---
sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/application-development

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build or modify applications

ft:clusterId :

    - cadev

bundleId :

    - cadev

workflow :

    - Development, Data, and Analytics


---

# Convert an application to Fluent

# Convert an application to Fluent {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated July 31, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read  
Convert an existing application to support development in source code with ServiceNow Studio.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

Existing applications that weren't created in source code must be converted to support development. Converting an application adds the necessary files and directories for developing it in source code. You can choose whether
to convert existing application metadata into ServiceNow Fluent code.  
Important:  
Only admins can work on Fluent apps. Don't convert the app if you want delegated developers to continue working on the application.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllApp EngineServiceNow Studio.
2. Open the application you want to convert.
3. Select App details.
4. In the Convert app to ServiceNow Fluent message, select Convert.
5. Select Convert.  
   The application is added to your workspace with the default application structure, but the application metadata isn't converted into ServiceNow Fluent code. For more information, see [Building apps in source code in ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/azwUD18~uE3jVxICjCF0rw "Developing and maintaining applications in source code enables you to create and modify complex applications, manage code in source control more easily, and catch errors at build time.").
6. **Optional:** To convert existing metadata into ServiceNow Fluent code, complete the following steps.
   1. From the Navigator panel, select the Explorer tab.
   2. Right-click the metadata directory for the application and select Convert Directory to Fluent.  

   {#convert-app-to-fluent__substeps_l4w_phm_ydc}  
   Application metadata is defined in ServiceNow Fluent code in the fluent/generated directory and removed from the metadata directory and its sub-directories.

   Note:  
   A limited number of metadata types, such as Metadata Snapshots \[sys_metadata_link\] and UX Assets \[sys_ux_lib_asset\], can't be represented as ServiceNow Fluent code and aren't transformed. These metadata types remain as metadata XML files in the metadata directory of your application.
7. **Optional:** Build and install your application to compile source code into application metadata and make your changes available across the instance.  
   For more information, see [Build and install a Fluent app in ServiceNow Studio](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/56i7gtiKBc_HFt3tnQt~dg "Build an application to compile its source code and install application changes across an instance from ServiceNow Studio.").

## Result

The converted application is added to your workspace with the necessary files and directories to support development in source code. After installing a converted application, the Package JSON field of the custom application record \[sys_app\] contains the path to the package.json file for the application.
Note:  
For ServiceNow Studio to install the required dependencies in an application, the public npm registry must respond with the HTTP `Access-Control-Allow-Origin` header.

## What to do next

From your Git provider, create a dedicated Git repository for the application. Initialize a local Git repository for your application and push it to the remote repository. For more information, see [Initialize a Git repository](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/nYu1uNL_Ya2~gisHUQc6PQ "Initialize a local Git repository for an application in ServiceNow Studio and push it to a remote Git repository to manage an application in source control.").

Continue editing your application in ServiceNow Studio.

*[\>]: and then