Salesforce SOAP API login Retirement: What Every Admin and Developer Must Do Before June 2027

Introduction: The Clock Is Ticking

On April 21, 2026, Salesforce sent a Product & Service Notification to organizations worldwide — including Vantage Point's VP of Professional Services, Randy Wandell — confirming a retirement that will fundamentally change how every integration authenticates with Salesforce.

The SOAP API login() operation will be fully retired on June 1, 2027.

This isn't a minor version bump or a cosmetic change. This retirement eliminates the most widely used authentication method in the Salesforce ecosystem: username-password authentication via the SOAP API. If your organization relies on SOAP login() for Data Loader, MuleSoft, Informatica, Jitterbit, Boomi, custom Java or .NET applications, or any integration that passes a username and password to get a session ID — you must migrate before the deadline.

In this guide, we'll walk you through:

• Exactly what's being retired (and what's not affected)
• A complete audit checklist to find every SOAP login() call in your org
• OAuth 2.0 migration alternatives with a comparison table
• Impact on enterprise middleware platforms
• A clear timeline from deprecation to retirement
• Security benefits that make this migration worthwhile
• Every resource you need to complete the transition

What Exactly Is Being Retired?

The Full Retirement Picture

Salesforce's API retirement has two distinct phases that organizations must understand:

Phase 1 (Already Complete): API Versions 21.0–30.0 Retired

As of the Summer '25 release, all SOAP, REST, and Bulk API calls using versions 21.0 through 30.0 now fail with errors:

API version 30 dates back to the Spring '14 release — over 12 years ago. Versions 7.0 through 20.0 were already retired in Summer '22.

Phase 2 (June 1, 2027): SOAP API login() Operation Retired

This is the bigger impact. The login() operation — which allows any application to authenticate by sending a username, password, and security token — will cease to function entirely. This affects all API versions, not just legacy ones.

Why Is Salesforce Doing This?

1. Security: Username-password authentication is the #1 attack vector for Salesforce orgs. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 67% of data breaches involve compromised credentials.
2. MFA Compatibility: SOAP login() bypasses multi-factor authentication, creating a security gap that undermines your MFA investment.
3. Modern Standards: OAuth 2.0 provides short-lived tokens, scoped permissions, and revocable access — the standard for modern API authentication.
4. Performance: Salesforce is concentrating development on the latest API versions to deliver better performance and capabilities.

What's NOT Affected (Safe Zone)

If your integration already authenticates via OAuth 2.0 (connected app with JWT, client credentials, or authorization code flow), no migration is needed for that integration.

Complete Audit Checklist: Find Every SOAP login Call

The most critical step is knowing where SOAP login() is used in your org. Here are five methods to build a complete picture:

Method 1: Event Log Browser (Setup UI)

This is the easiest method and requires no coding:

1. Navigate to Setup → Security → Event Monitoring → Event Log Browser
2. Browse the API Total Usage event log files
3. Download the CSV files
4. Filter for rows where API_VERSION ≤ 30.0
5. Pay attention to these key fields:
   • CONNECTED_APP_NAME — Which app is making the call
   • USER_NAME — Which user account is being used
   • CLIENT_NAME — The client application identifier
   • API_FAMILY — SOAP, REST, or Bulk
   • API_RESOURCE — The specific endpoint
   • ENTITY_NAME — The Salesforce object being accessed

Note: Standard orgs get 24-hour data retention for API Total Usage logs. Organizations with Event Monitoring enabled get 30-day retention.

