Complete Guide to Salesforce Dynamic Highlights Panel: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction

Ever opened a Salesforce record and had to scroll endlessly to find that one critical piece of information? You’re not alone. Studies show that users waste an average of 20% of their workday searching for information they need. That’s where the Highlights Panel comes in—and with the new Dynamic Highlights Panel in Salesforce’s Winter ’25 release, things just got a lot more powerful.

The Dynamic Highlights Panel transforms how you view and interact with records in Salesforce. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, you can now show different fields to different users, hide irrelevant information, and create a truly personalized experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything about the Salesforce Dynamic Highlights Panel: what it is, how to set it up, how to fix common issues when it’s not showing, and best practices that actually work.

Table of Contents

• What is the Salesforce Highlights Panel?
• Dynamic Highlights Panel vs Traditional Highlights Panel
• Key Benefits of the Dynamic Highlights Panel
• How to Enable Dynamic Highlights Panel in Salesforce
• Step-by-Step Setup Guide
• Setting Up Conditional Visibility
• Enabling Dynamic Highlights Panel on Mobile
• Common Issues: Dynamic Highlights Panel Not Showing
• Field Limits and Considerations
• Best Practices and Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is the Salesforce Highlights Panel?

The Highlights Panel is the section at the top of every Salesforce record page that displays the most important information about that record. Think of it as your “quick glance” section—it shows key details without making you scroll through the entire page.

For example, when you open an Opportunity record, you might see:

• Opportunity Name
• Amount
• Close Date
• Stage
• Owner

Traditionally, this panel was controlled by something called “Compact Layouts” in Setup. While useful, this older method had serious limitations—everyone saw the same fields regardless of their role, and you could only configure up to 10 fields (with only 7 actually displaying).

Dynamic Highlights Panel vs Traditional Highlights Panel

Let’s break down the key differences:

Traditional Highlights Panel (Compact Layouts):

• Configured in Setup under Object Manager
• Maximum 10 fields (only 7 show on screen)
• Static—everyone sees the same fields
• No conditional visibility
• Includes Follow button for Chatter
• Also controls lookup cards and mobile app display

Dynamic Highlights Panel (Winter ’25):

• Configured directly in Lightning App Builder
• Maximum 12 fields plus a primary field
• Dynamic—show different fields to different users
• Supports conditional visibility rules
• No Follow button (current limitation)
• Responsive design that wraps on smaller screens
• Requires separate mobile enablement

The dynamic version gives admins far more control and flexibility, which is why Salesforce is moving toward this model as the future standard.

Key Benefits of the Dynamic Highlights Panel

1. Role-Based Customization

Show sales reps the fields they care about (revenue, account details) while showing sales managers different information (stage, probability, team performance).

2. Conditional Field Display

Display fields only when they’re relevant. For example:

• Show “Days Until Close” only when an Opportunity is open
• Display “Lead Source” only when Lead Status is “New”
• Hide certain fields based on record type or stage

3. More Fields to Work With

Jump from 7 visible fields to 12, giving you more flexibility to display critical information.

4. Better Mobile Experience

Once enabled, the Dynamic Highlights Panel works seamlessly on mobile devices, ensuring your team has access to the right data wherever they are.

5. Responsive Design

Fields automatically wrap and adjust based on screen size, preventing information from being cut off or hidden.

How to Enable Dynamic Highlights Panel in Salesforce

The Dynamic Highlights Panel is available in Salesforce Winter ’25 release. Here’s how to get started:

Prerequisites

• Lightning Experience must be enabled
• You need “Customize Application” permission
• The object must support Lightning Web Components (most standard objects do, but Tasks is a notable exception)

Enabling for Desktop

The Dynamic Highlights Panel works on desktop by default once you add it to a Lightning page. No special setup needed.

Enabling for Mobile

This is a critical step many admins miss. The panel won’t appear on mobile unless you specifically enable it:

1. Go to Setup
2. In the Quick Find box, type Salesforce Mobile App
3. Click on Salesforce Mobile App
4. Find the section Dynamic Forms and Dynamic Highlights Panel on Mobile
5. Toggle the switch to Enabled

This single toggle enables both Dynamic Forms and Dynamic Highlights Panel for all mobile users in your org.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Let’s walk through setting up a Dynamic Highlights Panel for an Opportunity record.

