- \n
- Create a full backup with Data Export Service<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Handle large datasets with Data Loader<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Export filtered records through Reports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Run advanced exports via Workbench and APIs<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Export and migrate data with LitExtension experts<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n
\nWhat to Prepare Before You Export Data from Salesforce<\/h2>\n
Before learning how to export data from Salesforce, take a few minutes to prepare your records and export settings. This helps you avoid incomplete files, missing relationships, and unnecessary cleanup after downloading the data.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Define the purpose of the export:<\/strong> Decide whether you need a backup, a report for analysis, or data for migration to another platform. Your goal will determine which objects and fields to include.<\/li>\n
- Identify the required Salesforce objects:<\/strong> List the data you need, such as Accounts, Contacts, Leads, Opportunities, Products, or custom objects. If you plan to export all data from Salesforce, make sure you have enough storage space for multiple CSV files and attachments.<\/li>\n
- Review and clean your records:<\/strong> Remove unnecessary duplicates, correct inconsistent values, and check for missing information. Cleaner source data will make the exported files easier to use.<\/li>\n
- Preserve record relationships:<\/strong> Salesforce connects records through IDs, such as Account IDs and Contact IDs. Keep these fields in your export if you need to maintain relationships during a Salesforce migration<\/a> or re-import<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Plan for sensitive information:<\/strong> Review the selected fields for personal, financial, or confidential data. Store the exported files securely and limit access to authorized users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Once these points are clear, you will be better prepared to extract data from Salesforce.<\/p>\n
\nMethod 1: Export Salesforce Data with the Native Data Export Service<\/h2>\n
\nUse case:<\/strong> Org\u2011wide backup, migration baselines, archival CSV dumps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The native Salesforce Data Export Service allows you to create a full or near-full backup of your Salesforce organization. You can export all or selected standard and custom objects, with the option to include files, images, documents, and attachments.<\/p>\n
Here is how to export data from Salesforce with this service:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Go to Setup<\/strong>, enter Data Export<\/strong> in the Quick Find box, and select Data Export.<\/li>\n
- Choose Export Now<\/strong> for a one-time export or Schedule Export<\/strong> for recurring weekly or monthly backups, depending on your Salesforce edition.<\/li>\n
- Select UTF-8<\/strong> as the encoding format.<\/li>\n
- Choose whether to include images, attachments, Salesforce Files, and document versions.<\/li>\n
- Select Include all data<\/strong> to export everything or choose specific objects.<\/li>\n
- Click Start Export<\/strong>, or Save<\/strong> if you are scheduling the export.<\/li>\n
- Wait for the email from Salesforce, then use the provided link to download the ZIP files containing your data in CSV format.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The export may take up to 48 hours, and the download link is only available for a limited time.<\/p>\n
Once your Salesforce data is exported, you can migrate it to another platform with LitExtension experts managing the entire transfer for you.<\/p>\n
\n\nLet Our Experts Handle Your Store Migration!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
With the All-in-One Migration Service, our experts take care of everything, ensuring a seamless and stress-free migration.<\/p>\n
BOOK FREE CONSULTATION<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/litextension.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2-08-1.png\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nMethod 2: Bulk Export Salesforce Data with Data Loader<\/h2>\n
\nUse case:<\/strong> Migration subsets, incremental exports, complex filters, large data sets beyond report limits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Salesforce Data Loader is a downloadable application for managing Salesforce data in bulk. It lets you select specific objects and fields, apply SOQL filters, and export large datasets to CSV. Follow these steps to get started:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Install and open Salesforce Data Loader<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Click Export<\/strong>, or choose Export All<\/strong> to include archived activities and soft-deleted records.<\/li>\n
- Enter your Salesforce credentials and click Log in<\/strong>. If you are signing in from an untrusted IP address, add your Salesforce security token to the end of your password. For example: mypasswordXXXXXXXXXX<\/li>\n
- After you have logged in successfully, click Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Select the Salesforce object you want to export, such as Account or Contact. If the object is not listed, select Show all objects<\/strong> to display every object you can access.<\/li>\n
- Under Choose a target for extraction<\/strong>, select where you want to save the exported CSV file. You can create a new file or choose an existing one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you select an existing CSV file, Data Loader will replace its current contents. Click Yes to continue or No to choose another file.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Click Next<\/strong>, then choose the fields you want to include.<\/li>\n
- Add filter conditions if you only need certain records. If you do not specify any conditions, Data Loader returns all records for the selected object that you have permission to view.<\/li>\n
- Review the SOQL query generated from your selections. You can edit the query directly if you need more precise filtering.<\/li>\n
- If necessary, use a SOQL relationship query to retrieve fields from a related parent object. For example:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SELECT Id, LastName, Account.Name\r\nFROM Contact<\/pre>\n
- \n
- Fully specified field names in relationship queries are case-sensitive. Data Loader does not support nested queries, child-object queries, or queries that use polymorphic relationships.<\/li>\n
- Click Finish<\/strong>, then select Yes to confirm that you want to begin exporting data from Salesforce.<\/li>\n
