Standard profile cloning for customization
Key Takeaway
You can't edit the permissions on a standard profile. Clone it instead: the clone is a custom profile, and you can edit all of its permissions and settings except the user license.
Every Salesforce org comes with standard profiles, but you can't change their permissions. To get a profile you can fully customize, you clone an existing profile. The clone is an editable custom profile, which you then change to fit the business.
Standard profiles and custom profiles
A profile defines default settings for users. When you create a user, you assign that user a profile.
Every org includes standard profiles, such as System Administrator, Standard User and Minimum Access - Salesforce. You can't edit the permissions on a standard profile. On a standard profile, you can edit only these settings:
- Custom App Settings
- Tab Settings
- Desktop Integration Clients options
- Session Settings
- Password Policies
On a custom profile, you can edit all permissions and settings except the user license. So when you need an editable version of a standard profile, you clone the standard profile. The clone is a custom profile, and you then change it to fit the business.