# Sandboxes, packages and Lifecycle Center

*Platform Administrator II Study Guide · Environment Management and Deployment · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator-ii/environment-management-and-deployment/sandboxes-packages-and-lifecycle-center*

How to pick and manage sandboxes (types, licences, refresh intervals, templates, clones, seeding data into Developer sandboxes, post-copy scripts, logins and the two sandbox permissions), when an unmanaged or managed package fits instead of a change set, and what a managed upgrade does not change.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Administrator II
- Exam section: Environment Management and Deployment
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator-ii

**Official exam objective:**

> Describe the options available to move metadata between environments (change sets, sandboxes, and AppExchange - managed/unmanaged).

## What the exam expects

- Choose a change set, sandbox clone, unmanaged package or managed package for a move between orgs.
- Pick a sandbox type and shorten a copy with templates and copy options.
- Get test records into a Developer or Developer Pro sandbox without a change set.
- Predict what cloning, refreshing and activating do, and automate post-copy work.
- Grant the right sandbox permission and explain sandbox logins.
- Explain what a managed package upgrade leaves to the admin.

Key terms: **sandbox template** (object data copied into Partial Copy or Full); **clone** (a sandbox copied from another sandbox); **SandboxPostCopy** (Apex interface run after each create and refresh); **unmanaged package** (one-time editable drop); **managed package** (locked, namespaced, upgradeable).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh intervals | Developer and Developer Pro 1 day, Partial Copy 5 days, Full 29 days | [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Data storage | Developer 200 MB, Developer Pro 1 GB, Partial Copy 5 GB, Full same as production | [Storage Limits by Type](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_environments.htm&type=5) |
| Clone licence | Same licence type as the source; refreshes from the source | [Clone a Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_clone.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Copy speed | Support can't expedite; FIFO queue | [Creation and Refresh Times](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000386499&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Sandbox permissions | Manage Dev Sandboxes (Developer types) or Manage Sandboxes (all) | [Sandbox Types and Templates](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.create_test_instance.htm&type=5) |
| Seeding a Developer sandbox | Data Loader export, then upsert by external ID | [External ID upsert](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000383207&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Managed upgrade | API access changes ignored; apply them manually | [Upgrade Your Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.distribution_upgrading_packages.htm&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why can't a cloned Full sandbox be turned into a Developer Pro sandbox at its next refresh?
- When does a Partial Copy sandbox need a template?
- Why should an admin note API access changes when installing a managed package upgrade?
- When would a team choose Lifecycle Center over change sets, and which orgs should a first evaluation connect?

## Sources

- [Sandbox Types and Templates](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.create_test_instance.htm&type=5)
- [Sandbox Licenses and Storage Limits by Type](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_environments.htm&type=5)
- [Create a Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_create.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Clone a Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_clone.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Best Practices for Salesforce Sandbox Creation and Refresh Times](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000386499&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Create or Edit Sandbox Templates](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_templates.htm&type=5)
- [Change Sets](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.changesets.htm&type=5)
- [Developing and Distributing Unmanaged Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/pkg1-dev/guide/packaging-developing-unmanaged.html)
- [Installing Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/appexchange-install-guide/guide/appexchange-install-installation.html)
- [Upgrade Your Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.distribution_upgrading_packages.htm&type=5)
- [What Is AgentExchange?](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/appexchange-install-guide/guide/appexchange-install-whatis.html)
- [Govern, Manage, and Release Changes with Lifecycle Center](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.devops_center_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Promote Changes Through Your Pipeline](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.devops_center_promotion_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Choosing a Method for Importing Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.import_which_data_import_tool.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Import Related Records with an External ID in Salesforce Data Loader](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000383207&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Data Mask Managed Package Retirement](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=005299299&language=en_US&type=1)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 11 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Administrator II pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams