Classroom sessions and generic Trailhead modules rarely stick once reps are back in their own Salesforce org, with its custom fields, validation rules and workflows. Salesforce in-app guidance puts help where users work, at the moment they need it, which makes Salesforce onboarding faster and improves Salesforce user adoption. This guide explains how Salesforce In-App Guidance works, how to set it up, which workflows to cover first, and which tools to add when native prompts are not enough.

What Is Salesforce In-App Guidance?

Salesforce In-App Guidance is a built-in feature of Lightning Experience that lets admins show prompts and walkthroughs to users inside Salesforce. It is used for onboarding, training, feature announcements and process reminders, without sending users to a separate learning platform.

Types of in-app guidance

• Floating prompts:
  A message box on the page for general announcements, tips or links.

• Docked prompts:
  A panel in the bottom corner with rich text, links and an embedded video from a URL, suited to longer explanations.

• Targeted prompts:
  A prompt anchored to a specific element or field, such as a new field users must complete.

• Walkthroughs:
  A sequence of up to 10 prompts that guide users through a process step by step.

Licenses and limits

• Prompts can be created and shown without an extra license

• Up to three custom walkthroughs can be active at a time for free; more need the Enablement add-on license with the walkthroughs permission set license

• Salesforce Labs publishes ready-made prompt and walkthrough packages on AppExchange

• In-App Guidance works only in Lightning Experience

Check Salesforce Help and your account executive for current licensing and pricing, as packaging changes over time.

How to Set Up Salesforce In-App Guidance

1. Open In-App Guidance in Setup and choose to add a prompt or walkthrough.

2. Pick the location: the app and page where the guidance should appear.

3. Choose the type: floating, docked or targeted prompt, or a walkthrough of several prompts.

4. Write the content: keep it short, explain why the step matters, and add a link or video where needed.

5. Set the audience and schedule: target profiles or permissions, set start and end dates, and choose how often it appears.

6. Test and activate: preview it as a user, then activate.

7. Track usage: check views and completion, and use the Prompt Actions object to build custom reports.

5 Salesforce Workflows to Cover With In-App Guidance

1. Opportunity creation and updates

Opportunity data drives forecasting and pipeline reviews. Use targeted prompts on stage, amount, close date and next step, and explain why each field matters.

2. Lead qualification and conversion

Guide reps through your qualification criteria and make sure leads convert with contacts, notes and handoff details attached.

3. Activity logging

Remind reps to log calls, meetings and emails so managers can coach and reports stay accurate.

4. Custom-object workflows

Custom objects such as projects, partnerships or deal rooms are unique to your org and not covered in Trailhead. Walkthroughs and short videos explain what each object is for and how to use it.

5. Reports and dashboards

Walk managers and reps through building and reading the reports your team relies on.

Salesforce In-App Guidance vs Other Salesforce Adoption Tools

Best Tools for Salesforce In-App Guidance and Training

1. Trupeer: Best for Salesforce Training Videos and Guides

Trupeer records any Salesforce screen, including custom objects and fields, and turns the recording into a polished walkthrough video and a step-by-step guide with screenshots. Admins record a workflow once with the Trupeer Chrome extension and click Generate AI Content; when the process changes, they re-record and update.

Share the content as a link, embed it in tools such as Confluence or Notion where it updates automatically, or publish it in a Trupeer knowledge base that reps can search with Ask AI. Many teams pair native prompts with these videos and guides, for example by linking to a walkthrough from a docked prompt. See Salesforce implementation documentation for more.

Pros: Fast content creation for your own org, covers custom objects, and translation for global teams.

Cons: Not a real-time tooltip engine; pair it with In-App Guidance or a DAP for prompts inside Salesforce.

2. Salesforce In-App Guidance: Best for Native Prompts

Native prompts and walkthroughs built in Setup, with targeting by profile or permission and basic usage tracking.

Pros: Built in, no extra license for prompts, and docked prompts can include video.

Cons: Only three free active custom walkthroughs, Lightning only, and lighter analytics than a dedicated DAP.

3. WalkMe: Best for Deep Enterprise Guidance

WalkMe, now part of SAP, provides deep guidance and automation across complex Salesforce processes. See our WalkMe alternatives comparison.

Pros: Depth and maturity for complex, multi-application environments.

Cons: High cost and longer implementations.

4. Whatfix: Best for Enterprise Guidance Across Apps

Whatfix delivers walkthroughs, self-help and analytics on Salesforce and other enterprise applications.

Pros: Broad enterprise coverage with content and self-help tools.

Cons: Enterprise pricing and implementation effort.

5. Apty: Best for Process Compliance

Apty focuses on guiding users through critical workflows and validating data entry. Compare options in our Apty alternatives guide.

Pros: Strong process compliance on enterprise applications.

Cons: Quote-only pricing and a smaller partner network.

6. Spekit: Best for Sales Enablement Reinforcement

Spekit brings answers, short training and content into Salesforce and other sales tools.

Pros: Low friction and popular with sales reps.

Cons: Not a full process walkthrough tool.

How to Structure Salesforce Training Without the Classroom

• Fix data quality first:
  Pick the three or four fields that matter most for forecasting, enforce them with validation rules, and explain them with targeted prompts.

• Use video for complex workflows:
  Short videos of your own org beat long sessions for processes with many steps.

• Make admins the enablers:
  Admins who build the process can record it the same day it changes.

• Measure Salesforce user adoption:
  Track prompt completion, field completion and report usage. See our guide on how to measure product adoption.

Final Thoughts

Salesforce In-App Guidance is a good free starting point for prompts and short walkthroughs. Add walkthrough videos and step-by-step guides of your own org for complex workflows, and consider a digital adoption platform only when you need deep, cross-application guidance.

Related reading

• Salesforce User Adoption Strategy: How to Get Reps Using the CRM

• Pendo Alternatives & Competitors for Enterprise Teams (2026): 8 Compared

• WalkMe Alternatives & Competitors: An Honest Comparison (2026)