If you’re running sales out of Salesforce and your team’s making calls all day, you know how much time gets wasted switching tabs, logging calls, and tracking follow-ups. This guide is for anyone—admins, ops folks, or just the person who gets stuck with “tech stuff”—who wants to connect Ringcentral with Salesforce and actually see it help, not slow you down. We’ll skip the sales pitch and get right into what works, what breaks, and what’s not worth your time.
Why bother integrating Ringcentral with Salesforce?
Let’s lay it out: integrating these two tools can help you:
- Auto-log calls and texts to the right Salesforce records (goodbye, copy-paste).
- Click-to-dial straight from Salesforce (faster, fewer wrong numbers).
- Surface caller info as soon as the phone rings.
- Track call outcomes for real reporting, not just gut feelings.
But, and this is important: the integration isn’t perfect. Expect some quirks. Still, it beats spreadsheets and sticky notes.
What you need before starting
Don’t skip this. If you do, you’ll get halfway through and smack into a wall.
- Salesforce edition: You need Enterprise, Unlimited, or Professional with API access. The freebie versions won’t cut it.
- Ringcentral account: Must have admin rights, not just a user seat.
- Browser: Chrome works best; Firefox is okay. Safari often acts up.
- Permissions: You’ll need Salesforce admin and Ringcentral admin access, or at least a helpful friend who does.
Pro tip: If your company has custom Salesforce layouts or heavy security settings, tell IT what you’re up to. Surprises here aren’t fun.
Step 1: Install the Ringcentral for Salesforce App
Let’s start with the official app. There are third-party tools, but they tend to break or cost extra.
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Head to the Salesforce AppExchange
Search for “Ringcentral for Salesforce” or use this direct link. -
Click “Get It Now”
- Choose “Install in Production” (unless you’re just testing).
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You’ll have to log in as a Salesforce admin.
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Follow the prompts
- Choose “Install for All Users” if you want everyone to have the Ringcentral widget.
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Approve any third-party access requests—these are needed for the app to work.
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Wait for the install to finish
- You’ll get an email when it’s done. Sometimes it takes a few minutes.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with any paid “Ringcentral for Salesforce” clones unless you have a very weird use case. The official app does what most teams need.
Step 2: Connect Ringcentral to Salesforce
Now the app’s in, but the two systems still need to handshake.
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Open Salesforce and search “Ringcentral” in the App Launcher
This should surface the new “Ringcentral for Salesforce” app. -
Click to open the Ringcentral widget
Usually, it pops up as a phone icon or softphone panel on the page. -
Sign in with your Ringcentral account
- Use your Ringcentral admin credentials on the first login.
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You may get a pop-up for permissions—approve them all.
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Authorize Salesforce access
- You’ll see a prompt to allow Ringcentral to access Salesforce data. Click “Allow.”
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If you get stuck, clear your browser cache or try Incognito mode—this fixes 90% of weird login bugs.
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Test a call
- Use the widget to call a number from a Lead or Contact record.
- If the call logs automatically, you’re in business.
Heads up:
If you have pop-up blockers active, the widget may not load. Disable them on Salesforce.
Step 3: Configure Call Logging Settings
Don’t rely on defaults—set up logging the way your team actually works.
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Go to the Ringcentral Settings tab inside Salesforce
Look for “Call Logging” or “Activity Logging.” -
Choose what gets logged
- Calls: Outbound, inbound, or both.
- SMS: If your Ringcentral plan supports texting.
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Notes: Let reps add call notes right from the widget.
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Map fields
- Make sure call records link to the right object: Lead, Contact, or Account.
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If you use custom fields (like “Deal Stage”), check that they’re available.
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Auto-log vs. manual
- Auto-logging saves time but can create noise if reps make lots of “test” calls.
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Manual logging gives more control but risks missed data.
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Test the setup
- Place a call and hang up.
- Refresh the Salesforce record—look for a new Activity or Task with the call info.
Pro tip:
If you’re getting duplicate records or logs on the wrong object, check your field mappings and security settings.
Step 4: Enable Click-to-Dial
This is the simple stuff that makes a big difference.
- Open any Lead or Contact in Salesforce
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Phone numbers should now show as clickable links (often with a phone icon).
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Click the number
- The Ringcentral widget should pop up and start dialing.
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If nothing happens, check your browser pop-up settings.
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Repeat for a few users
- Make sure it works for non-admins. Sometimes permissions get mixed up.
What doesn’t work:
Don’t expect click-to-dial to magically clean up badly formatted numbers. If your phone fields are full of dashes, spaces, or weird country codes, fix them first.
Step 5: Train Your Team (Really)
Nobody likes new tools, especially if they think it’ll slow them down. Spend an hour running through:
- How to make calls from Salesforce.
- How to log notes after a call.
- Where to find call history.
- What to do if something breaks (hint: refresh, then ask IT).
Pro tip:
Set up a “sandbox” record for practice calls. Let people click around without risking real customer data.
What usually breaks (and quick fixes)
Let’s be honest—integrations can be flaky. Here’s what usually goes wrong:
- Widget won’t load: Try a different browser, disable pop-up blockers, or clear cache.
- Calls don’t log: Double-check field mappings and user permissions.
- Can’t find the Ringcentral widget: Make sure it’s added to the right Salesforce layouts (Lightning App Builder helps).
- Users can’t sign in: Make sure Single Sign-On (SSO) settings match between Ringcentral and Salesforce.
If you’re stuck, Ringcentral support is… okay. But most issues are browser or permission-related, not deep technical bugs.
What you can skip (unless you love tinkering)
- Advanced workflow automations: Unless you have a process that really needs it, skip building custom Flows or Process Builder automations at first. Get the basics working—then automate.
- Over-customizing the widget: The out-of-the-box widget is ugly but works. Custom CSS isn’t worth the hassle unless you have time to burn.
- Third-party add-ons: Most are just wrappers for the official app and add little value for most teams.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple and stay flexible
Integrating Ringcentral with Salesforce isn’t rocket science, but it’s also not a “one-click and done” deal. Get the basics running—install, connect, test call logging and click-to-dial—then pause. Let your team use it for a week. See what actually helps and what gets ignored.
Most teams trip up by over-complicating things on day one. Start simple. Fix what matters. And if something’s not working, it’s usually a permissions or browser hiccup, not a deep tech mystery.
The goal is to make life easier, not just add another button. Good luck—and don’t be afraid to hit “refresh” (on your browser or your process) if things get weird.