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Request to Export Data in Salesforce When Your Organization is Locked

Publish Date: May 18, 2026
Description

This article explains how to request a courtesy Data Export if your organization has been locked, suspended, or put on hold due to expired contracts or payment issues. Data exports are available during a limited grace period before data is permanently deleted. Organizations with LOCKED status have 120 days, while HOLD status organizations have 30 days before deletion. You can request a courtesy Data Export in the event that your organization has been locked, put on hold, or suspended.

 

Resolution

Requesting a Data Export

To request a Data Export, please contact Support to create a case with Salesforce Support  and provide the following information:
 

1. What is Organization ID or username of the production instance needing the export? 
2. Are you the System Administrator authorized on behalf of this organization to request this export (A System Admin will need to login to retrieve the export file)? 
3. Do you have access to the System Admin email address on file for this org? If not, please see our process for changing the System Administrator: Unable to change your Salesforce system administrator
 

Accessing the Exported Data

Once Salesforce Support has received the above details, we will then initiate a full Data Export. Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Log in using your most recent username and password. 
2. Initiate a Data Export:
Lightning:
Click the Gear icon and select Setup | Data | Data Export.
Classic:
Go to Setup | Search for Data Export in the Quick Find Box | Data Export
3. Click the Download link to download the .zip file to your computer.

Feature Notes:

  • You may also receive a notification email once the Export is complete. If so, you can also use the link in the email to navigate to the login page and retrieve the export. The link is only active for 48-hours after completion of the export. 

  • This is a courtesy intended solely to provide access to exported Organization data, not to temporarily resume normal operation within an Organization or for any other access. Requesting/regaining full access to organizations with 'Expired', 'Hold' or 'Locked' status requires your Organization's Account Executive. 

Knowledge Article Number

000385860

 
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Salesforce Help | Article