Top 10 Tools to Download Salesforce Files & Attachments in Bulk

Quick answer: There is no default "Download All Files" button available in Salesforce, hence, for bulk download of Files and Attachments one needs to rely on external apps. The best ones among the available choices in 2026 are DumpingCloud – Salesforce Files Manager (free Browser Extension, does not require authentication, and has the fastest bulk download capabilities for records and objects level export), Files Downloader and SFDC File Exporter (specialized AppExchange/desktop apps for big migrations), Salesforce Inspector Reloaded and XL-Connector (free apps for admins who operate in SOQL/Excel environment), and Salesforce CLI / REST API or SFDMU for developers who need fully scripted and repeatable export process. Salesforce Data Loader and Workbench do not allow for exporting file binaries but just metadata information about files.

Why You Can't Just "Download All" in Salesforce

If you've ever tried to pull every file off a Salesforce record or every attachment across thousands of Cases you've run into the same wall every admin eventually hits: Salesforce simply doesn't offer a native bulk download button. Files live in the ContentVersion / ContentDocumentLink objects (Salesforce Files) or the legacy Attachment object (Notes & Attachments), and the standard UI only lets you download one file at a time from a record's Files related list.

Even Salesforce’s Data Export Service itself, which gets used by all admins right away, cannot resolve this issue. While it exports a CSV file with the file metadata, the VersionData/Body in the exported file is only a pointer to the file as a URL or as a Base64 string, and not the actual PDF/image/document. The case is similar with Data Loader; it can query Attachment/ContentVersion objects, but not export the binary files in a usable format.

That gap is exactly why a dedicated category of "Salesforce file downloader" tools exists. Below are the ten most reliable ones in 2026, ranked by who they're actually built for admins doing day-to-day cleanup, teams running a one-time migration, or developers building automation.

Comparison Table: Top Salesforce File Download Tools

Tool	Best For	Install Type	Bulk Download	Price
DumpingCloud – Salesforce Files Manager	Admins & daily record/object-level file management	Chrome extension (no login)	Yes, record- & object-level, in bulk	Free
Files Downloader	Migrations, compliance exports, legacy Notes & Attachments	AppExchange (native package)	Yes, org-wide	Paid, free trial
SFDC File Exporter	One-off or scheduled desktop exports	Desktop app (Win/Mac/Linux)	Yes, org-wide with filters	Free
Salesforce Inspector Reloaded	Devs/admins who live in SOQL & metadata	Chrome/Firefox extension	Limited (query-based, not binary-first)	Free
XL-Connector	Excel-based export/import workflows	Excel add-in	Yes, via SOQL/report pull	Paid, free trial
Salesforce CLI + REST/Bulk API	Developers building repeatable, scripted exports	CLI + custom script	Yes, fully custom	Free (dev time required)
SFDMU (Salesforce Data Move Utility)	Org-to-org migrations with files attached	Open-source SF CLI plugin	Yes, via ExportFiles add-on	Free
Salesforce Data Loader	Metadata-only export, not files	Desktop app	No (metadata only)	Free
Workbench	Ad hoc, single-record blob retrieval	Browser tool	No (one file at a time)	Free
Salesforce Backup & Recover / Own	Enterprise-grade backup & compliance	Native / AppExchange add-on	Yes, as part of full org backup	Paid (license-based)

1. DumpingCloud – Salesforce Files Manager

Best for: Admins, support teams, and consultants who need to bulk-download files from a record or an entire object without touching Data Loader or writing a query.

DumpingCloud is a free Browser extension ( available on Chrome, Safari, Firefox & Microsoft Edge ) that is embedded into your current Salesforce session it requires no logins, no authorized connected applications and no data transfer out of your browser. Just open any record – Account, Opportunity, Case or any custom objects and just press the button in the extension; Dumping Cloud will open all related attachments and files. Then you can choose several files at once or use Select All option and download all of them simultaneously without need to open and save each of them separately.

What makes Dumping Cloud different from other tools listed above is not only the download function. Using the same panel you can delete, move, copy, rename, merge, split, add watermarks, translate and compare files; you can also use the Object-level View to perform all those actions in bulk with all files connected to any records for a particular object. For users working with compliance requests, client deliverables or pre-migration cleanup this bulk function is the key to fast work.

Key features:

Bulk download at both the record level and the object level (across many records at once)
Zero setup auto-detects your active Salesforce session, no login or connected app needed
In-browser preview for images and PDFs before downloading
Also handles delete, move, copy, merge, split, watermark, ZIP, and translate (49 languages)
Works across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and other major Salesforce products
No data collected or sent externallyeverything runs inside your browser session

Limitations: Browser extension it depends on you being logged into the org in that browser tab, rather than running as a scheduled, unattended job.

Pricing: Free.

2. Files Downloader (by Sastorm Software)

Best for: Orgs that need a 100% native AppExchange app for large-scale, recurring bulk exports especially legacy Notes & Attachments.