Step 1: Open Lightning App Builder

1. Navigate to any Opportunity record
2. Click the gear icon in the top right corner
3. Select Edit Page

Step 2: Find the Dynamic Highlights Panel Component

In the Lightning App Builder, the Dynamic Highlights Panel is located in a specific place that confuses many admins:

1. Look at the left sidebar
2. Click on the Fields tab (NOT the Components tab)
3. Scroll down to find Dynamic Highlights Panel
4. Drag and drop it onto your page canvas (usually at the top)

Pro Tip: The component moved from the Components tab to the Fields tab because it now functions more like a field container.

Step 3: Select Your Primary Field

1. Click on the Dynamic Highlights Panel you just added
2. In the right-hand properties panel, you’ll see Primary Field
3. The record’s Name field is pre-selected (this is best practice)
4. You can change it, but keep these rules in mind:
   • If users don’t have field-level security access to your chosen primary field, they’ll see the Name field instead
   • You cannot use visibility rules on the primary field
   • Cross-object fields cannot be the primary field

Step 4: Add Fields to the Panel

1. Click Add Field in the properties panel
2. Select the fields you want to display (up to 12)
3. Drag fields to reorder them
4. Common fields for Opportunities:
   • Amount
   • Close Date
   • Stage
   • Probability
   • Account Name
   • Owner

Important: The order matters! Fields appear left to right, top to bottom on the page.

Step 5: Configure Dynamic Actions (Optional)

Dynamic Actions let you add buttons directly to the Highlights Panel:

1. Scroll down in the properties panel to Actions
2. Click Add Action
3. Choose from available actions (Edit, Delete, Clone, custom actions)
4. Set how many actions show before they move to a dropdown menu
5. You can even set visibility rules for actions (show “Approve” only when Stage = “Negotiation”)

Step 6: Save and Activate

1. Click Save in the top right
2. Click Activation
3. Choose who sees this page:
   • Org Default: Everyone sees this layout
   • App, Record Type, and Profile: Assign to specific combinations
4. Click Save

Setting Up Conditional Visibility

This is where the Dynamic Highlights Panel truly shines. You can show or hide fields based on specific criteria.

Example Use Case: Sales Rep vs Sales Manager

Let’s say you want Sales Reps to see operational fields, while Sales Managers see strategic fields.

For Sales Reps, show:

• Account Name
• Contact Name
• Next Step
• Close Date
• Amount

For Sales Managers, show:

• Stage
• Probability
• Forecast Category
• Opportunity Owner
• Last Modified Date

Here’s how to set it up:

1. Click on any field in your Dynamic Highlights Panel
2. In the properties panel, find Set Component Visibility
3. Click Add Filter
4. Click the Advanced tab
5. Click Select to choose your filter field
6. Choose User: Profile Name from the list
7. Set Operator to Equals
8. Enter Value: Sales Rep
9. Click Done

Repeat this process for each field, changing the profile name as needed.

Example Use Case: Status-Based Visibility

Show “Days Until Close” only when Opportunity is still open:

1. Select the “Days Until Close” field
2. Click Set Component Visibility > Add Filter
3. Choose Stage as your filter field
4. Set Operator to Not Equal
5. Add both Closed Won and Closed Lost as values
6. Click Done

Now the field disappears when the Opportunity is closed, reducing clutter.

