Understanding the Salesforce Release Cycle: Spring, Summer, and Winter

(Read Time : 2 Minutes)

Salesforce doesn’t update once a year like traditional software — it delivers three major releases every year. These are named Spring, Summer, and Winter (for example: Spring ’26, Summer ’26, Winter ’27). This constant updating keeps the platform fresh with new features, AI capabilities, and security improvements, all of which are automatically delivered to you.

When Do the Releases Happen?

Salesforce delivers three major releases every year: Spring, Summer, and Winter.

• Spring Release:

   ◦ Timing: February – March

   ◦ Example: e.g., Spring ’26

• Summer Release:

   ◦ Timing: June – July

   ◦ Example: e.g., Summer ’26

• Winter Release:

   ◦ Timing: September – October

   ◦ Example: e.g., Winter ’27

In most calendar years, users will receive all three releases

What Actually Happens During a Release?

1. 4–6 weeks before → Your sandbox copies get the release first (preview instances)
2. Release weekend → Your production org is automatically upgraded (usually Friday/Saturday with almost zero downtime)
3. New features arrive → Some turn on automatically, but many are opt-in so you stay in control

The Three Types of Features

• Automatically On:

   ◦ Turned On Automatically?: Yes

   ◦ Risk Level: Very Low

   ◦ Recommended Action: Just be aware

• Default On:

   ◦ Turned On Automatically?: Yes (but you can turn off)

   ◦ Risk Level: Low

   ◦ Recommended Action: Test in sandbox if it impacts your processes

• Opt-In / Beta:

   ◦ Turned On Automatically?: No – you must enable

   ◦ Risk Level: Medium–High

   ◦ Recommended Action: Test thoroughly before enabling in production

Quick Tips to Stay Safe and Prepared

• Review the official release notes as soon as they are published (salesforce.com/releasenotes).
• Use your free preview sandbox to test the upcoming release.
• Block 1–2 hours after each release weekend to verify your key business processes.
• Enable “Release Updates” notifications in Setup → Release Updates so Salesforce alerts you about changes that need attention.

That is all there is to it! Three times a year, Salesforce gets smarter — automatically and safely. A quick sandbox check and a scan of the release notes is all you need to stay confidently up to date.

Happy learning! 
The SF Tutor