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Full Master Picklist entry
How-to guide

How to add a value to a master picklist and expose it on record types

Adding a value to a master picklist and exposing it on the right record types is a two-stage task. Stage one edits the field-level master. Stage two enables the value per record type. Here is the path in Setup for a custom picklist field.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated Jun 16, 2026

Adding a value to a master picklist and exposing it on the right record types is a two-stage task. Stage one edits the field-level master. Stage two enables the value per record type. Here is the path in Setup for a custom picklist field.

  1. Open the field in Object Manager

    From Setup, go to Object Manager, pick the object, open Fields and Relationships, then open the picklist field you want to edit.

  2. Add the value to the master

    In the Values section, click New, type the new value (one per line if adding several), and save. The value now exists in the master but no record type shows it yet.

  3. Enable the value on each record type

    Open each relevant record type, edit its picklist assignment for this field, and move the new value from Available Values to Selected Values. If the field uses a global value set, you can instead choose the option to add the value to all record types that use the set.

  4. Confirm sort order and restricted setting

    Set the default sort order on the field if needed, and confirm the field is marked Restricted for production so off-list values cannot be stored.

  5. Verify on a real record

    Create or edit a record of each affected record type and confirm the new value appears in the dropdown before considering the change complete.

Restricted picklistremember

When enabled, blocks any value not on the master, including writes through the API. Recommended for production fields once values stabilize.

Use global value setremember

Bases the field on a shared, admin-only value list reused across fields and objects. Edit values only on the global set; changes flow to every field that inherits it.

Default sort orderremember

Controls how values appear in dropdowns. Record types inherit this order unless overridden. Choose entered order or alphabetical.

Default valueremember

Set per record type, not on the master. Changing the master default does not change a record type default already configured.

Gotchas
  • Adding a value only to the master, then forgetting to enable it on record types, is the top reason a new value does not show up.
  • Removing a value from the master drops it from every record type, though records already assigned to it keep the value.
  • Replacing a value rewrites it on all records including the Recycle Bin and strips it from report filters that referenced it.
  • When deploying a record type via change set, add the dependent picklist field explicitly or the available values and default value can arrive empty.

See the full Master Picklist entry

Master Picklist includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.