Enabling Dynamic Highlights Panel on Mobile

As mentioned earlier, mobile requires a separate toggle. But there are a few additional considerations:

Mobile Considerations

1. Screen Real Estate: Mobile screens are smaller, so prioritize your most important 4-6 fields
2. Touch Targets: Make sure action buttons are large enough to tap easily
3. Connection Speed: Loading too many fields can slow down the mobile experience
4. Fallback: If you haven’t enabled Dynamic Highlights Panel on mobile, users will need the standard Highlights Panel on the page or they’ll see nothing

Testing on Mobile

1. Enable the toggle in Setup (as described earlier)
2. Open the Salesforce mobile app
3. Navigate to a record
4. Verify your fields and actions appear correctly
5. Test on different device sizes if possible

Common Issues: Dynamic Highlights Panel Not Showing

One of the most common questions from admins: “I set up the Dynamic Highlights Panel, but it’s not showing up!” Here are the usual culprits and fixes:

Issue 1: Panel Not Visible on Desktop

Possible Causes:

• Page hasn’t been activated
• Page isn’t assigned to the user’s profile or record type
• Component visibility rules are too restrictive
• The object doesn’t support Lightning Web Components

Solutions:

1. Go back to Lightning App Builder
2. Click Activation and verify page assignments
3. Check your visibility filters—are they excluding everyone?
4. Try viewing as a different user profile to test
5. Verify the object supports the Dynamic Highlights Panel

Issue 2: Panel Not Showing on Mobile

Possible Causes:

• Mobile toggle not enabled in Setup
• Need to add a standard Highlights Panel as fallback
• Cache issues on mobile device

Solutions:

1. Double-check Setup > Salesforce Mobile App > Enable Dynamic Highlights Panel on Mobile
2. If not using Dynamic Forms, add a standard Highlights Panel component to the page
3. Close and reopen the Salesforce mobile app
4. Log out and back in to refresh the cache
5. Check if the Lightning page is activated for mobile

Issue 3: Fields Not Displaying as Expected

Possible Causes:

• Field-level security restrictions
• Visibility rules are filtering out the fields
• Wrong primary field selected with security issues
• Fields are on the panel but outside the 12-field limit

Solutions:

1. Review field-level security for the user profile
2. Check visibility rules for each field
3. Change primary field to the record Name if users report seeing unexpected fields
4. Remove less important fields if you’ve exceeded 12

Issue 4: Follow Button Missing

This is not a bug—it’s a current limitation. The Dynamic Highlights Panel does not support the Follow/Unfollow button that was available in the traditional panel. This is intentional as Salesforce is shifting away from Chatter in favor of Slack integration.

Workaround:

• Keep the traditional Highlights Panel if Follow functionality is critical
• Add a custom action for following records
• Wait for Salesforce to add this functionality (check the IdeaExchange)

Field Limits and Considerations

Understanding the limits helps you design better Highlights Panels.

Field Limits Comparison

Feature	Traditional Panel	Dynamic Panel
Maximum Fields	10	12
Actually Displayed	7	12
Primary Field	First field	Selectable
Visibility Rules	No	Yes
Cross-Object Fields	Yes	No (not as primary)

What Counts Toward the Limit?

• All standard fields count toward the 12-field limit
• Custom fields count
• Formula fields count
• The primary field does NOT count toward the 12-field limit

What You Cannot Do

• Inline Editing: Fields in the Dynamic Highlights Panel are read-only. Users cannot edit them directly.
• Use Tasks Object: Tasks don’t support the Dynamic Highlights Panel yet
• Display Images: Image fields aren’t supported in the panel
• Collapsed State: You cannot set the panel to appear collapsed by default

Field-Level Security Impact

If a user doesn’t have permission to see a field:

• The field won’t appear in their panel
• If it’s the primary field, they’ll see the Name field instead
• No error message displays—the field simply disappears

Best Practices and Tips

After helping dozens of organizations implement the Dynamic Highlights Panel, here are the strategies that work best:

1. Start Simple, Then Iterate

Don’t try to create complex visibility rules on day one. Start with:

• Add your 5-7 most important fields
• Activate for one profile or department
• Gather feedback
• Add conditional logic based on actual use cases

2. Think Like Your Users

The best Highlights Panels answer these questions at a glance:

• What is this record?
• What stage/status is it in?
• Who owns it?
• What’s the most critical metric (amount, due date, etc.)?
• What should I do next?

3. Don’t Overcrowd

Just because you CAN add 12 fields doesn’t mean you should. Research shows that users process information fastest when presented with 5-7 items. Any more, and decision fatigue sets in.

