# Sandbox refresh plans for streams, training and hotfixes

*Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect Study Guide · Releasing · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-development-lifecycle-and-deployment-architect/releasing/sandbox-refresh-plans-for-streams-training-and-hotfixes*

How to place sandbox refreshes, copies and post-refresh automation on a release calendar: sharing the Full sandbox between streams, refreshing after each go-live, lead times for Quick Create, queues and the preview cutoff, training orgs per class, and the planned hotfix path.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect
- Exam section: Releasing
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-development-lifecycle-and-deployment-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Apply map sandbox strategy to a specific Release Plan, taking into consideration multiple project streams, training requirements, staging and hotfixes.

## What the exam expects

- Map each sandbox to a job in a release plan: stream development, UAT, staging, training and hotfixes.
- Resolve contention when several streams need the one Full sandbox, and know what a Partial Copy sandbox can't prove.
- Schedule refreshes after each go-live and before the preview cutoff, with realistic lead times.
- Automate post-refresh work and reconnect integrations, and plan training orgs and the hotfix path.

Key terms: **refresh interval** (the minimum wait between refresh requests per sandbox type), **SandboxPostCopy** (an Apex interface whose class runs at the end of each copy), **Quick Create** (the faster refresh method for Full sandboxes from Hyperforce production orgs), **preview cutoff** (the date by which a copy must complete to join the sandbox preview), **hotfix path** (the route an urgent fix takes outside the normal release).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh intervals | Developer 1 day, Developer Pro 1 day, Partial Copy 5 days, Full 29 days | [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&type=5) |
| Interval start | When the creation or refresh is requested | [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&type=5) |
| Unactivated new sandbox | Deleted after 30 days, after at least two emails | [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&type=5) |
| Partial Copy data | Up to 5 GB; 10,000 records per selected object (000381868); newer article: 10k parent records plus related children, or 5 GB (000387743) | [Partial Copy Guidance](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000381868&language=en_US&type=1), [Sandbox Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000387743&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Clone licence | Same type as its source | [Clone a Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_clone.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Many refreshes at once | Processed in series, not parallel | [Sandbox Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000387743&language=en_US&type=1) |
| SandboxPostCopy user | Automated Process user without access to all objects | [SandboxPostCopy Interface](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_interface_System_SandboxPostCopy.htm) |
| Preview request timing | At least a week before the cutoff | [Sandbox Preview Instructions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000391927&language=en_US&type=1) |

## Check yourself

- Why must integrations be reconfigured after every refresh?
- When should a post-copy step be re-run by hand after activation?
- Why should a release plan stagger sandbox refreshes instead of requesting them together?

## Sources

- [Refresh Your Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.data_sandbox_refresh.htm&type=5)
- [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?language=en_US&id=sf.data_sandbox_environments.htm&type=5)
- [Guidance for Partial Copy Salesforce Sandbox Creation and Refreshes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000381868&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Salesforce Sandbox Preview Instructions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000391927&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Clone a Sandbox](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.data_sandbox_clone.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Salesforce Sandbox Types and Management Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000387743&language=en_US&type=1)
- [SandboxPostCopy Interface](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_interface_System_SandboxPostCopy.htm)
- [Operational Excellence - DevOps Patterns](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/well-architected/guide/operational-excellence-devops-patterns.html)
- [What's an Unlocked Package?](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-whats-a-package.html)
- [Push a Package Upgrade for Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-push-upgrade.html)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 12 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams