Reactivate the deactivated picklist values with Metadata API

Step 1: Create a Package.xml Retrieval File

Create a package.xml file in a text editor. The file should specify the API version and the object whose picklist values you want to retrieve. For example, to retrieve the Lead object, set the <members> element to Lead and the <name> element to CustomObject. Use API version 37.0 or later.

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
   <version>37.0</version>
<types>
       <members>Lead</members>
       <name>CustomObject</name>
   </types>
</Package>

Step 2: Retrieve the Object Metadata

Using the Metadata API file-based retrieve method, submit the package.xml to retrieve the object metadata from your org. Unzip the retrieved package, preserving the folder structure.

 

Step 3: Locate the Picklist Field Definition

Open the XML file for the relevant object (found under the objects folder). Search for the picklist field definition. The field entry contains <fullName>, <picklist>, and <picklistValues> elements. Each active value has a <fullName> and <default> element. Inactive values have the same structure but may include an <isActive>false</isActive> element.

 

<fields>
        <fullName>TestPicklistField</fullName>
        <picklist>
            <picklistValues>
                <fullName>Service</fullName>
                <default>false</default>
            </picklistValues>
            <picklistValues>
                <fullName>Sales</fullName>
                <default>false</default>
            </picklistValues>
            <picklistValues>
                <fullName>Marketing</fullName>
                <default>false</default>
            </picklistValues>
</fields>

Step 4: Add Entries for Each Inactive Value

For each inactive picklist value you want to reactivate, add or update its <picklistValues> entry so that it does NOT contain <isActive>false</isActive>. If the entry is missing entirely, add a new entry with the value's <fullName> and <default>false</default>.

 

<picklistValues>
         <fullName>Inactive Value</fullName>
         <default>false</default>
</picklistValues>

Step 5: Redeploy the Modified Package

Save the updated XML file, rezip the unpackaged folder into a new .zip file (with a different name than the original), and deploy it back to the org using the Metadata API deploy method. The inactive picklist values will now appear as active in the org.