Method 2: SOQL Query via Salesforce CLI

For a more programmatic approach, run this query:

SELECT Id, LogFile, EventType, CreatedDate 
FROM EventLogFile 
WHERE EventType IN ('ApiTotalUsage')

Via Salesforce CLI:

sf data query -q "SELECT Id, LogFile, EventType, CreatedDate FROM EventLogFile WHERE EventType IN ('ApiTotalUsage')" -o <your-username>

Method 3: Login History Review

1. Navigate to Setup → Login History
2. Filter for API Type: "SOAP Enterprise" or "SOAP Partner"
3. Review the API Version field
4. Any entry with version ≤ 30.0 is impacted by the version retirement
5. All SOAP login entries will be impacted by the June 2027 login() retirement

Method 4: Bulk Data Load Jobs

1. Navigate to Setup → Bulk Data Load Jobs
2. View details of each Bulk V1 job
3. Check the "API Version" field
4. Any job with version 30.0 or below needs to be updated

Method 5: Salesforce Code Analyzer

Use the Salesforce Code Analyzer with the regex rule AvoidOldSalesforceApiVersions to scan your codebase for references to deprecated API versions.

Audit Summary Checklist

Migration Action Table: Component-by-Component Guide

OAuth 2.0 Alternatives: Which Flow Is Right for You?

OAuth 2.0 Flow Comparison Table

1. OAuth 2.0 JWT Bearer Flow (Recommended for Server-to-Server)

How it works: A pre-registered connected app uses a signed JWT (JSON Web Token) with a private key to authenticate. No user interaction is required.

Best for:

• Automated nightly data syncs
• Middleware integrations (MuleSoft, Informatica, etc.)
• Scheduled Apex or batch jobs calling external services
• Any server-to-server integration that currently uses SOAP login()

Key advantages:

• Most secure option for server-to-server scenarios
• Private key never leaves your server
• Short-lived access tokens (configurable expiry)
• Supports certificate rotation for zero-downtime key management

2. OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials Flow

How it works: The application authenticates using only its client ID and client secret — no user context is involved.

Best for:

• Background processing tasks
• System-level API access where user identity doesn't matter
• Internal microservices accessing Salesforce data

3. Named Credentials (Salesforce-Native Solution)

How it works: Salesforce stores authentication details centrally. Your Apex code, Flows, and External Services reference the Named Credential — no hardcoded credentials anywhere.

Best for:

• Apex callouts to external services
• Flow-based integrations
• External Services configurations
• Any integration built natively on the Salesforce platform

4. OAuth 2.0 Web Server Flow (Authorization Code + PKCE)

How it works: The user is redirected to Salesforce to log in and authorize the application. The app receives an authorization code, then exchanges it for tokens.

Best for:

• Web applications where users log in interactively
• Connected apps that need user-specific data access
• Customer-facing portals

Enterprise Middleware Impact Assessment

The Full Timeline: Deprecation to Retirement

Key insight: You have approximately 13 months from the April 2026 notification. That sounds like a lot, but organizations with 20+ integrations typically need 8–12 weeks for full migration, testing, and rollout. Start now.

Security Benefits: Why This Migration Is Worth It

The Problem with Username-Password Authentication

The Numbers Speak

• 99.9% reduction in account takeover risk when OAuth + MFA is implemented (Microsoft Security Research)
• 67% of data breaches involve compromised credentials (Verizon DBIR 2024)
• 99.99% availability commitment from Salesforce Trust — modern auth is a prerequisite

How Vantage Point Helps With Your Migration

Integration Assessment & Audit

We conduct a comprehensive audit of your Salesforce org, identifying every SOAP login() call, legacy API version reference, and at-risk integration. Our team uses Event Log analysis, Login History review, and Code Analyzer scans to build a complete picture.

Migration Planning & Execution

Our certified Salesforce architects and MuleSoft integration specialists design and execute your migration plan:

• OAuth flow selection — Choosing the right flow for each integration
• Connected App / External Client App configuration — Setting up secure authentication
• Middleware reconfiguration — MuleSoft, Workato, and other platform updates
• Named Credentials setup — Centralizing authentication for Apex and Flows
• Testing & validation — Ensuring zero disruption to business processes

Ongoing Support

Post-migration monitoring and support to ensure everything runs smoothly through the June 2027 deadline and beyond.

