Retrieving a single layout in Zoho CRM requires navigating to your layout settings and selecting the specific layout you need to view or edit. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're working with standard layouts or custom layouts you've created.
Why this matters
You need to access individual layouts when you want to review field configurations, make targeted edits, or apply a layout to a specific record type or user group. If your organization uses multiple custom layouts for different teams or workflows, knowing how to isolate and retrieve a single layout saves time and prevents accidental changes to the wrong configuration.
Step-by-step
Step 1. Open Zoho CRM and click the gear icon in the top-right corner to navigate to the Settings page [6].
Step 2. In the Settings sidebar, locate and click Custom Layouts under the *Customization* section [6].
Step 3. Select the module or feature type for which you want to retrieve a layout. For example, if you're working with release management, select Release [6]. If you're managing timesheet forms, select Timesheet [5].
Step 4. A list of available layouts will appear. Click on the specific layout name you want to retrieve. This opens the layout editor, where you can view all fields, sections, and configurations associated with that layout [^5,6].
Step 5. Once the layout is open, you can review its structure, including default fields (which cannot be deleted) and any custom fields you've added. You can also see sections that categorize fields into subheadings [^5,6].
If you need to make changes to the layout, you can drag and drop fields to reorder them, add new custom fields, or modify sections. If you only need to view the layout without editing, simply review the configuration and close the editor.
Note: This guidance applies to Zoho Sprints layouts (timesheet and release layouts). Layout retrieval in other Zoho CRM modules may follow a similar pattern but could have module-specific variations. We're Beam Help — independent expert support for Zoho, not official Zoho support — so if you're working with a different module, check your product's documentation for exact menu paths.
Common pitfalls
Default fields in any layout cannot be deleted, even if you retrieve and open a layout for editing. Attempting to remove fields like Release Name, Release Owner, or Log Date will fail [^5,6]. If you need a cleaner form, consider cloning the layout and removing only non-default fields, then applying the cloned version to specific users or teams.
When creating your first custom layout, you must clone from the default standard layout [^5,6]. You cannot build a layout from scratch; the system requires an existing layout as a template.
What to check
- Verify that the layout you retrieved contains all the custom fields your team needs for that workflow.
- Confirm that default fields are present and cannot be accidentally deleted.
- Check that any sections or field groupings match your organization's data capture requirements before applying the layout to users.