---
schema_version: "1"
id: 178036346e9a2ccab4b58b691a92ea8e0b0d1486ce4a0511b121ac9c0cdeda2c
title: Define External Data Sources
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/external_data_source_define.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_data_source_define.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: e2fcac16b4a1a53bbee18ba4851c5f77e4f9d7f073e3c0650cdbb6f40197ca8a
description: Create external data sources to connect to content and data that is stored outside your Salesforce org.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Define External Data Sources

Create external data sources to connect to content and data that is stored outside your Salesforce org.

### Required Editions

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            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td>

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            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
              <p>Salesforce Connect is available in: <strong>Developer</strong> Edition and for an extra
                cost in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and <strong>Unlimited</strong> Editions</p>
              <p><span id="external_data_source_define__files_connect_cloud_editions"><a name="external_data_source_define__files_connect_cloud_editions"><!-- --></a>Files Connect for cloud-based external data
                  sources is available in: <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                  <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong>
                  Editions</span></p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Federated Search is available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions
              </p>
            </td>

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            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d74968e104">User Permissions
              Needed</th>
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            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d74968e104 ">To create and edit an external data source:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d74968e104 ">Customize Application</td>

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1. From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter External Data Sources, and then select **External Data Sources**.
2. Click **New External Data Source**. To modify an existing external data source, click **Edit**.
3. Complete the steps for your type of external data source.
    - [Files Connect: Google Drive](https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=admin_files_connect_google_xds.htm&language=en_US)
    - [Files Connect: SharePoint 2010 or 2013](https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=admin_files_connect_sp_xds.htm&language=en_US)
    - [Files Connect: SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business](https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=admin_files_connect_sp_online_xds.htm&language=en_US)
    - [Files Connect: Box](https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=admin_files_connect_box_xds.htm&language=en_US)
    - [Simple URL: Data from Another Web Domain](https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=admin_files_simple_url_xds.htm&language=en_US)
    - [Salesforce Connect: OData 2.0](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to data that’s stored in an external system, such as SAP® NetWeaver Gateway, Microsoft Dynamics® NAV, or IBM WebSphere®.")
    - [Salesforce Connect: OData 4.0](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to data that’s stored in an external system, such as SAP® NetWeaver Gateway, Microsoft Dynamics® NAV, or IBM WebSphere®.")
    - [Salesforce Connect: Cross-Org](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.xorg_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Set up a connection from your subscriber org to another Salesforce org so your users can access its data through external objects.")
    - [Salesforce Connect: Custom](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apex_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to any data anywhere via a Salesforce Connect custom adapter that you create with the Apex Connector Framework.")
    - [Salesforce Connect adapter for Amazon DynamoDB](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.dynamodb_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to data that’s stored in Amazon DynamoDB.")
    - [Salesforce Connect SQL adapter for Amazon Athena](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.athena_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to access Amazon Athena’s interactive query capabilities.")
    - [Salesforce Connect SQL adapter for Snowflake](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.snowflake_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect your Salesforce org to access Snowflake’s interactive query capabilities.")
    - [Federated Search](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.search_define_federated_search.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

#### See Also

- [The Files Connect Setup Process](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.admin_files_connect_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Salesforce Connect provides seamless integration of data across system boundaries by letting your users view, search, and modify data that’s stored outside your Salesforce org. For example, perhaps you have data that’s stored on premises in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Instead of copying the data into your org, you can use external objects to access the data in real time via web service callouts.")