalized template recommendations

When you create a new illustration, the editor now suggests relevant templates based on your field of research. This allows you to start with a pre-made template that closely matches your research needs.

2. Smart search

The new search bar supports natural language processing (NLP), allowing you to quickly search for multiple items at once. For example, typing "glycine, proline, serine" will return results for all three in a single search. 

3. Context bar for quick actions

A Quick Edit menu provides easy access to relevant actions like:

• Color adjustments via presets
• Layer reordering
• Flip and crop tools

If you need more advanced options, an Edit Panel is available at the click of a button.

4. Multi-selection and alignment

Selecting multiple items is now simpler than ever with 'Shift + Click'. Once multiple elements are selected, the context bar updates dynamically to display alignment and arrangement options, making it easier to organize your illustration neatly.

5. Unified export and sharing

The 'Share menu' now consolidates export and collaboration options in one place.

You can:

• Export figures just like before
• Invite collaborators via email
• Generate and copy shareable links
• Copy your figure directly to Microsoft PowerPoint

6. Clean canvas editing

The canvas stays visually minimal to support a clean and uncluttered layout. To edit the canvas, simply click on it and the editing options will appear.

Related articles

• How to opt in or opt out of the new BioRender canvas
• Personalized template & icon recommendations
• How to use AI powered Smart Search

What's next? 

Watch this video to get a hands-on walkthrough of the new BioRender canvas and explore all the latest features: 🎥 Watch the All-New Canvas Tutorial

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.