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What Release Version Will My Salesforce Sandbox Be On After Refreshing?

Publiseringsdato: Jun 15, 2026
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Overview

Salesforce releases are staggered, which means it is possible for a production organization and its related sandboxes to be on different major release versions at the same time. Understanding how Salesforce determines the release version of a refreshed sandbox helps you plan your development and release testing strategy.

General Guidelines for Sandbox Release Versions

The following rules always apply when creating or refreshing a Salesforce Sandbox:

  • The release version of a newly created or refreshed sandbox always matches the release version of its production organization at the time of copy. There are no exceptions to this rule.

  • Refreshes and newly created sandboxes are typically directed to release preview instances. Sandbox preview instances receive major Salesforce releases approximately one month in advance of the earliest production instance release, to allow for review and testing of new features.

  • Sandbox copies are generally directed to preview instances, except during the period after the release preview window has closed and before the production organization's instance receives the next major release. For more details, see: Can we add our sandbox to or remove it from the release preview without a refresh?

  • For details on preview windows, preview and non-preview instances, and guidance on whether to refresh and when, check the Sandbox Preview Instructions article.
Løsning

Scenario 1 — Refreshing During an Active Preview Window

Assume there is an ongoing release preview for Winter '20, and your production instance is currently on Summer '19.

  • If the sandbox is created or refreshed and completes before the end of the preview window, it is directed to a preview instance that receives the Winter '20 release in advance.

  • If the sandbox is refreshed after the preview window has closed, it is directed to a non-preview instance and remains on the Summer '19 release (since the sandbox always matches the production release version at the time of refresh). 

Scenario 2 — Production Receives Release Before Sandbox Instance

During major releases, there may be circumstances where your production instance receives the release upgrade earlier than your sandbox's instance.

  • Example: Production Version is Winter '20 but your sandbox instance has not yet received Winter '20.

  • If you refresh your sandbox in this scenario, the sandbox receives the Winter '20 version (matching production at the time of the copy).

Key Principle

The release version of a sandbox is always determined by the production organization's release version at the moment the refresh completes — not by the sandbox instance's current release version.

 

Knowledge-artikkelnummer

000385519

 
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Salesforce Help | Article