Published at: 2026-09-17
Configure lead duplicate detection rules
Configure how the system identifies duplicate Leads and handles data after a duplicate is detected.
Overview
Lead duplicate detection affects actions such as create, edit, import, smart form submission,
OpenAPI, and ShareMarketing creation. Traditional Duplicate Rules focus on blocking duplicate data. Leads Duplication management lets the Lead continue into the system, then marks, consolidates, creates a Behavior Record, or updates existing Leads based on rules.Before you begin
[!IMPORTANT] - Role permission: System administrator or CRM administrator. - Version requirement: Duplicate Lead management is enabled automatically for flagship editions and later. It can also be purchased separately. - Prerequisite configuration: Core identification fields are defined for Lead, Account, and Contact objects.
Configure duplicate rules
- In Setup > Standard Object Management > Sales Lead > Duplicate Lead Management, open the Duplicate Lead management page.
- On the Duplicate Rules tab, click Add Duplicate Rule.
- Select the duplicate detection object. You can configure rules between Lead and Lead, Lead and Account, and Lead and Contact.
- Select the field combination used to identify duplicates.
- Save the duplicate rule.
Configure handling rules
- On the Handling Rules tab, click Create.
- Enter the rule name.
- Select the Trigger Type, such as create, edit, import, smart form,
OpenAPI, or ShareMarketing create. - Set the duplicate detection scope.
- Select the duplicate rule created in the previous step.
- Set how the system handles matched duplicates.
Handling methods
| Handling method | System behavior | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Mark duplicate | Keep the new Lead and mark it as duplicate. | A user must decide the next action manually. |
| Consolidate into existing Lead | Create the new Lead and associate it with an existing Lead. | You need to retain each intake record. |
| Generate activity record | Do not create a second Lead. Create only an activity record under the existing Lead. | The same Lead inquires again and you need to update the interaction trail. |
| Update existing Lead | Write fields from the new data back to the existing Lead. | You need to enrich the existing Lead profile. |
| Execute custom function | Handle duplicate data based on enterprise logic. | You need complex business judgment. |
Data cleansing tool standard
- The cleansing tool can scan Accounts, Contacts, and Sales Leads.
- The Sales Lead cleansing rule is (Name AND Phone AND Company Name) OR (Name AND Mobile AND Company Name).
- After cleansing completes, the system sends a CRM notification.
- Duplicate results are shown by group.
Validation
- Create a test Lead that matches an existing record.
- Confirm that the system identifies duplicates based on the duplicate rule.
- Check whether the new Lead is marked, consolidated, converted into an activity record, or used to update an existing Lead based on the handling rule.
- Use the Duplicate Tool to scan Sales Leads and confirm that duplicate results are grouped.
Notes
[!WARNING] Activity record generation takes effect only for create, smart form,OpenAPI, and ShareMarketing creation triggers. This method supports only Lead and Lead duplication scenarios. The system does not create a second Lead and does not apply a duplicate tag to the existing Lead.