Contact us today for a free SOAP API login() migration assessment:

🌐 vantagepoint.io

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Salesforce retiring the entire SOAP API?

No. Salesforce is retiring the SOAP API login() operation — the method that authenticates using a username and password. The SOAP API itself (for data operations like query, create, update, delete) will continue to work, but you'll need to authenticate using OAuth 2.0 instead of login().

What happens if I don't migrate before June 2027?

Your integrations that rely on SOAP login() will stop working. API calls will fail, data syncs will break, and automated processes will halt. There is no grace period once the retirement takes effect.

How long does the migration take?

For a single integration, migration typically takes 1–3 days including testing. For organizations with 10–20 integrations across multiple middleware platforms, budget 4–8 weeks for a complete migration including regression testing.

Do I need to migrate if I'm already using OAuth?

No. If your integrations already authenticate using OAuth 2.0 (JWT Bearer, Client Credentials, Authorization Code, or Named Credentials), you're already compliant. Use the audit checklist above to verify.

What's the difference between API version retirement and login retirement?

API version retirement (already happened): Calls using API versions 21–30 fail regardless of authentication method. login() retirement (June 2027): The SOAP login() authentication operation itself is removed, affecting all API versions.

Which OAuth flow should I use for my Data Loader?

The latest Data Loader versions support OAuth natively. Simply download the latest version and configure it to use OAuth authentication during setup.

How do I handle Outbound Messaging after the retirement?

If your Outbound Messaging listener makes return SOAP calls using the EnterpriseURL or PartnerURL from the payload, you need to either update the client to use API version >30.0 or recreate the messaging definition in Setup, which automatically sets the API version to the latest available.

Essential Resources

Salesforce Official Documentation

• Salesforce KB Article: API Versions 21–30 Retirement
• Salesforce Feature Retirements
• Retirement Philosophy
• Salesforce Help Center

Developer Guides

• SOAP API Developer Guide
• REST API Developer Guide
• Bulk API Developer Guide
• Salesforce Developer APIs Reference
• Data Loader Installation Guide
• Data Loader Overview
• LoginHistory sObject Reference
• API Total Usage EventLogFile

Code Analysis & Migration Tools

• Salesforce Code Analyzer — AvoidOldSalesforceApiVersions Rule
• Microsoft Power Query — Specifying Salesforce API Version

Trailhead Learning

• Apex Web Services
• Event Monitoring
• Platform API Basics
• Use REST API

Blogs & Podcasts

• An Important Update to Our Legacy API Retirement Plan
• Why API Versions Matter with Kris Harrison — Podcast

Conclusion: Start Your Migration Today

The Salesforce SOAP API login() retirement on June 1, 2027 isn't optional — it's inevitable. Every organization using username-password authentication for their Salesforce integrations must migrate to OAuth 2.0 before the deadline.

The good news? This migration delivers real value beyond compliance:

• Stronger security with short-lived tokens and MFA compatibility
• Better auditability with complete token lifecycle tracking
• Easier maintenance with centralized credential management via Named Credentials
• Future-proofing your integration architecture for Salesforce's evolving platform

Don't wait until the deadline approaches. Start your audit today, build your migration plan, and execute methodically. Organizations that start early have the luxury of thorough testing and staged rollouts.

Need expert help with your SOAP API login() migration? Vantage Point's certified Salesforce architects and integration specialists have guided organizations of all sizes through complex authentication migrations. We'll assess your org, design your migration plan, and ensure zero disruption to your business.

📧 Contact us at vantagepoint.io to schedule your free migration assessment.

About Vantage Point

Vantage Point is a certified Salesforce and HubSpot consulting partner specializing in CRM implementation, MuleSoft integration, Data Cloud, and AI-powered automation. With deep expertise across Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, and partner technologies including Anthropic (Claude AI), Aircall, and Workato, we help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of their technology investments. Our team of certified architects and developers delivers solutions that drive measurable business outcomes — from initial implementation through ongoing optimization.

🌐 vantagepoint.io