Files Downloader is built specifically to solve the problem Data Loader can't: exporting the actual binary content of Files, Attachments, Documents, Chatter Files, and Static Resources, not just their metadata. Because it installs as a managed package, it runs entirely inside your org with no external servers involved. You pick an object, filter by list view, SOQL query, or related record, then select and download in bulk with a CSV of metadata generated alongside the files for tracking.

Key features:

Supports all standard and custom objects, plus ContentDocumentLink relationships
Export by list view, SOQL query, or related record
Preserves metadata and folder structure during export
Positioned as a direct alternative to scripting your own Data Loader + API workaround

Limitations: Requires an AppExchange install and admin approval; it's a paid tool aimed more at migration/compliance projects than daily file management.

Pricing: Paid, with a free trial.

3. SFDC File Exporter

Best for: Admins who want a free, no-install desktop tool for one-off or scheduled bulk exports without going through AppExchange.

SFDC File Exporter is a standalone desktop application (Windows, Mac, Linux) that authenticates directly against your org via OAuth no package to install inside Salesforce. It's built to handle Files, Attachments, ContentDocuments, Notes, Enhanced Notes, Rich Text Field images, and Static Resources in one unified interface, and it can even convert rich text fields to PDF on export.

Key features:

Filter by object, list view, file type, date range, owner, or keyword before exporting
Upload a CSV of record IDs to drive precise, list-based exports
Scheduled/automated export workflows for recurring jobs
No Salesforce package installation required

Limitations: As a downloaded desktop app, it requires local installation and OAuth setup per user, which is more friction than a browser extension for quick, ad hoc downloads.

Pricing: Free.

4. Salesforce Inspector Reloaded

Best for: Admins and developers who already use SOQL daily and want file/metadata access built into the same tool.

One of the most extensively used freeware plugins of Chrome/ Firefox for the Salesforce environment is the Salesforce Inspector Reloaded plugin. Though this plugin is not designed to work as a file downloading utility, it is worthwhile mentioning due to the following two features associated with file management: its Data Export feature allows for querying and downloading of EventLogFile blobs, and the Download Metadata feature allows for getting an entire metadata component (Static Resources included) as a ZIP file.

Key features:

Multi-tab SOQL query editor with autocomplete and saved queries
Direct download of EventLogFile log content from a query result
Metadata retrieval and ZIP download, including package.xml generation
CSV/Excel export of any query result

Limitations: It's a data/metadata tool first for bulk-downloading ContentVersion or Attachment binaries specifically, it's not as purpose-built or fast as a dedicated file-downloader extension.

Pricing: Free.

5. XL-Connector (by Xappex)

Best for: Teams that prefer to work in Excel and want file exports tied into a broader data-export workflow.

XL-Connector is an Excel add-in that connects directly to Salesforce, letting you pull SOQL or report results into a spreadsheet, edit them, and push changes back. For files specifically, the workflow is to query Attachment or ContentVersion/ContentDocumentLink rows, then use the add-in's download capability to stream the binary content locally, applying naming patterns (like RecordId-FileName) to avoid collisions across large exports.

Key features:

Familiar Excel interface for building and running the export query
Handles both legacy Attachments and modern Files
Useful for combining a file export with a broader data pull in the same spreadsheet
Filter by date range or record ID list before exporting

Limitations: Best suited to users who are already comfortable in Excel and SOQL it's a data tool with file-export capability layered in, not a dedicated file manager.

Pricing: Paid, with a free trial.

6. Salesforce CLI + REST/Bulk API (Custom Scripting)

Best for: Developers who need a fully custom, repeatable, or CI/CD-integrated export process.

When there are development resources available within the team, the most flexible method of extraction will be the API calls via scripting against the Salesforce REST or Bulk API. In most cases, the sequence is as follows: querying the ContentVersion (or Attachment) object for file metadata, followed by making a GET call for each file content (via /sobjects/ContentVersion/{Id}/VersionData endpoint) and writing it to disk. Simple libraries such as simple-salesforce for Python and salesforcer for R will facilitate this procedure.

Key features:

Complete control over filtering, naming conventions, and destination storage
Can be scheduled, containerized, or integrated into a migration pipeline
No licensing cost beyond development time
Scales to very large orgs when paired with the Bulk API

Limitations: Requires real development effort authentication, pagination, error handling, and API limit management all have to be built and maintained by your team.

Pricing: Free (Salesforce API access), but requires engineering time.

7. SFDMU (Salesforce Data Move Utility)

Best for: Org-to-org or sandbox-to-sandbox migrations where files need to move along with their parent records.

SFDMU is a popular open-source plugin for the Salesforce CLI, primarily used for moving data between orgs without needing an ETL platform. Its core:ExportFiles add-on module is specifically designed to transfer ContentVersion, ContentDocument, and ContentDocumentLink records including their binary data while preserving the links to their parent records on the target side.

Key features:

Declarative configuration via an export.json file — no custom code required
Automatically maintains file-to-record relationships during migration
Supports batching for large files to avoid script failures
Actively maintained open-source project with detailed documentation

Limitations: It's optimized for org-to-org migration, not simply "download files to my laptop" the setup (CLI, JSON config) has a steeper learning curve than a browser extension.

Pricing: Free (open source).

