Refreshing Sandbox Accounts in NetSuite 2026.1

TL;DR Opening

Starting in NetSuite 2026.1, users can refresh their sandbox accounts directly from their production account or another sandbox if they are on a Premium, Enterprise, or Ultimate service tier. This update streamlines the process of testing and developing customizations without downtime. Users can refresh each of their sandbox accounts whenever they need to, ensuring that the test environments remain current and relevant.

What's New

Refreshing a sandbox account enables users to send a complete snapshot of configurations, data, user passwords, and customizations from a source account to a target sandbox. Importantly, the existing data in the target sandbox will be completely overwritten. Here’s how this process works:

Sandbox Refresh Overview

• Source Account: The account you are copying from, which can be either your production account or another sandbox, depending on your service tier.
• Target Sandbox: The sandbox that will receive the new data, which continues to remain online during the refresh process.

Key Steps in Refreshing

1. Request a Refresh: Log in to your associated production account and go to Setup > Company > Sandbox Accounts.
2. User Access: Determine which users will retain access post-refresh. Options include access limited to administrators or all existing production users.
3. Select Source: Choose the source account for the refresh (only available for Premium tiers and above).
4. Submit Request: Click the ‘Refresh Sandbox’ button to begin the process.

Important Considerations

• Online Access: Users can continue to work in the sandbox while the refresh is being prepared. Accounts are not taken offline when a refresh is requested.
• Save Changes: Before activating the new sandbox, ensure any changes made post-refresh request are saved externally, as they will be lost in the overwriting process. These changes must be saved outside of the sandbox account to ensure they can be included in the new sandbox after activation.
• Notification: Administrators will receive an email once the new sandbox is ready for activation. An administrator can activate this new sandbox by clicking a button on the Sandbox Accounts page. Activation involves deleting the previous sandbox version and replacing it with the new data.
• Upgrade Period: Be cautious not to request a refresh during your scheduled upgrade window, as this can result in a failed refresh request. A refresh will fail if it does not complete before your scheduled upgrade begins.

This refreshing capability makes it easier for developers and administrators to keep their test environments current, allowing for more effective testing and development.

Who This Affects

• Administrators: Responsible for performing and managing sandbox refreshes.
• Developers: Utilize sandboxes for testing scripts, customizations, and integrations.
• Quality Assurance Teams: Need an up-to-date environment to accurately test new features and fixes.

Key Takeaways

• Refreshing sandboxes in NetSuite 2026.1 supports both production and sandbox as sources.
• The refresh process is non-disruptive; users maintain access during refresh preparation.
• All configurations and data in the target sandbox will be overwritten during the refresh.
• Activation of the new sandbox must be done promptly to prevent the loss of data changes made after the refresh request.