# Salesforce mobile app actions and publisher layouts

*Platform App Builder Study Guide · User Interface · Last updated October 25, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/salesforce-mobile-app-actions-and-publisher-layouts*

How to shape the Salesforce mobile app: global versus object-specific actions, global publisher layouts per profile, lean action layouts, how the action bar is ordered and why actions go missing, Chatter feeds, feed tracking and groups, offline records, mobile navigation from Lightning apps, and mobile-friendly page layouts.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform App Builder
- Exam section: User Interface
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a set of requirements, determine the appropriate global, object-specific actions and layouts to optimize the Salesforce mobile user experience.

## What the exam expects

- Choose a global or object-specific action for a mobile requirement, and put it where mobile users will find it.
- Give different profiles different global actions on the Feed page with global publisher layouts.
- Keep action layouts short and use predefined field values.
- Explain the order of the mobile action bar and why an action is missing (predefined actions, feed tracking, productivity actions, Log a Call).
- Explain how Chatter feeds, feed tracking and groups support collaboration, and when Chatter is off.
- Configure mobile navigation from a Lightning app and optimize page and compact layouts for small screens.

Key terms: **action bar** (the strip of actions at the top of mobile pages); **global publisher layout** (the layout of global actions for pages not tied to an object, such as Feed); **action layout** (the fields an action shows); **predefined actions** (the default action bar until you customize it); **feed tracking** (the setting that gives an object a Chatter feed).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Feed and People action bar | Driven by the global publisher layout | [Global Publisher Layouts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.working_with_global_publisher_layouts.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Global publisher layout assignment | Per user profile; global actions only | [Global Publisher Layouts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.working_with_global_publisher_layouts.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Action layout size | Fewer than five fields, no more than eight | [Global Actions (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce1_mobile_app/salesforce1_mobile_app_actions_global) |
| Predefined actions | Apply only until the mobile actions section is customized | [Predefined Action Order](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.actionbar_how_actions_are_ordered.htm&language=en&type=5) |
| Post on Account | Fixed fourth position in predefined actions | [Predefined Action Order](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.actionbar_how_actions_are_ordered.htm&language=en&type=5) |
| Two or more Log a Call actions | Call uses the global Log a Call layout | [Mobile Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.limits_mobile_sf1_nav_and_actions.htm&type=5) |
| No feed tracking | Only Create, Update, Log a Call, custom and Mobile Smart Actions | [Mobile Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.limits_mobile_sf1_nav_and_actions.htm&type=5) |
| URL buttons that prefill standard pages | Don't work in the mobile app | [Mobile Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.limits_mobile_sf1_nav_and_actions.htm&type=5) |
| Mobile navigation bar | First four items of the app's navigation | [Customize Navigation (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce1_mobile_app/salesforce1_mobile_app_navigation) |
| Chatter in new orgs | Off by default from Summer '26 (Enterprise, Unlimited, Developer); enable in Chatter Settings | [Chatter Off by Default](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=release-notes.rn_general_chatter_default_off.htm&release=262&type=5) |
| Offline records | Briefcase Builder supports up to 50,000 records offline | [When to Use Briefcase Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.briefcase_builder_availability.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Utility bar | Not available in the mobile app | [Mobile Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.limits_mobile_sf1_nav_and_actions.htm&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why do two profiles see different actions on the Feed page?
- When does View Website appear in an account's action bar?
- Why doesn't a Classic URL button that prefills a new Order work on a phone?
- What must be true of a Lightning app for its tabs to become the mobile navigation menu?

## Sources

- [Navigation and Actions: What's Different or Not Available in the Salesforce Mobile App](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.limits_mobile_sf1_nav_and_actions.htm&type=5)
- [How Predefined Actions Are Ordered in the Salesforce Mobile App Action Bar](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.actionbar_how_actions_are_ordered.htm&language=en&type=5)
- [Global Publisher Layouts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.working_with_global_publisher_layouts.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create Global Quick Actions (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce1_mobile_app/salesforce1_mobile_app_actions_global)
- [Quick Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.actions_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Tips for Optimizing Page Layouts for the Salesforce Mobile App](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.layouts_optimizing_for_mobile_tips.htm&language=en&type=5)
- [Customize Navigation (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce1_mobile_app/salesforce1_mobile_app_navigation)
- [Customize the Salesforce Mobile App](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.salesforce_app_customize.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Compact Layout Limitations and Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.compact_layout_notes.htm&type=5)
- [XML Configuration File Elements](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/lwc/guide/reference-configuration-tags.html)
- [Custom Button and Link Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.links_considerations.htm&type=5)
- [Chatter Is Turned Off by Default in New Orgs (Summer '26 release notes)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=release-notes.rn_general_chatter_default_off.htm&release=262&type=5)
- [Customize Chatter Feed Tracking](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_feed_tracking.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_about.htm&type=5)
- [When to Use Briefcase Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.briefcase_builder_availability.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Get Started With Mobile Offline](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.salesforce_app_plus_offline_get_started.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 13 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform App Builder pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams