How to set default value in Picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce

In this Salesforce tutorial, we will learn to set default value in the picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce. We will also discuss the methods to set default value in picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce Lightning mode and in Salesforce Classic mode.

Default Values in Salesforce Picklist (Multi-select) Field

In Salesforce Multi-select Picklist allows Salesforce users to select multiple data from the list. By setting Multi-select Picklist as default it will auto-select the value of the field and we don’t need to add new entries in the value field.

How to set default value in picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce Lightning

In Salesforce Lightning there are two possible scenarios when we set Picklist (multi-select) as a default.

While creating a Picklist (Multi-Select) Field: We can set Picklist (multi-select) field as default while creating a new Picklist (Multi-Select) Field in Salesforce Lightning. In this we select the check box “Use first value as default value” and it select the first value as default.

For an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) Field: In this case, to set a Picklist (Multi-Select) as default we need an already existing custom picklist (multi-select). In the Picklist Edit window of the respective custom picklist (multi-select) field, we will select “Make this value the default for the master picklist” to make the selected picklist (multi-select) value default.

Read: How to Deactivate the Picklist (Multi-Select) Values in Salesforce

Set Default value while creating a new Picklist (Multi-Select) Field

To set a default value while creating a new picklist (multi-select) in Salesforce Lightning, login into your Salesforce developer account and follow the below steps.

Step:1- After logging in to the Salesforce developer account, on the Setup screen of Salesforce Lightning, click on Object Manager.

Step:2- In the Object Manger, we can see a list of objects under the Label tag. From here we will select the Object in which we have to create a Picklist (Multi-Select) field. In this case, I have selected the object Appointment Invitation.

You can choose any of the standard or custom objects according to your requirements.

Step:3- In the object manager window of Appointment Invitee, click on Fields and Relationships and then click on the New button as shown in the below picture.

Step:4- In this step, click on the radio button Picklist (Multi-Select) and then click on the Next button.

Step:5- Now we will enter the details to create a Picklist (Multi-Select) and set it as a default.

• Enter the field name in the Field Label tag.
• Click on the radio button “Enter values with each value separated by a new line“.
• In the text area enter the values as shown in the below picture.
• Select the check box option Use first as default value. This will set the first value as the default value of the Picklist (multi-select) field.
• In the Description field, you can write the description (optional).
• Click On the Next button as shown in the below picture.

Step:6- In this step, we have to select field-level security for Picklist (Multi-Select) field. We will click on the Visible check box to make this field visible to all users and then click on the Next button as shown in the below picture.

Step:7- Now click on the Save button to create a Picklist (Multi-Select) with a default value.

We have successfully created Picklist (Multi-Select) field with a Default value.

Read: How to Delete the Picklist (Multi-Select) Value in Salesforce

Set Default value For an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) Field

To set a default value for an existing picklist (multi-select) in Salesforce Lightning, login into your Salesforce developer account and follow the below steps.

Step:1- On the setup page of Salesforce Lightning, click on Object Manager as shown in the below picture.

Step:2- To set a default Multi Select Picklist we need an already created custom Multi Select Picklist. In this case, I have already created a Multi-Select Picklist in the object Business Brand. So, we will click on it.

Step:3- On clicking the object Business Brand, it will open in the next window. Here we will click on Fields & Relationships. In the Fields & Relationships we can see the custom multi-select picklist Clients’ cities, click on it.

Step:4- In this step, we will select the value to set it as a default. In the Values section select the value for the default. In this case, I have selected the city value of New Jersey as a default value. Below the Action column click on the Edit button.

Step:5- As we click on Edit, the Client’s cities will open in the Picklist Edit window. Here in the Default field click on the check box “Make this value the default the master picklist“ and then click on Save.

As we click on Save, we have successfully set the default value in Salesforce Picklist (Multi-Select) field.

How to set default value in picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce Classic

Salesforce Classic there are two possible scenarios when we set Picklist (multi-select) as a default. The first way is to set the default value while creating a picklist (multi-select) field and the second method is to set the default value in an already existing picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce Classic.

Set Default value while creating a new Picklist (Multi-Select) Field

To set up a default value while creating a new Picklist (Multi-Select) field, login into your Salesforce developer account and follow the below steps.

Step:1- After logging into your Salesforce account, switch to Salesforce Classic by clicking on the user profile picture. It will open a dropdown and from there, click on Switch to Salesforce Classic.

Step:2- On the Home screen of Salesforce Classic, click on the Setup tab.

Step:3- On the Setup page, scroll down and Under the Build section click on Customize. As we click on Customize a drop list of objects will open, from here you can select any object in which you have to create a Picklist (Multi-Select) field.

In this case, I’m selecting the object Opportunities to create a Picklist (Multi-Select) field. For that click on the dropdown of Opportunities.

Step:4- In the dropdown of Opportunities, select Fields to create Picklist (Multi-Select) field.

Step:5- Go to the Opportunity Custom Fields & Relationships in this window and click on the New button.

Step:6- As we click on the New button, a new window New Custom Field will open. Here we can see a list of Data Types, from this list we will select the data type Picklist (Multi-Select) and then click on the Next button.

Step:7- In this step, we will enter the details of the custom Picklist Multi Select Field in the following way.

• Enter the name of the Picklist Multi Select Field in the Field Label.
• Select the radio button Enter Value with each value separated by a new line.
• Enter the Value in the text area as shown in the below picture (3).
• Select the checkbox Use first value as default value. It will set the first value as a default for the Picklist (Multi-Select) field.
• In the Description, write the description of the Picklist (Multi-Select) field (*optional).
• Click on the Next button.

Step:8- Now, we have to establish field-level security for Picklist (Multi-Select) field. We will click on the check box Visible to make this field visible for all users in Salesforce Classic and then click on the Next button.

Step:9- In this step, we will add this field to the page layouts, for that select the check boxes of the Page layouts to add this field and make it visible in those page layouts. In this case, I have chosen all page layouts. After selecting page layouts click on the Save button.

Now we have successfully created a Picklist (Multi-Select) field with a Default Value.

Read How to Rearrange the Picklist (Multi-Select) Values in Salesforce

To Set the Default value for an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) Field

To set up a default value for an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) field, login into your Salesforce developer account and follow the below steps.

Step:1- If you are in Salesforce lightning mode then you have to switch to Salesforce classic mode. For that, click on the User profile image on the upper-right side of the screen. It will open a drop-down, there click on Switch to Salesforce Classic.

Step:2- On the home screen of Salesforce Classic, click on the Setup tab.

Step:3- On the Setup page, go to the Build section in the left sidebar and there click on the Object in which you have an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) field.

In my case, I have an existing Picklist (Multi-Select) field in the Opportunities. Now, click on the dropdown button and then click on Fields.

Step:4-

Step:5- In this step, go to the Values section and click on the Edit button of the value which we have to set as a default.

Step:6- In this step, click on the Checkbox to use the selected value as a default value and click on the Save button.

Now we have successfully set up the default value in the existing Salesforce Picklist (Multi-Select) field.

Conclusion

In this Salesforce tutorial, we have learned to set the default value in Picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce and we have set the default value in Picklist (Multi-Select) in both Salesforce Lightning and Salesforce Classic.

We have also discussed the two ways to set the default value in Picklist (Multi-Select) in Salesforce.

You may like to read:

• How to create Picklist (multi-select) field in Salesforce
• How to Activate Global Picklist Value in Salesforce