4. Use the Name Field as Primary

Unless you have a very specific reason not to, always use the record’s Name field as your primary field. It’s familiar to users and won’t cause permission issues.

5. Leverage Dynamic Actions

Add the 2-3 most common actions directly to the panel:

• For Opportunities: Clone, Edit, Submit for Approval
• For Cases: Change Owner, Escalate, Close Case
• For Leads: Convert, Change Status, Assign to Queue

This reduces clicks and speeds up work.

6. Design for Mobile First

With more teams working remotely and in the field, mobile usage is increasing. Design your panel assuming users will view it on a phone:

• Prioritize the top 4 fields
• Make action buttons obvious
• Test on actual devices, not just the simulator

7. Document Your Logic

Create a simple spreadsheet that documents:

• Which fields appear for which profiles
• What visibility rules you’ve set
• Why you made those choices

Six months from now, you (or your replacement) will thank yourself.

8. Review Quarterly

Business needs change. Set a recurring reminder to:

• Review with users if the fields still make sense
• Check if new fields should be added
• Remove fields that no one uses anymore
• Update visibility rules based on org changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I use Dynamic Highlights Panel on all objects?

Not quite. The Dynamic Highlights Panel works on most standard objects (Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities, Leads, Cases) and custom objects. However, some objects like Tasks don’t support it yet. If the object supports Lightning Web Components, it likely supports Dynamic Highlights Panel.

Q2: Will the Dynamic Highlights Panel replace Compact Layouts completely?

Eventually, yes. Salesforce is moving everything toward the Lightning App Builder model. Page Layouts and Compact Layouts are becoming legacy features. However, Compact Layouts still control lookup cards and Chatter feeds, so they’re not completely obsolete yet.

Q3: Can I have multiple Dynamic Highlights Panels on one page?

Yes! You can add multiple Dynamic Highlights Panels to a single page and use visibility rules to show different panels to different users. For example, one panel for sales reps and a completely different panel for support agents.

Q4: How do I add the Follow button to the Dynamic Highlights Panel?

Unfortunately, you can’t. The Follow button isn’t currently supported in the Dynamic Highlights Panel. This is one of the most requested features on Salesforce’s IdeaExchange. If this is critical for your org, you’ll need to stick with the traditional Highlights Panel or add a custom Follow action.

Q5: What’s the difference between Dynamic Highlights Panel and Dynamic Forms?

They’re related but different:

• Dynamic Forms: Let you break apart page layouts into individual field sections with visibility rules
• Dynamic Highlights Panel: Controls the summary section at the top of the page

They work together beautifully. You can use Dynamic Forms for the main page body and Dynamic Highlights Panel for the top summary section.

Q6: Can I use the Dynamic Highlights Panel in Salesforce Classic?

No. The Dynamic Highlights Panel only works in Lightning Experience. If your org still uses Salesforce Classic, you’ll need to use traditional Compact Layouts.

Conclusion

The Salesforce Dynamic Highlights Panel represents a major leap forward in how users interact with records. By giving admins the power to show the right information to the right people at the right time, Salesforce has created a feature that genuinely improves productivity.

Here’s what you should remember:

• The Dynamic Highlights Panel offers 12 customizable fields with conditional visibility
• It’s configured in Lightning App Builder, not in Setup
• Mobile requires separate enablement in Salesforce Mobile App settings
• The Follow button isn’t supported (yet)
• Start simple, gather feedback, and iterate

Whether you’re dealing with dynamic highlights panel not showing issues, figuring out how to enable dynamic highlights panel salesforce, or just learning about this Winter ’25 feature for the first time, this guide gives you everything you need to succeed.

The future of Salesforce configuration is dynamic, flexible, and user-centric. The Dynamic Highlights Panel is your opportunity to create that experience for your users today.

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Take Action Now

Ready to implement the Dynamic Highlights Panel in your org? Start with one object, one profile, and five fields. Test it, get feedback, and expand from there.

Have questions or run into issues? Drop a comment below and let’s solve it together. And if you found this guide helpful, share it with your fellow Salesforce admins—they’ll thank you for it.

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