---
schema_version: "1"
id: 8190b1545868363fd0935cfc32848b45eb3e9b1fecb263b26f9eab23ed4dcfac
title: Customize Matching Rules
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/sales/264-0-0/matching_rules_create.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.matching_rules_create.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: d2ab30c5a8fae087b6213cbdd9b4712ff04ec4c6a52fffbe2f59e90c1dd273cc
description: Find more duplicates by creating custom matching rules.
products:
  - Sales
  - Sales Enablement
release: "264"
---
# Customize Matching Rules

Find more duplicates by creating custom matching rules.

### 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: Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>Essentials</strong>, <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d7187e79">User
              Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">To create, edit, or delete matching rules:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">To activate and deactivate matching rules:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">To view matching rules:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d7187e79 ">View Setup and Configuration</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

1. From Setup, use the Quick Find box to find **Matching Rules**.
2. If editing an existing matching rule, make sure that the rule is inactive.
3. Click **New Rule** or **Edit**.
4. Apply the matching rule to an object.
5. Enter a name and description for the rule.
    
    If you’re working toward complying with various data protection and privacy regulations, consider excluding personal data from the name and description.
6. Enter the matching criteria.
    
    The matching criteria define which fields to compare and how. To add fields (up to 10 total) or adjust the matching equation (for example, to change an AND expression to an OR expression), add filter logic.
7. Save and activate the rule.
    
    The activation process can take some time. You’re notified by email when your matching rule is ready to use.

When a matching rule is active, you can use it with duplicate rules and duplicate jobs.

#### See Also

- [Manage Duplicates One at a Time](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.manage_individual_duplicate_records.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Give your sales team the tools they need for maintaining great relationships with customers, and keep your leads, accounts, and contacts clutter free. By activating duplicate rules and the Potential Duplicates component, you can control whether and when sales reps can create duplicate accounts, contacts, and leads. You can also give them permission to merge duplicate leads, business and person accounts, and contacts.")
- [Manage Duplicates Globally](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.manage_duplicates_globally.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Find duplicates across your org by running duplicate jobs. Use reports to share job results with others, and use duplicate record sets to merge the duplicates. Use information about completed jobs to track your progress in reducing duplicate records.")
- [Matching Criteria in Matching Rules](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.matching_rule_matching_criteria.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "A matching rule applies criteria to determine how closely a field on a new or edited record matches the same field on an existing record. Standard matching rules include predefined criteria. When you create a custom matching rule, you define the criteria.")