8. Salesforce Data Loader (Metadata Only - Not a File Download Tool)

Best for: Exporting standard object data, not files. Included here because it's the first tool most admins try and the point where they discover the limitation.

Data Loader is Salesforce's own free desktop tool for bulk insert, update, delete, and export of record data, and it's excellent at that job. But per Salesforce's own Data Loader documentation, it does not support exporting attachments it can query the Attachment or ContentVersion object, but the binary content in the Body/VersionData field isn't retrieved as a usable file. You end up with a CSV of metadata and IDs, not the actual documents.

Key features:

Reliable for mass record CRUD operations (up to millions of rows)
Free and officially supported by Salesforce
Good starting point for identifying which files exist before exporting them with another tool

Limitations: No binary/file export capability this is the single most common reason admins go looking for one of the other tools on this list.

Pricing: Free.

9. Workbench

Best for: Quick, ad hoc retrieval of a single file's blob content during development or debugging not bulk work.

Workbench is a free, browser-based tool popular with developers for exploring the Salesforce API directly. It can retrieve blob data from objects like Attachment, Document, ContentVersion, and Note via the sObject Blob Get endpoint, which is useful when you need to grab one specific file's content without building a script.

Key features:

Direct REST/SOAP API access without writing code
Useful for verifying blob data or testing an export approach before scripting it
No installation runs in the browser against your authenticated session

Limitations: Retrieves one record's blob at a time there's no bulk selection or batch download UI, which makes it impractical for anything beyond a handful of files.

Pricing: Free.

10. Salesforce Backup & Recover (Own / native Salesforce Backup)

Best for: Enterprise teams that need files and attachments protected as part of a full, compliance-grade backup and restore strategy not just a one-time export.

If your goal isn't a single export but ongoing protection against accidental deletion, corruption, or bad automation runs, this is a different category of tool entirely. Salesforce's native Backup & Recover product (and third-party alternatives built on the same idea, such as Own) creates automated daily backups of your org's data, metadata, and since a recent release files and attachments, with the ability to restore individual files to their original record and owner.

Key features:

Automated, scheduled backups (not manual, one-time exports)
Restore files to their original record with correct ownership and sharing
Filter restores by object, date range, or who last modified the file
Built for compliance, disaster recovery, and long-term retention not everyday downloading

Limitations: This is a licensed, ongoing solution, not a lightweight download tool — it's overkill if you just need to grab files off a handful of records today.

Pricing: Paid, license-based (contact vendor for pricing).

How to Choose the Right Tool

Downloading files from a record or object today, with zero setup? Use DumpingCloud — it's free, requires no login, and handles both single-record and object-level bulk downloads in a few clicks.
Running a one-time migration or compliance export across the whole org? Use Files Downloader or SFDC File Exporter — both are purpose-built for large, filtered, metadata-preserving exports.
Already comfortable with SOQL or Excel? Salesforce Inspector Reloaded or XL-Connector fold file access into tools you're already using.
Need a fully automated, scriptable pipeline? Go with the Salesforce CLI/REST API for custom builds, or SFDMU if you're moving files between orgs.
Just need ongoing protection, not a one-time download? That's Salesforce Backup & Recover territory, not a file-downloader tool.
Avoid relying on Data Loader or Workbench alone — they're excellent tools, but neither one bulk-downloads actual file content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Salesforce Data Loader download attachments or files? No. Data Loader can export the Attachment or ContentVersion object's metadata as a CSV, but it does not download the actual binary file content the Body/VersionData field it exports is not a usable document. You need a dedicated file-download tool for that.

What is the fastest way to bulk download files from a Salesforce record? Installing a browser extension like DumpingCloud is the fastest method for record-level downloads: it auto-detects your Salesforce session, loads every file on the record, and lets you select and download them all in a single action no query-building or setup required.

Does Salesforce have a native "download all files" button? No. Salesforce's standard UI only supports downloading one file at a time from a record's Files related list. Bulk downloading requires either a third-party tool, a scripted API call, or an object-level file manager.

What's the difference between Attachments and Files in Salesforce? Attachments are the legacy object (pre-Lightning) for storing files tied to a record. Files (the ContentVersion/ContentDocument/ContentDocumentLink objects) are the modern replacement, introduced with Chatter and Lightning, and support versioning, sharing, and libraries. Most orgs today have a mix of both, which is why a good download tool needs to support both objects.

Is there a free way to bulk download Salesforce files? Yes. DumpingCloud, Salesforce Inspector Reloaded, SFDC File Exporter, and SFDMU are all free. Files Downloader and XL-Connector are paid tools that typically offer a free trial.

Can I download files from multiple Salesforce records at once, not just one? Yes, but not every tool supports it. Object-level bulk download pulling files across many records under one object in a single action is a feature specific to tools like DumpingCloud's object-level view, Files Downloader's list-view export, and SFDC File Exporter's filtered export, rather than something the standard Salesforce UI or Data Loader can do.

This guide is based on current AppExchange listings, official Salesforce documentation, and vendor product pages as of September 2026. Pricing and features are subject to change verify current details on each vendor's page before purchasing.