---
schema_version: "1"
id: 371522edaf663b7c9353c0418cd12623f9b7979eab861458e3b12b98304b67bb
title: Use Salesforce Custom Object Metadata for Auditing and Troubleshooting
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/backup_recover_o_use_metadata.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.backup_recover_o_use_metadata.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 165e2866856898113c3ca7fbc1d2a42c47e6bc26da7265a14da057cfcaafd905
description: Access custom object metadata in Salesforce backups to audit changes and resolve issues in your Salesforce environment. Reviewing the metadata helps you identify and address errors related to permissions or access issues.
products:
  - Security
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Use Salesforce Custom Object Metadata for Auditing and Troubleshooting

Access custom object metadata in Salesforce backups to audit changes and resolve issues in your Salesforce environment. Reviewing the metadata helps you identify and address errors related to permissions or access issues.

Find metadata components such as search layouts, record types, list views, and validation rules for any given data object.

1. Select the metadata service you wish to use.
2. From the left-hand menu, select Backup History.
3. Select a backup.
4. Look for “Custom Object”, and click on the right of the number of records to download the object file.
5. Unzip the file and open the CustomObject folder.
6. Open the objects folder.
7. Locate the object in question (i.e., Account, etc.), and open the file using any text editor.