In this Salesforce tutorial, we will understand how to add and remove tabs in salesforce lightning edition.
A tab in Salesforce is essentially a user interface element that enables rapid access to all Salesforce-related information. Now, whether we are using a standard app or a customized app in salesforce, it is not always mandatory that all the tabs are visible.
Moreover, there could be a situation where the app that we are using consists of more tabs than the requirement.
So, to handle such situations as a salesforce expert, we should know how to add and remove tabs in salesforce. And for the current state, we will learn about salesforce lightning.
Here is the set of topics that we will cover in this Salesforce tutorial.
- Introduction to tabs in Salesforce Lightning
- How to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning
- How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
- How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
- How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
- How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
Introduction to tabs in Salesforce Lightning
In Salesforce, we utilize the concepts of applications or apps to carry out a certain set of tasks. Additionally, the app is responsible to store the tabs and objects for their associated functionality.
Moreover, multiple tabs come together to fulfill various application functionalities.
A Salesforce tab is essentially a user interface element that enables rapid access to all Salesforce-related information. Moreover, it contains object data that is there in the application.
Now that we got an overview of tabs in salesforce, let us move to the next phase to understand how to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning.
Also, check: How to Merge Contacts in Salesforce?
How to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning
In this section, we will discuss how to add or remove tabs in Salesforce lightning. Additionally, for this implementation, we will cover 2 methods.
- First, we will cover how to use the App to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning.
- Second, we will discuss the use of App Manager to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning.
How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
Step-1: First, open the Home Setup Page in Salesforce by clicking on the Gear icon (⚙️) and selecting the Setup option.

Step-2: From the setup page, click on the App Launcher icon and open the required App in Salesforce Lightning. In our case, we will open on the University Management App.

Step-3: Next, click on the pen icon (🖋️) which is to personalize your nav bar for the Salesforce App. This will open a widget in Salesforce Lightning.

Step-4: From the widget, click on the Add More Items button. This will open an Available Items list from which we can add items. And these items are basically tabs of an App in Salesforce.

Step-5: After this, from the Available Items list select the items that you want as tabs of your application. In the last, click on Add n Nav Items button and then click on the Save option.

In the above example, we have added the Calendar tab to the University Management App in Salesforce Lightning. Here is how the nav bar looks when we add the Calendar tab to the University Management App.

And in this way, we can add multiple tabs to the Salesforce App in the Salesforce Lightning Experience.
Read: How to use schema builder in salesforce
How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
Now, if we are adding the tabs using the above-mentioned method, we just need to follow the following steps to remove any of the added tabs from the Salesforce App.
- Again click on the pen icon (🖋️) and from the widget, click on the cross icon (❌) given in front of the item.
- Once we click on the cross icon (❌), it will remove that particular tab from the nav bar of the Salesforce App.

Also, read: How to Create Records in Salesforce
How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
Step-1: First, open the Home Setup Page in Salesforce by clicking on the Gear icon (⚙️) and selecting the Setup option.
Step-2: In the left menu, search for the App Manager option using the Quick Find option. And click on the App Manager option from the result. This will open the Lightning Experience App Manager page.

Step-3: From the next page, scroll to the application that you want, click on the down arrow icon (⬇️), and click on the Edit button.

Step-4: After this, from the App Settings menu, click on the Navigation Items option.

Step-5: Next, we need to select and move the required tab(s)/item(s) from the Available Items section to the Selected Items section. Moreover, after adding the tab(s)/item(s), click on the Save button to save the changes.

After completing the above steps, we have successfully added the Calendar tab to the University Management App in Salesforce Lightning.
However, if we want to confirm, move to the Home Setup page and navigate to your app from App Launcher.
Read: How to delete schema builder in salesforce
How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
Now, if we have added the tab or item in your Salesforce app using the App Manager, we cannot simply remove the tab using the edit App option. Instead, we need to follow the following steps.
Step-1: Again navigate to the App Manager option from the Home Setup page.
Step-2: From the App Manager page, select the Salesforce App that you want to edit. For this, click on the down arrow (⬇️) and click the Edit option.
Step-3: Again follow the same steps and from the App Settings menu, click on the Navigation Items link.
Step-4: Now, instead of moving items from Available Items to Selected Items, we need to select and move the item(s) from the Selected Items list to the Available Items list. In the last, click on the Save button to save changes.

After following the above steps, we have successfully removed the Calendar tab from the University Management App in Salesforce Lightning.
You may also like to read the following Salesforce tutorials.
- How to Create a Case in Salesforce
- How to Close a Case in Salesforce
- How to Delete a Case in Salesforce
- How to Export a Report in Salesforce
Conclusion
With the end of this Salesforce tutorial, we have understood how to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using multiple methods. Moreover, we have covered all the using examples in Salesforce Lightning.
Here is the list of topics that we have covered.
- Introduction to tabs in Salesforce Lightning
- How to add and remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning
- How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
- How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App
- How to add tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
- How to remove tabs in Salesforce Lightning using App Manager
I am Bijay Kumar, the founder of SalesforceFAQs.com. Having over 10 years of experience working in salesforce technologies for clients across the world (Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, etc.). I am a certified salesforce administrator and expert with experience in developing salesforce applications and projects. My goal is to make it easy for people to learn and use salesforce technologies by providing simple and easy-to-understand solutions. Check out the complete profile on About us.