- Monitor the operation in the progress window. Once the export is complete, review the result summary and click View Extraction<\/strong> to open the CSV file. Alternatively, click OK to close the window.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Data Loader also supports SOQL relationship queries for retrieving fields from related parent objects. However, fully specified field names are case-sensitive, and the tool does not support nested queries, child-object queries, or polymorphic relationships.<\/p>\n
For anyone learning how to export data from Salesforce with precise field selection and advanced filtering, Data Loader is a flexible option for handling large-scale exports.<\/p>\n
\nMethod 3: Export Data from Salesforce using Reports<\/h2>\n
\nUse case:<\/strong> Analytics, ad\u2011hoc reporting, quick CSVs to join with other sources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Salesforce Reports are useful when you only need a focused dataset for analysis or sharing, such as orders from the last 90 days or leads grouped by country. You can define the filters and columns before downloading the results, making this a practical way to export Salesforce data to Excel or CSV.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Go to the Reports<\/strong> tab in Salesforce.<\/li>\n
- Open an existing report, or click New Report<\/strong> to create one.<\/li>\n
- Select the appropriate report type, then configure the filters to include the records you need.<\/li>\n
- Add, remove, or rearrange columns so the report contains the required fields.<\/li>\n
- Click Export<\/strong> in Lightning Experience or Export Details<\/strong> in Salesforce Classic.<\/li>\n
- Choose the export format:\n
- \n
- Formatted Report<\/strong> (.xlsx): Preserves the report\u2019s formatting, groupings, and headers.<\/li>\n
- Details Only<\/strong> (.xlsx or .csv): Exports the underlying rows without report formatting, making the file easier to analyze or process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Select the preferred file encoding if the option is available, then click Export<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Open the downloaded file in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or another spreadsheet application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Once the export is complete, review the file to ensure that all required fields and records are included. You can then use the Excel or CSV file for further analysis, reporting, or data processing.<\/p>\n
\nMethod 4: Salesforce Data Export via Workbench and the Salesforce API<\/h2>\n
\nUse case:<\/strong> Developer\u2011level, highly targeted exports and automated large\u2011scale\/delta data feeds to external systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Workbench and Salesforce APIs provide a more technical way to extract precisely defined datasets. You can write SOQL queries, retrieve fields from related objects, and integrate exports into automated workflows. This approach to how to export data from Salesforce requires API access and a basic understanding of SOQL.<\/p>\n
Option 1: Run a manual export through Workbench<\/h3>\n
Workbench provides a browser-based interface for running SOQL queries without writing a complete integration.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Open Salesforce Workbench<\/strong> and select your environment and API version.<\/li>\n
- Accept the terms, click Login with Salesforce<\/strong>, and authorize access to your organization.<\/li>\n
- Go to Queries > SOQL Query<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Select the object you want to query, such as Account, Contact, or a custom object.<\/li>\n
- Choose the fields to include and add filter conditions where required. Workbench will generate the SOQL query for you.<\/li>\n
- Review or modify the query. For example:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
SELECT Id, Name, Industry\r\nFROM Account\r\nWHERE Industry = 'Retail'<\/pre>\n
- \n
- Select Bulk CSV<\/strong> as the result format when extracting a larger dataset.<\/li>\n
- Click Query<\/strong>, then download the generated results.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Workbench is useful for one-off queries and API testing. However, Salesforce does not officially maintain or support this tool, so it may not be appropriate for a critical, long-term export process.<\/p>\n
Option 2: Extract data through the Salesforce API<\/h3>\n
For recurring or application-driven exports, send a SOQL query through the REST API:<\/p>\n
GET \/services\/data\/vXX.X\/query\/q=SELECT+Id,Name,Industry+FROM+Account<\/pre>\n
The response is returned in JSON. If more records remain, use the nextRecordsUrl included in the response to retrieve the following batch. For much larger datasets, use Bulk API 2.0, which processes the query asynchronously and makes the results available for download.<\/p>\n
This method gives developers greater control over how to extract data from Salesforce, including authentication, query logic, pagination, output format, and export schedules. When you need to export data from Salesforce as part of an integration or automated process, the API offers the most customizable route.<\/p>\n
\nMethod 5: Export and Migrate Salesforce Data with LitExtension Experts<\/h2>\n
If you need to move Salesforce data to another eCommerce platform, exporting files is only one part of the process. The records must also be cleaned, mapped to the target structure, transferred, and tested carefully.<\/p>\n
LitExtension\u2019s All-in-One Migration Service<\/a> provides an expert-managed solution for businesses learning how to export data from Salesforce for a complete store migration.<\/p>\n
- Click Query<\/strong>, then download the generated results.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Accept the terms, click Login with Salesforce<\/strong>, and authorize access to your organization.<\/li>\n
- Details Only<\/strong> (.xlsx or .csv): Exports the underlying rows without report formatting, making the file easier to analyze or process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Open an existing report, or click New Report<\/strong> to create one.<\/li>\n
- Monitor the operation in the progress window. Once the export is complete, review the result summary and click View Extraction<\/strong> to open the CSV file. Alternatively, click OK to close the window.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Click Export<\/strong>, or choose Export All<\/strong> to include archived activities and soft-deleted records.<\/li>\n
- Choose Export Now<\/strong> for a one-time export or Schedule Export<\/strong> for recurring weekly or monthly backups, depending on your Salesforce edition.<\/li>\n
- Identify the required Salesforce objects:<\/strong> List the data you need, such as Accounts, Contacts, Leads, Opportunities, Products, or custom objects. If you plan to export all data from Salesforce, make sure you have enough storage space for multiple CSV files and attachments.<\/li>\n
- Handle large datasets with Data Loader<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
![\"Salesforce](\"https:\/\/litextension.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/salesforce-migration-litextension.webp\")