How to export your data from Salesforce
Salesforce lets admins export org data as a zipped set of per-object CSV files using the built-in Data Export Service (Setup > Data Export), on a manual, weekly, or monthly schedule depending on edition; for larger or automated pulls, the Data Loader or Bulk API can also export records to CSV.
✓ Verified against Salesforce's official documentation, September 2026
Step by step
- 1Log in as an Admin and go to Setup (gear icon > Setup).
- 2In the Quick Find box, search for and click "Data Export".
- 3Click "Export Now" (available immediately if the minimum interval since the last export has passed) or "Schedule Export" to set up a recurring weekly/monthly export.
- 4Choose export options, including whether to replace carriage returns, and whether to include images, documents, and attachments.
- 5Select which objects to include, or leave all selected to export the full org.
- 6Submit the request; Salesforce processes it as a background job and emails you when the export file(s) are ready.
- 7Return to Setup > Data Export and download the generated ZIP file(s), which contain one CSV per exported object.
- 8Download promptly — generated export files are only kept for a limited time before Salesforce deletes them.
What the export includes
- ✓One CSV file per standard and custom object you select (Accounts, Contacts, Leads, Opportunities, custom objects, etc.), packaged in a ZIP
- ✓Field data the exporting user has access to
- ✓Classic attachments and documents/images if that option is checked during export
What it doesn't include
- ✗Org metadata/configuration such as workflow rules, flows, Apex code, page layouts, and permission sets (these require the Metadata API or Change Sets, not Data Export)
- ✗Salesforce Files (Content) in some cases, as distinct from classic Attachments
- ✗Chatter feed data and activity history beyond what's stored on standard objects
- ✗Any records the exporting user's profile/sharing rules don't grant access to
Before you start
- ⚠Data Export Service enforces a minimum interval between exports — weekly (7 days) or monthly (29-31 days) depending on your edition — you can't run it on demand every day
- ⚠Export runs as an asynchronous background job; large orgs can take a long time to generate and may split object data into multiple CSV files
- ⚠Generated export ZIP files are only available for download for a limited window before Salesforce removes them, so download immediately after the completion email
- ⚠Data Export is a data-only export — it does not back up your org's configuration/metadata, so leaving Salesforce also means separately exporting or rebuilding automations, layouts, and custom code
- ⚠For very large data volumes or automated/API-driven extraction, admins typically use Data Loader or the Bulk API instead of the UI-based Data Export Service
Where to take your data
Free and cheaper tools that can take a Salesforce export. See all Salesforce alternatives →
HubSpot Free CRM
Use HubSpot's Import tool to upload the Accounts/Contacts/Leads/Opportunities CSVs from your Salesforce export and map columns to HubSpot properties.
Pipedrive
Use Pipedrive's Data Import (CSV) feature to map the exported Accounts/Contacts/Opportunities CSVs to Pipedrive's Organizations, People, and Deals.
Use Attio's CSV import to load the exported object CSVs into matching Attio objects/records, mapping fields during import.
Exporting from Salesforce: common questions
Does the Salesforce export include file attachments?+
Only if you select the option to include images, documents, and attachments when running the export; Salesforce Files (Content) may not be fully captured this way, so check your downloaded ZIP before relying on it.
How often can I export my Salesforce data?+
It depends on your edition: weekly exports are available on Enterprise, Unlimited, Performance, and Developer Edition, while Professional Edition orgs are limited to monthly exports; you can't trigger an export more often than that minimum interval.
Is Data Export Service available on every Salesforce plan?+
No — it requires Professional Edition or higher; check Setup > Data Export in your org to confirm availability and confirm your profile has the Data Export permission.
What's the difference between Data Export Service and Data Loader?+
Data Export Service is a point-and-click, scheduled full-org export to CSV via Setup, while Data Loader (or the Bulk API) is a separate tool for exporting (or importing) specific objects/records on demand, often used for larger or more frequent data pulls.
Does exporting data cancel my Salesforce subscription?+
No, exporting data is a separate action from account cancellation — you still need to contact Salesforce or your account rep to cancel or downgrade your subscription.
Will my exported CSVs include my org's automations and customizations?+
No, Data Export only pulls record data, not configuration like workflows, flows, Apex, or page layouts; rebuilding those in a new tool has to be done manually.
Sources
This guide was written from Salesforce's own documentation and checked against it in September 2026. If a step has changed, the official page wins.
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