# Lightning apps and console apps in App Manager

*Platform Administrator II Study Guide · Objects and Applications · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator-ii/objects-and-applications/lightning-apps-and-console-apps-in-app-manager*

How to create, clone, brand and assign Lightning apps in App Manager, what controls the landing page and navigation personalisation, and how Lightning console apps are licensed, configured with navigation rules, tuned for tab performance and compared with Classic console apps.

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

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, determine the appropriate solution to enhance or extend the UI/UX with applications (App Manager, Lightning App Builder, Dynamic Forms, standard Lightning page components, Console, and Lightning page analyze button).

## What the exam expects

- Create a Lightning app from scratch or by cloning, and know which apps can be cloned.
- Set an app's landing page, navigation items, branding override, utility bar and profile assignments.
- Grant console access by licence and profile, and configure navigation rules.
- Tune console performance with deferred loading and a loaded tab limit.
- Plan a move from a Classic console app to Lightning, including person accounts and Classic apps in Lightning Experience.

Key terms:
- **App Manager**: the Setup page that lists apps and opens the New Lightning App wizard and app editing.
- **Navigation items**: the objects and pages in an app's navigation bar; the top one is the landing page.
- **Lightning console app**: an app with console navigation, workspace tabs, subtabs, split view and a utility bar.
- **Navigation rule**: a console setting deciding whether an object's records open as workspace tabs or subtabs.
- **Lightning Console User**: the permission every console user needs.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clone in App Manager | Custom Lightning apps only | [Create Lightning Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_create.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Landing page | Top navigation item, desktop and mobile | [Create Lightning Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_create.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Personalisation limit | More than 50 default items blocks it | [Create Lightning Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_create.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Branding | App can override the org theme's brand image and nav bar color | [Customize Lightning Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_customize.htm&type=5) |
| Classic app Home pages | Upgrade to a Lightning app before app and profile assignment | [Activate Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_app_builder_customize_lex_pages_activate.htm&type=5) |
| Console access | Lightning Console User plus the profile on the app | [Console Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_access.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Platform licence users | Need a Lightning Console permission set licence | [Console Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_access.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Deferred loading | On by default | [Salesforce Console](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=console_lex_intro.htm&language=en_US) |
| Classic console app | Can't be upgraded to Lightning | [Console Parity](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_feature_parity.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why can't a store team open a console app even though its profile is on the app?
- When does a navigation rule matter?
- Why upgrade a Classic app before assigning it a custom Home page?
- Which layout step do person accounts need in a console app?

## Sources

- [Create Lightning Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_create.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Customize Lightning Apps with the Lightning App Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.apps_lightning_customize.htm&type=5)
- [Salesforce Console in Lightning Experience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=console_lex_intro.htm&language=en_US)
- [Who Can Access Lightning Console Apps?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_access.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create and Edit a Custom Lightning Console App](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_create_custom.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [What Features Are Available in Lightning Console Apps?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.console_lex_feature_parity.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Lightning Service Console](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=service.console_lex_service_intro.htm&type=5)
- [Activate Lightning Record or Home Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_app_builder_customize_lex_pages_activate.htm&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 8 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Administrator II pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams