---
schema_version: "1"
id: 440f3f86dc61c0b3c9cee6b1038f3ff721df28c0f20271b773a4dd095bd0044b
title: Connect to an External System
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/automate_ala_connections_create_connection.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_ala_connections_create_connection.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 60625a570851e3935db5a61d45b23935248873233d947f24af65405e25082888
description: Create a connection to an external system in the Automation app.
products:
  - Flow Builder
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Connect to an External System

Create a connection to an external system in the Automation app.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_supported_editions.htm&amp;release=264.0.0&amp;type=5" title="Learn about the editions and user interfaces that support Flow Builder. Some Flow Builder features integrate with other Salesforce products that require additional licenses.">View supported editions.</a></td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">This feature requires the MuleSoft for Flow: Integration add-on. Exceptions are segment-triggered flows, activation-triggered flows, and broadcast flows, which don't require the MuleSoft for Flow: Integration add-on. <strong>Professional</strong> Edition requires the API access add-on. To purchase an add-on, contact your Salesforce account executive.</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">MuleSoft for Flow: Integration features used with Agentforce require the Foundations or Agentforce 1 edition. To purchase these editions, contact your Salesforce account executive.</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col>
          <col>
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;" id="d347590e80">User Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To create, view, edit, and delete MuleSoft for Flow: Integration
              connections:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">Manage Integration Connections</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To open, edit, create, activate or deactivate a flow using all flow types,
              elements, and features available in Flow Builder, including Einstein and Agentforce
              for Flow:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">Manage Flow</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To create and edit External System Change-Triggered flows in the Automation
              app, regardless of sharing settings:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">
              <p>Manage Flow</p>
              <p>OR</p>
              <p>Create or Edit Flows</p>
              <p>AND</p><a name="automate_ala_connections_create_connection__d5955e299"><!-- --></a>
              <ul id="automate_ala_connections_create_connection__d5955e299">
                <li>View Flows </li>

                <li>View All Non-Admin Flows </li>

              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To create and edit External System Change-Triggered flows owned by or shared
              with you with Read/Write access in the Automation app:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">
              <p>Create or Edit Flows</p>
              <p>AND</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">View Flows</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration templates:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">
              <p>Create or Edit Flows</p>
              <p>OR</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">View Flows</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">To use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration templates as a non-System Admin:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d347590e80 ">App Framework Manage Template</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_note.png)

Note You can edit or delete connections only in the Automation app.

To make this app available to anyone with the permission to use it, select the **Enable the Automation Lightning App** process automation setting. To view connection version information, activate at least one connection.

For an overview of how to set up MuleSoft for Flow: Integration and to create automated connections between systems, refer to [Get Started with MuleSoft for Flow: Integration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_get_started_mfi.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration to create automated connections between systems, so you can keep data up-to-date, reduce manual work, and respond faster to business events.").

## Create a Connection to an External System by Using a Standard Authentication Method

Create a connection to an external system by using the connector’s [standard authentication method](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_ala_connections.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5).

1. Open the Automation app and select the **Integrations** tab.
2. Choose a method to create a connection.
    - Select a [third-party connector](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_ref_third_party_connectors.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors in your flows for no-code connectivity to external systems. Each external system that connects to Flow Builder behaves in different ways depending on how the external system stores the information that you want to retrieve and manipulate. Review each connector's reference page to understand which triggers and actions are available.") from the Get Started with Connectors section and then click **Create Connection**. If your connector isn’t available in the section, click **View All Connectors**, select a connector from the Browse Connectors window, and then click **Next**.
    - Click **New Connection**, select an available third-party connector, and then click **Next**.
3. In Authentication Protocol, select a standard authentication method.
4. Complete the connection information and authentication details for that connector.
    
    ![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_important.png)
    
    Important
    
    In the URL field, make sure that you enter the value in this format: http://<domain>. For example, https://thirdpartyconnector.com.
5. Click **Create**.

## Connect to an External System by Using Named Credentials

Select a named credential from Setup to use for your external system connections.

**Prerequisites**

Before connecting to your external system with a named credential, first create or use an existing authenticated [named credential and external credential that is enabled for your users.](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_named_creds_and_ext_creds.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

To ensure a successful connection for use in a flow, use only one principal for each named credential.

- Use the same name for the named credential and its related objects, such as the external credential and external authentication identity providers. Labels for these objects can differ.
- Assign the user creating the connection the required user permission for the principal. Without this permission, the connection test fails and the connection remains inactive.

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_important.png)

Important

When you create a connection with an existing named credential, note these behaviors:

- Manage the named credential’s read-only details in Setup, not the Integrations tab. On the Integrations tab, you can only edit the connection's Connection Name and Description.
- Perform reconnections for the named credential in Setup. The Reconnect button isn’t visible on the Details page.
- Delete associated named credentials in Setup. Deleting a connection doesn't remove the credential.

1. Open the Automation app and select the **Integrations** tab.
2. Choose a method to create a connection.
    - Select a [third-party connector](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_ref_third_party_connectors.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors in your flows for no-code connectivity to external systems. Each external system that connects to Flow Builder behaves in different ways depending on how the external system stores the information that you want to retrieve and manipulate. Review each connector's reference page to understand which triggers and actions are available.") from the Get Started with Connectors section and then click **Create Connection**. If your connector isn’t available in the section, click **View All Connectors**, select a connector from the Browse Connectors window, and then click **Next**.
    - Click **New Connection**, select an available third-party connector, and then click **Next**.
3. In Authentication Protocol, select **Named Credential**, and then search for and select a named credential.
4. Click **Create**.

## Refresh an OAuth 2.0 Connection

If an expired refresh token interrupts a connection to an external system through OAuth 2.0 authentication, you can reconnect it.

1. Select the connection to refresh.
2. Click **Reconnect**.
3. Complete the required steps to connect to the third-party system.
4. Save your work.
    
    After refreshing the connection, the OAuth dance generates a new refresh token and reconnects the connection.

## Edit a Connection

1. In the Automation app, on the **Integrations** tab, select the connection to edit.
    
    Flows that use the connection appear in the Flows Using Connection table on the Related tab. The table shows the name, version, status, and owner of each flow. To view a flow, click its name. For connection and authentication details, see the Details tab.
2. Click **Edit**.
    
    ![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_important.png)
    
    Important
    
    Editing a connection in use by a flow can cause errors upon connection failure. Connection edits are permanent, take effect immediately, and impact all associated flows.
3. Read the window, and click **Edit**.
4. Edit the fields.
    
    ![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_important.png)
    
    Important You can’t edit disabled fields, such as Connection API Type and Authorization Type. If you edit a field in the Authentication Details section, the Password field clears. Enter the value again.
5. Save your work.
    
    If errors appear after you save, the system doesn’t save your changes. Resolve the errors, and save again. A message indicates whether the connection test succeeded or failed. In the Integrations section, the Last Tested Date field and the Progress Status field in the Flows Using Connection table update to show your most recent test results.

## Test a Connection

Opening or creating a flow that connects to an external system triggers a connection test and alerts you to any invalid connections. The system tests connections in these scenarios:

- When you create the connection
- When you select an existing connection to an external system to use as an action or a trigger
- When you reopen an existing flow containing a connection to an external system

You can also retest the connection manually.

1. Select the connection that you want to test.
2. Click **Test**.
    
    A message indicates the test result. In the Integrations section, in the Flows Using Connection table, the Last Tested Date and the Progress Status fields update with the latest test results.

## Delete a Connection

1. Select the connection to delete.
    
    Flows that use the connection appear in the Flows Using Connection table on the Related tab. The table shows the name, version, status, and owner of each flow. To view a flow, click its name. For connection and authentication details, see the Details tab.
2. Click **Delete**.
    
    ![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_important.png)
    
    Important
    
    You can’t delete a connection that a flow uses. To delete a connection, first remove it from all associated flows. Connection deletions are permanent.
3. Read the window, and click **Close**.
    
    If your connection deletion is successful, a success message appears and you’re redirected to the Integrations tab. If the deletion fails, an error message appears.

#### See Also

- [MuleSoft for Flow: Integration Connectors](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_ref_third_party_connectors.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors in your flows for no-code connectivity to external systems. Each external system that connects to Flow Builder behaves in different ways depending on how the external system stores the information that you want to retrieve and manipulate. Review each connector's reference page to understand which triggers and actions are available.")
- [Designing an External System Integration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_concepts_design_external_system_change_triggered_flows.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "To connect any flow to an external system without coding, use MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors in the flow. When no connector exists, you can use the HTTP Callout action to make direct API calls to external systems without coding. Run your flow when external system changes occur by selecting the External System Change-Triggered flow type. For legacy systems without APIs, you can use MuleSoft RPA processes published on Anypoint Platform as external services in your flow. For documents and unstructured data, use MuleSoft for Flow: IDP to extract information from PDFs, images, and forms.")
- [Create a Flow with a Connector as a Trigger](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_build_flow_esct_third_party_as_trigger.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "To trigger a flow when a change happens in a third-party system, use an External System Change-Triggered flow. A poller checks for new records on a schedule and creates flow interviews when records are found. Create the flow from scratch or from a template.")
- [Create a Flow with a Connector as an Action](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_build_flow_esct_third_party_as_action.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "To integrate your flow with an external system, add MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors as actions to all existing flow types. You can add connectors to flows that trigger external system changes, records, schedules, Data Cloud-triggered flows, or autolaunched flows.")