Salesforce error:
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING — Required fields not populated during insert/update
TL;DR
- This error means Salesforce blocked a save because one or more required fields weren’t populated.
- The real work is identifying where the requirement is enforced (metadata, validation, automation, or integration logic).
- UI behavior ≠ API behavior — page layouts don’t apply to integrations.
- Repeated REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING errors usually signal metadata debt and hidden dependencies, not user mistakes.
What REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING Actually Means
When Salesforce throws:
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING — Required fields not populated during insert/update
It’s telling you something very specific:
One or more fields that Salesforce considers mandatory were missing at save time.
That save could be coming from:
- The Salesforce UI
- An API integration
- Data Loader or CSV import
- Flow, Process Builder, or Apex
- ETL or iPaaS tooling
Salesforce doesn’t care why the data is missing. If the requirement isn’t met, the transaction fails.
Where “Required” Comes From in Salesforce
This is where most teams get tripped up.
A field can be “required” in four different layers:
1. Object Metadata (Hard Requirement)
Fields marked Required in Object Manager are enforced everywhere — UI, API, automation.
If Salesforce metadata says it’s required, nothing bypasses it.
2. Validation Rules or Flows (Conditional Requirement)
A field may only be required sometimes.
Example:
- Stage = Closed Won
- Close Date must be populated
Automation evaluates during save. If the condition is true and the field is blank, Salesforce blocks the record.
3. Page Layouts (UI-Only)
Page layouts can mark fields as required — but only in the UI.
API inserts and integrations ignore page layouts entirely, which is why:
- Users can save a record manually
- The same record fails via integration
4. Integration or Mapping Logic
Sometimes the “requirement” isn’t Salesforce at all.
Examples:
- Integration mapping sends nulls
- CSV headers don’t match field API names
- ETL logic overwrites populated fields with blanks
Salesforce just reports the failure.
Step-by-Step: How to Fix REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING
Step 1: Capture the Full Error Message
Salesforce usually tells you exactly what’s missing:
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING, Required fields are missing: [LastName, Status]
If you don’t see field names:
- Check debug logs
- Inspect API responses
- Review integration error payloads
This list is your starting point.
Step 2: Identify Where the Requirement Is Enforced
For each field in the error:
- Is it marked Required in Object Manager?
- Is it conditionally required by a validation rule or Flow?
- Is it required only for certain record types?
- Is automation modifying or clearing it?
This is where things usually get messy.
Step 3: Confirm Field Settings in Object Manager
Navigate to:
Setup → Object Manager → [Object] → Fields & Relationships
For each missing field:
- Confirm Required = true/false
- Check record-type-specific rules
- Validate dependent picklists or lookup targets
- Review default values
If it’s truly required, your insert/update logic must supply it.
Step 4: Fix the Insert or Update Logic
Integrations & APIs
- Include all required fields in payloads
- Never send empty strings or nulls for required fields
- Validate mappings end-to-end
Data Loader / CSV Imports
- Include required columns
- Ensure values aren’t blank
- Double-check field mappings before running
Classic failure:
Contact insert without LastName → every row fails.
Step 5: Audit Validation Rules and Automation
If everything looks populated but the error persists:
- Review validation rules
- Inspect Flows and Apex triggers
- Look for logic tied to stage changes, ownership changes, or integrations
This is where hidden dependencies live.
Step 6: Test in a Sandbox
Before touching production:
- Reproduce the scenario in a sandbox
- Test across record types
- Validate automation paths
- Confirm integrations behave the same way
No surprises. No rollback panic.
Step 7: Document the Root Cause
This step is usually skipped — and that’s why the error comes back.
Document:
- Which field was missing
- Why it was required
- Which system or automation caused it
Future-you will thank you.
Why This Error Keeps Coming Back
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING isn’t just a data issue.
It’s a metadata visibility problem.
Most Salesforce orgs don’t have:
- A clear map of field dependencies
- Visibility into which automations enforce what
- Documentation that stays up to date as logic evolves
That’s systems drag in action.
How Sweep Helps Prevent REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING Errors
Sweep gives you a living map of Salesforce metadata:
- Objects, fields, validations, flows, and dependencies
- Real-time visibility into what enforces what
- Impact analysis before changes ship
Instead of discovering required fields after records fail, you see the rules before they break production.
If REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING keeps showing up in your org, it’s a sign your metadata needs observability. And if you want that, you need Sweep. Check us out here.