If you add a new picklist value but it doesn't appear when users view or edit records, there are several configuration issues to consider. Review the most common causes and solutions for this type of problem. This topic covers inactive values, record type or business process assignments, field dependencies, and field-level security.
Required Editions
| Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience |
| Available in: All Editions |
Verify the Picklist Value Is Active
Picklist values can be active or inactive. Inactive values remain visible on existing records and in reports. However, they don't appear in the picklist list when users create records or update existing ones. If you added a value in an inactive state or accidentally deactivated a value, users don't see it as a selectable option.
To check if the picklist value you added is inactive, see View Active and Inactive Picklist Values in Salesforce Help.
Add the Picklist Value to All Relevant Record Types and Business Processes
When you add a picklist value to a picklist, it doesn’t automatically appear in existing record types. Each record type maintains its own list of available values, independent of the picklist associated with the record type's object. If you don't add the new value to each record type, users assigned to those record types can’t see it.
This behavior also applies to business processes for Leads, Sales, Support, and so forth. For missing Case Status, Lead Status, or Opportunity Stage values, add them to the object’s Processes page in Setup.
To confirm that your new picklist value is available for all appropriate record types, see Edit Picklists for Record Types and Business Processes in Salesforce Help.
Update Field Dependencies for Dependent Picklists
For dependent picklists, verify that the new picklist value exists in the field dependency matrix for the appropriate controlling field. If you don't create these associations, the new value doesn’t appear when users select certain controlling field values.
To make sure that these associations are in place, see Edit Dependent Picklists and Use the Field Dependency Matrix in Salesforce Help.
Verify Field-Level Security Settings
Field-level security controls whether users can view, edit, or access a field. If a user’s profile or permission set hides a picklist field via field-level security, the user can’t see the picklist options.
To confirm users have access to the picklist, see Verify Access for a Particular Field and Modify Field Access Settings in Salesforce Help.