Salesforce Mobile Notifications Implementation Guide

Mobile Notifications Overview
Steps for Implementing Mobile Notifications
Step 1. Developer Registration with Mobile OS Vendors
Step 2. Creating an External Client App
Create an External Client App for Android
Create an External Client App for Apple iOS
Testing Your External Client App Push Configuration
Step 3. Configure Your Mobile SDK App
Step 4. Packaging Components for Customer Organizations
Sending Mobile Notifications
Using the Connect REST API Push Notification Resource (Optional)
Reference
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Step 2. Creating an External Client App

Once you’ve registered your mobile app with the OS vendor’s push service, the next step is to create an external client app in Salesforce.
Available in: Lightning Experience
External Client Apps can be created in: Group, Professional, Enterprise, Essentials, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions

External Client Apps can be installed in: All Editions

User Permissions Needed
To read, create, update, or delete connected apps: Customize Application AND either

Modify All Data OR Create, edit, and delete External Client Apps
To update all fields except Profiles, Permission Sets, and Service Provider SAML Attributes: Customize Application AND either

Modify All Data OR Create, edit, and delete External Client Apps
To update Profiles, Permission Sets, and Service Provider SAML Attributes: Customize Application AND Modify All Data AND Manage Profiles and Permission Sets
To rotate the consumer key and consumer secret: Allow consumer key and secret rotation
To install and uninstall connected apps: Customize Application AND either

Modify All Data OR Create, edit, and delete External Client Apps
To install and uninstall packaged connected apps: Customize Application AND either

Modify All Data OR Create, edit, and delete External Client Apps

AND Download AppExchange Packages

Connected apps creation is restricted as of Spring ‘26. You can continue to use existing connected apps during and after Spring ‘26. However, we recommend using external client apps instead. If you must continue creating connected apps, contact Salesforce Support.

See New connected apps can no longer be created in Spring ‘26 for more details.

Note

Use the Salesforce external client app to provide the registration certificate or token of your mobile client app so that Salesforce can send push notifications. Also, the external client app provides the unique API name that identifies the mobile app to send notifications to.