How to Restart or Reset an Auto-Number field in Salesforce

In this blog, you will learn how you can restart or reset an Auto-Number field in salesforce.

Instructions to reset or restart an Auto-Number field.

Salesforce Classic Steps

Click Your Name | Setup | Build | Create | Objects | Object Name | Custom Fields & Relationships
Click Edit next to the Auto-Number field you want to modify
Click Change Field Type. Select 'Text' for the Data Type, then click Next
Note: This does not work for Standard Auto-Number fields like Case Number, Solution Number etc. For Standard Auto Number fields, the steps are given in the next section
Click Save on the next screen (Step 2) unless you want to modify the Field Level Security for profiles, which is there on the next screen (Step 3). Now the data stored on the Auto-Number field is converted into Text values
Repeat Step 1–3. For step 3, select 'Auto-Number' for the Data Type
Click OK for the message that appears (The new Display Format will only be applied to new records. Existing records will remain unchanged.)

Notes:

The steps provided in this section applies to Salesforce Classic only
Standard auto-number fields cannot be modified in Lightning
The standard Order Product Number field on the Order Product object cannot be reset since it is not editable

Click Your Name | Setup | Build | Customize | Object Name | Fields
Click Edit next to the Auto-Number field you want to modify
Change the 'Display Format' and 'Next Number' that you want to be displayed for your records.
Once complete, click Save
Click OK for the message that appears (This may result in duplicate number. Are you sure?)

Salesforce Lightning Steps

Click the Gear Icon, then select Setup
Go to Object Manager and select the Object Name where the auto number field exists
Click Fields & Relationships, select the name of the Auto-Number field, then click Edit
Click Change Field Type. Select 'Text' for the Data Type, then click Next
Click Save on the next screen,(Step 2) unless you want to modify the Field Level Security for profiles, which is there on the next screen (Step 3). Now the data stored on the Auto-Number field is converted into Text values
Repeat Step 2–4. For step 3, select 'Auto-Number' for the Data Type.

Note: This does not work for Objects installed by managed released packages (because the components below are locked). If you want to restart Auto-Number fields on Objects from a managed released package, you can uninstall the package and reinstall it.