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How-to guide

How to assign a platform license to a user

You assign a Lightning Platform or Salesforce Platform license to a user on the user record. Each user holds exactly one user license, so this either happens at creation or replaces the current license. You need an available seat of the target license type in the org.

Steps
5
Steps
Level
Advanced
Level
Category
Platform
Category
By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated Jun 16, 2026

You assign a Lightning Platform or Salesforce Platform license to a user on the user record. Each user holds exactly one user license, so this either happens at creation or replaces the current license. You need an available seat of the target license type in the org.

  1. Check available licenses

    In Setup, open Company Information and review the User Licenses related list. Confirm you have an unused Salesforce Platform or Lightning Platform license before you assign one.

  2. Open the user record

    Go to Setup, then Users, and either create a new user or edit an existing one whose role no longer needs full CRM access.

  3. Set the User License field

    Choose the platform license in the User License picklist, then pick a Profile that is compatible with that license. The Profile list filters to match the chosen license.

  4. Layer permissions

    Save the user, then assign permission sets and permission set licenses for the specific custom apps and objects this person needs, staying within the allowed object list.

  5. Verify as the user

    Log in as the user or use a sandbox to confirm they see their custom app and the allowed standard objects, and that no layout references a blocked object like Opportunity.

Key options
User Licenseremember

The single license that defines baseline access. Pick the platform license here before choosing a profile.

Profileremember

A compatible profile is required and filters to match the license. It sets default object and field access.

Permission Setsremember

Additive grants for custom apps and objects, valid only within what the license already allows.

Permission Set Licensesremember

Optional add-ons that unlock features beyond the base user license when the use case needs them.

Gotchas
  • A permission set cannot grant access to an object the license excludes, such as Opportunity. The grant silently has no effect.
  • Each user can have only one user license, so switching to a platform license replaces the previous one entirely.
  • Cases are allowed on the platform license, but the surrounding Service Cloud routing and entitlements are not.
  • Custom object limits are per license (10 for Starter, 110 for Plus). Heavy data models can exceed the lighter tier.

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