Login widget

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Login Widget

    The login widget is essential for managing user access to your ServiceNow portal. It allows users to log in by entering their User ID and password, which are authenticated against the User [sysuser] record. The widget can be utilized as-is or customized to meet specific business requirements.

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    Key Features

    • Forgot Password?: The widget includes a link for users to reset their passwords, redirecting them based on the glide.security.passwordreset.uri setting. You can disable this feature by setting glide.security.forgotpassword.display.link to false.
    • External User Self-Registration: Users can independently register for access through a link that appears on the login screen, streamlining the onboarding process without needing administrator assistance.
    • PIV/CAC Authentication: With certificate-based authentication enabled, users can log in using their PIV or CAC cards. This requires prior setup by an administrator to activate the feature and guide users through the registration process.
    • Instance Options: Customize the login widget's appearance and functionality, such as showing or hiding the panel behind the widget and changing the layout to include field names instead of hints.

    Key Outcomes

    By effectively utilizing the login widget, ServiceNow customers can enhance user experience through streamlined access management, allow for self-service registration, and implement secure authentication methods. This leads to a more efficient access process and improved overall user satisfaction with the portal.

    The login widget controls user access to your site. You can use this base system widget as-is in your portal or clone it to suit your own business needs.

    Using the widget

    Users log in to a portal by entering their credentials in the login widget.

    The widget uses credentials from the User [sys_user] record. In the User name field, the user enters the User ID from their user record. In the Password field, the user enters the password from their user record.

    Figure 1. Login widget
    Default login widget on the Service Portal landing page
    The login widget by default includes a Forgot Password? link that enables users to reset their password using the Password Reset application. For more information about Password Reset configuration, see Password Reset.
    Note:
    When the user selects Forgot Password?, the system redirects the user to the page value specified in the glide.security.password_reset.uri system property.

    If you don't want to include the Forgot Password? link, set the glide.security.forgot_password.display.link system property to false.

    External user self-registration

    External user self-registration enables a large group of users to register to a ServiceNow app without the help of an administrator. Users register to the app via a link at the bottom of the login widget screen that says ""Don't have an account? Register".

    Self-registration link.

    For more information on external user self-registration, see Enable external users to self-register to your ServiceNow instance.

    PIV/CAC authentication

    With certificate-based authentication activated in your instance, users can register their Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Card (CAC) card for Service Portal login.

    After self-registering their PIV/CAC card, a user can log in by inserting their card into a card reader and then selecting Login with PIV/CAC card on the login widget.

    Login page with PIV/CAC option

    Before a user can register their PIV/CAC card, an administrator must activate certificate-based authentication and then set up PIV/CAC authentication. For more information on this setup process, see Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card or Common Access Card (CAC) based authentication.

    For more information on how a user self-registers their PIV/CAC card, see Register your PIV/CAC card for Service Portal login.

    Instance options

    Use the instance options to configure the login widget for a portal page.

    Field Description
    Show panel Show or hide the panel that appears behind the login widget. The panel helps the widget stand out from the page background rather than blending in.
    Use Advanced View Changes the widget layout. Adds the Forgot Password? link to the left of the Login button and adds field names for User name and Password instead of hint text.