Winter may still be weeks away, but the Salesforce Winter ’26 Release has already arrived—and it’s packed with updates that will keep your Salesforce org warm and ready all season long. From Unified Test Execution to Trusted Mode for Lightning Web Components, these improvements are designed to help you work smarter and deliver more value before the first snowflake hits the ground.
We’ve done the work for you and sifted through the release notes to choose our top 5 favorite features you’ll want to explore right now. Plus, an honorable mention we couldn't leave out.
1. Flow: Compare Versions Across Flows
Winter ’26 introduces the ability to compare two versions of the same Flow side by side directly in Flow Builder. Instead of exporting flow XML or relying on third-party tools, admins and developers can visually inspect changes between versions in the Salesforce UI. This makes it easier to validate what has been modified across deployments, spot configuration differences, and ensure process consistency.
The Benefit: This feature helps teams save time and reduce manual work, while also improving governance and auditing by making configuration changes more transparent. It builds confidence in deployments, simplifies troubleshooting, and ultimately makes flow management more reliable.
2. Trusted Mode for LWC / Browser API access
Developers can now enable “Trusted Mode” for Lightning Web Components (LWC). When activated, Trusted Mode relaxes Locker Service restrictions, granting components full browser API and DOM access. This allows approved third-party JavaScript libraries to run more seamlessly within Salesforce without requiring custom wrappers or workarounds.
The Benefit: Trusted Mode empowers developers to build richer, more modern user interfaces while reducing compatibility issues and coding workarounds. It accelerates development, improves performance, and gives teams more flexibility to deliver advanced web experiences directly inside Salesforce.
3. Unified Test Execution (Apex + Flow testing in one place)
Winter ’26 introduces a new Application Test Execution page, consolidating Apex and Flow testing into a single interface. Admins, QA teams, and developers can now run both code-based and declarative tests side by side, view results in one place, and access test details through APIs. This unification eliminates the need to switch between different testing tools and provides a more holistic view of automation health.
The Benefit: By centralizing testing, this update streamlines quality assurance and saves time for both admins and developers. It also promotes stronger test coverage across the platform and provides a single source of truth for test results, making it easier to identify and resolve issues early in the release cycle.
4. Flow: Use Newly Created Records Immediately
Previously, when you created a record in Flow, you often needed to add a separate Get Records step to access that record’s field values. In Winter ’26, Salesforce eliminates that extra step: newly created records and their fields are instantly available for use in subsequent flow elements. This streamlines flow design and improves execution efficiency.
The Benefit: This enhancement reduces complexity in flow design and improves performance by removing unnecessary queries. It also gives admins more agility when building automation and ensures new data is immediately usable within the same flow execution.
5. My Domain Required for API Calls
Starting in Winter ’26, all Salesforce API calls must use your org’s My Domain URL. Integrations, middleware, and scripts that still reference login.salesforce.com or instance-specific URLs (e.g., na123.salesforce.com) will need to be updated. This enforcement extends the My Domain requirement beyond UI and SSO access to cover all API traffic, ensuring consistency and security across the platform.
The Benefit: Requiring My Domain strengthens security by enforcing a trusted entry point, while also increasing stability by preventing disruptions if your org moves to a new Salesforce instance. It ensures integrations are resilient, future-proof, and aligned with Salesforce’s platform standards.
6. Honorable Mention: Safer Report Exports
When exporting reports to CSV or spreadsheets, Winter ’26 automatically adds an apostrophe (') before values beginning with symbols like =, +, or -. This prevents Excel or other spreadsheet programs from interpreting those values as formulas, which could otherwise result in errors or malicious injections.
The Benefit: This update reduces the risk of corrupted or misleading data and protects users from formula injection vulnerabilities. It gives admins and analysts greater confidence when sharing exported files, ensuring reporting workflows remain accurate and secure.
Stay Ahead with the Salesforce Winter ’26 Release
The Winter ’26 Release isn’t just about cool new features—it’s about giving your organization the tools to thrive, no matter the forecast. Whether you’re focused on efficiency, insight, or innovation, these updates are the perfect way to start the season strong.
Let’s turn these Winter ’26 features into a winning Salesforce strategy!
Connect with us on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook, or schedule a consultation for personalized insights and assistance with your Salesforce platform. For a detailed run-down of the Winter '26 Release, check out the Release Notes.
Written by Jennie Kennedy, Solution Architect Lead
