---
schema_version: "1"
id: 5593977646784c258ec70d9c4592e41c79989d4a8fed735273e5163b1cb5297e
title: Convert a Text Field to a Picklist Field
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/fields_converting_field_to_picklist.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_converting_field_to_picklist.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 321d9c6b0eea2dffb839ac0a5e6659a4c46175041f566d5a48e06113f20069b5
description: By default, an upper bound limit of 4,000 is applied to inactive unrestricted picklists for each field. If you exceed this limit when converting a text field to a picklist field, you get an error message.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Convert a Text Field to a Picklist Field

By default, an upper bound limit of 4,000 is applied to inactive unrestricted picklists for each field. If you exceed this limit when converting a text field to a picklist field, you get an error message.

### 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: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>All</strong> Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

1. From the management settings for the field’s object, go to Fields.
2. Click **Edit** next to the custom field that you want to change.
3. Click **Change Field Type**.
4. Select a **Picklist** and click **Next**.
5. Enter a field label, name, and any other attributes, and then save your changes.

Keep these considerations in mind when you convert a field to a picklist.

- The limit isn’t case-sensitive.
- If there are more than 4,000 unique values, the conversion fails. This conversion limit includes active picklists.
- Soft-deleted values count toward the 4,000 unique value limit. To avoid values that count toward the limit, permanently delete any soft deleted records and field values by emptying the recycle bin.
- Keep this setting: Remove upper bound on inactive picklist values.
- You can’t convert a defined unique text field to a picklist or a multi-select picklist.

#### See Also

- [Change the Data Type of a Custom Field](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_fieldtype.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can modify the data type of a custom field. For example, you can change a field from Text to Text Area (Long).")
- [Establish a Picklist Upper Bound Limit](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_establish_upper_bound_limit.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can enforce an upper bound limit of inactive values on existing picklists. The limit is enforced on the inactive values of unrestricted, custom picklists whose numbers don’t exceed the allowable limit. By default, all new unrestricted picklists have an enforced limit of 4,000 inactive values.")
- [Considerations for Converting the Field Type of a Custom Field](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.notes_on_changing_custom_field_types.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Before you convert a custom field from one type to another, review these considerations.")