When you create a picklist value, an API Name that matches the Label is assigned. By default, the API Name can be changed at any time, but you can choose to protect the API Name.
Required Editions
| Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience |
| Available in: All Editions |
| User Permissions Needed | |
|---|---|
| To customize picklist settings: | Customize Application |
A picklist value is identified by either the displayed value or the API Name. Formulas reference the API Name so that the formula continues to work even if the displayed value changes. An admin can prevent changes to the API Name to protect the references to the fields in formulas or during integrations, such as data import.
- From Setup, enter picklist in the Quick Find box, then select Picklist Settings.
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To prevent changes to the API names for any of the values, select
Disable editing picklist values' API names.
If you need to change an API Name later, you can deselect this option.