Debugging Salesforce Flows is a crucial skill for any Salesforce Admin or a Developer. Whether you’re building complex automation or troubleshooting user-reported issues, knowing the right debugging techniques can save you hours of frustration. In this article, we’ll walk through 5 powerful ways to debug Salesforce Flow with step-by-step guidance. These methods are effective, widely used, and suitable for all experience levels.
Why Debugging Salesforce Flow is Important
Salesforce Flow is a powerful automation tool, but even the best designed flows can fail due to data issues, missing permissions, or logic errors. By mastering Flow debugging, you can:
- Improve your flow’s reliability
- Provide better user experience
- Resolve issues faster
- Reduce downtime and business impact
1. Debug Using the Debug Button in Flow Builder
What It Does
The Debug button allows you to test your flow from within Flow Builder and simulate how it behaves with specific inputs.
How to Use:
- Open the flow in Flow Builder.
- Click the Debug button (top right).
- Choose input variables if the flow requires any.
- Enable the checkbox to show detailed step-by-step path and variable values.
- Run the flow and review the real-time output.
Benefits:
- Visualizes how the flow moves through each element
- Highlights errors with context
- Ideal for record-triggered and autolaunched flows
How to debug :
2. Setup Debug Logs and Check Debug Output
What It Does
Enabling debug logs for a user lets you view system-level execution of flows, Apex, validation rules, and other automations.
How to Set It Up:
- Go to Setup → enter Debug Logs in Quick Find.
- Click New and choose the user who is running the flow.
- Set a time range and Log Level (e.g., FINE or DEBUG).
- Trigger the flow (e.g., create/update a record).
- Return to Debug Logs and click View next to the log.
Here is the detailed official documentation you can check out to setup debug log : Click here
What to Look For:
- Look for FLOW_INTERVIEW events
- Find elements marked as “FAILED” or showing error messages
Also checkout this to see what exactly need to be checked : Click here
3. Use Apex Log Analyzer in VS Code for Deep Analysis
What It Does
The Apex Log Analyzer tool in Visual Studio Code lets you open a downloaded debug log file in a graphical tree format. It shows method-level timings, flow steps, and error highlights.
How to Use:
- Open the debug log from Setup → Debug Logs → Download the log.
- Launch VS Code with the Salesforce Extension Pack installed.
- Open the debu
g logfile downloaded from Saleforce. - Click on “Apex Log Analyzer” from the Command Palette or right-click menu.
Benefits:
- Tree view of Flow execution
- Pinpoint errors and bottlenecks
- Time spent on each Flow element or Apex method
Here is the detailed official documentation you can check out : Click here
4. Check Failed and Paused Flow Interviews from Setup
What It Does
Salesforce stores paused and failed flow executions, especially for Scheduled, Paused, or Autolaunched Flows with Async paths.
How to Access:
- Go to Setup → enter Paused and Failed Flow Interviews in Quick Find.
- Select the flow and review any failures or paused states.
- Click View Details to understand the reason and context.
Use Case:
- Especially helpful when dealing with flows using Pause elements or Scheduled Paths
- Allows resumption or deletion of stuck interviews
5. Check Error Email Notifications from Process Automation Settings
What It Does
When flows fail, Salesforce can send email notifications with error details.
How to Set It Up:
- Go to Setup → search for Process Automation Settings.
- Under Send Process or Flow Error Email To, enter the user who should receive the notifications.
- Save the settings.
What You’ll Receive:
- A detailed email outlining the flow name, failed element, error message, and record info.
- Ideal for production environments where logs aren’t immediately available.
Summary
Debugging Salesforce Flows can be simplified with the right approach. This article explored five effective methods from beginner-friendly visual debuggers to advanced log analyzers that help you identify issues, enhance testing, and ensure smoother automation performance.
