Install Apps and Packages in Your Trailhead Playground

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

Install an app or package in your Trailhead Playground.

Accessibility

This unit requires some additional instructions for screen reader users. To access a detailed screen reader version of this unit, click the link below:

Open Trailhead screen reader instructions.

Follow Along with Trail Together

Want to follow along with an expert as you work through this step? Take a look at this video, part of the Trail Together series on Trailhead Live.

(This clip starts at the 10:03 minute mark, in case you want to rewind and watch the beginning of the step again.)

What’s an App?

You’re probably comfortable with the idea of app stores. Whether you’re downloading apps on your phone, tablet, computer, or other device, you have to download and install apps to make the most of your technology. Salesforce is the same way.

Salesforce has a community of partners that use the flexibility of the Salesforce platform to build amazing apps that anyone can use. These apps are available for installation on AppExchange (some for free, some at a cost).

What’s a Package?

A package is a set of pre-created configurations and developments. At various points in your Trailhead learning journey, you may need to install a package in order to complete a challenge or work through the steps in a badge.

Packages allow us to load sample data, custom objects and fields, or just about anything else into your Trailhead Playground.

Install an App or Package in Your Trailhead Playground

To install an app or package in your Trailhead Playground, you just need the package ID provided in the Trailhead content. This is a long string that starts with 04t—you’ll know it when you see it.

First things first: Launch your Trailhead Playground by going to any hands-on challenge (such as the one at the end of this unit), scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking Launch. If you see a tab in your org labeled Install a Package, fantastic! Follow the steps in the Your Playground Has the Playground Starter App section below.

If not, click to launch the App Launcher, then click Playground Starter and keep reading. If you don’t see the Playground Starter app, go ahead and skip to the Your Playground Doesn’t Have the Playground Starter App section.

Your Playground Has the Playground Starter App

If your playground has the Playground Starter app, follow these steps to install an app or package.

Find the package ID starting with 04t and copy it to your clipboard.
Click the Install a Package tab.
Paste the package ID into the field.
Click Install.

The Install a Package tap in the Trailhead Tips app

Select Install for Admins Only, then click Install.

The package installation screen, with Install for Admins Only selected and the Install button called out

If you see a pop-up asking you to approve third-party access, select Yes, grant access to these third-party websites and click Continue.

When your package or app is finished installing, you see a confirmation page and get an email to the address associated with your playground.

Your Playground Doesn’t Have the Playground Starter App

If your playground doesn’t have the Playground Starter app, never fear. Follow these steps to install a package. To do this, you’ll need your username and password for your Trailhead Playground, as well as the package installation link. If you don’t have your username and password on hand, go to the previous unit and get them.

Next, take a look at that installation link. Does it begin with appexchange.salesforce.com? If so, you’re installing an app, not a package, and you can skip to the next section, Install an AppExchange App. Otherwise, you’re installing a package, and you can keep reading.

For this example, let's go ahead and install the Playground Starter app.

Open a new private browsing window. In Chrome, click File | New Incognito Window. In Safari, click File | New Private Window. This ensures that you install this package in your playground, and not any other org you have open. We wouldn’t want you to accidentally install a package or app in your production org.
Copy the package installation link and paste it into your private browsing window.
You’ll be prompted to log in. Enter the username and password of your Trailhead Playground and click Log In.
Select Install for Admins Only, check the checkbox below it, then click Install.
If you see a pop-up asking you to approve third-party access, select Yes, grant access to these third-party websites and click Continue.

When your package or app is finished installing, you’ll see a confirmation page and get an email to the address associated with your playground. If you still have a private browsing window open, close it. When you're ready to work in your playground again, use a standard, non-private window to log in.

Now that you have the Playground Starter app installed in your Trailhead Playground, you can use it to more easily install other apps and packages in the future (and for the hands-on challenge at the bottom of this page).

Install an AppExchange App

To install something from the Salesforce AppExchange in your Trailhead Playground, you need your playground username and password. If you don't already have your playground's credentials handy, refer to the previous unit and follow the instructions there to get them.

Once you have your Trailhead Playground username and password, connect your Trailhead Playground account to your Trailblazer profile.

Open AppExchange in a new tab. (Be sure to use a new tab; don't navigate to AppExchange through the Setup menu.)
Click your avatar to open your Trailblazer account menu, then click Settings.
In the Connected Accounts section, click Connect an Account.
Click the Salesforce tile.
If you see the Connect an account, click Log In with a Different Username. If you see a login page, skip to the next step.
Enter your Trailhead Playground username and password, then click Log In.
If necessary, click Approve.

Now that your Trailhead Playground account is linked to AppExchange, you can install the app you want.

Find the AppExchange listing you're looking for (the Dashboard Pal component from Salesforce Labs, for example).
Click Get It Now.

The Dashboard Pal app on AppExchange

From the Connected Salesforce Accounts dropdown, choose your Trailhead Playground username, then click Install in Production.

The Where do you want to install this package dialogue in AppExchange, with a Trailhead Playground selected and the Install in Production button called out.

Check the username on the installation confirmation screen to confirm that you're installing the package in your Trailhead Playground, then select the box to agree to our terms and conditions.
Click Confirm and Install.
Log in with your Trailhead Playground username and password.
Select Install for Admins Only, and click Install.
If you see a pop-up asking you to approve third-party access, select Yes, grant access to these third-party websites and click Continue.
Once the installation is complete, click Done.

You'll get an email once the app is finished installing.

See What Was Installed

Want to see what was included in the app or package you installed?

In your Trailhead Playground, click and select Setup.
From Setup, enter Installed Packages in the Quick Find box and select Installed Packages.
Click the app or package from the list.
Click View Components.

On this page, you'll find all of the components you installed.