If you are starting your journey into the Salesforce ecosystem, reading documentation isn't enough. To truly master the platform, prepare for certifications, or land a Salesforce Admin job, you need to get your hands dirty.
But how do you practice without buying a license or risking breaking a real company's data?
The answer is a Trailhead Playground.
In this guide, I will walk you through exactly how to set up your own Playground so you can start learning Salesforce for free. Whether you are stuck on a specific Trailhead module or just want to experiment with new features, this is the first step every Salesforce professional takes.
What You Need to Know Before We Start
Before we jump into the setup, it is important to understand a few key concepts. If you are new to the platform, these definitions will help you navigate the interface.
1. What is Trailhead?
Trailhead is Salesforce’s free, gamified learning platform. It allows you to learn in-demand skills, earn badges, and gain credentials that help build your career. It breaks down complex topics into bite-sized modules.
2. What is a Trailhead Playground?
A Trailhead Playground is a safe, disposable Salesforce environment (also known as an Org). It comes pre-loaded with generic data, allowing you to practice customization, automation, and coding. Think of it as a sandbox or a laboratory.
- It is Safe: You can make mistakes here. If you break something, it doesn't matter—you can just spin up a new one.
- It is Real: Even though it is for practice, it functions exactly like a real production Salesforce instance.
- It is Required: Many Trailhead modules have "Hands-on Challenges" that verify your work. You must complete these in a Playground to earn your points and badges.
3. Why Not Just Use a Developer Edition Org?
While Developer Editions are great, Playgrounds are specifically optimized for Trailhead learning. They often come with specific configurations or data needed to complete learning modules quickly without manual setup.
Prerequisites
To follow this guide, you only need one thing:
A Trailhead Account: You can sign up for free at trailhead.salesforce.com using your email, LinkedIn, or Google account.
Step-by-Step: How to Create Your Trailhead Playground
Step 1: Navigate to the "Hands-On Orgs" Page
You won't find the option to create a playground on the main dashboard. It is tucked away in your profile menu.
- Click on your Profile Picture (avatar) in the top-right corner of the screen.
- In the dropdown menu, select Hands-On Orgs.
Step 2: Create a New Playground
On the Hands-On Orgs page, you will likely see a list of existing orgs (if you have any) or a default one created when you signed up. To make a fresh one:
- Click the blue button labeled Create Playground.
- Name Your Playground: A pop-up will ask for a name. By default, it might suggest something like "Creative Raccoon Playground," but I highly recommend giving it a specific name (e.g., "Admin Practice" or "Flow Testing"). This makes it easier to identify later.
- Click Create.
It usually takes a few minutes (sometimes up to 5-10 minutes) for Salesforce to build the environment. You don't need to stay on the page; you will get a notification when it is ready.
Step 3: Launch Your Org
Once the playground will be created
- Find your newly created playground in the list (Usually it will appear on top of the list).
- Click the Launch button next to it.
Step 4: Using the "Playground Starter" App (Essential Tip)
When you first launch your playground, you might land on a "Welcome" page. Which will be the part of the app named "Playground Starter". This app is unique to Trailhead Playgrounds. It is incredibly useful because it allows you to:
- Reset Your Password: Since you entered via Trailhead, you don't know your playground's password. You can reset it here if you need to log in from a different tool (like the Data Loader or VS Code).
- Install Packages: Some Trailhead modules require you to install specific data packages. This app provides a simple way to paste the package ID and install it.