Tablet interface

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Tablet interface

    ServiceNow enables access to instances via tablets using either a native tablet app or a tablet browser. The native tablet app provides a user experience similar to the native mobile app, displaying favorited applications or modules as tiles on the home screen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop Core UI experience. Because of this parity, the $tablet.do interface has been disabled in Core UI.

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    Connecting via a tablet browser offers an experience similar to the standard desktop user interface, enabling practical use of ServiceNow on tablet devices.

    Key Features with Limited Support

    • Editing Lists: Field values cannot be edited directly from the list view; users must open the record form to make modifications.
    • Graphics-Based Tools: Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tools are view-only in the tablet interface and cannot be modified.
    • Calendars: Calendar reports are accessible, but scrolling through the calendar as on desktop is not supported.
    • Video and Image Attachments: Uploading videos and images is supported on iOS 9 and Android tablets; other file types are not permitted.

    Unsupported Features on Tablets

    • Field Watcher: Access is restricted to the desktop interface for administrators.
    • JavaScript Debugger: Debugging tools are only available on the desktop version.
    • Language Picker: Not visible in the tablet UI toolbar; language preferences set on desktop apply to tablets.
    • Domain Picker: Tablet users cannot select or switch domains; this must be done via desktop.
    • Slushbucket Feature: Lists, fields, or filters using slushbuckets are unsupported on tablets and require desktop access.
    • Navigation Filter Suffixes (.list, .do, .form): These shortcuts function only in the desktop interface.
    • Support Chat: End users and support technicians cannot initiate or respond to chat sessions on tablets; chat is desktop-only.
    • Printer Friendly View: Not available on tablets.
    • Timeline Sliders and Metrics UI Actions: Features involving timelines, such as workflow timelines and Gantt charts, are unsupported on tablets.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers using tablets can expect a near-desktop experience for general navigation and access but should be aware of several functionality limitations. Editing and advanced graphical tools require switching to the desktop interface. Uploading media is limited to images and videos, and certain administrator tools and UI features are unavailable on tablets. Planning workflows requiring timeline interactions or chat support should be conducted on desktop to ensure full functionality.

    Use a tablet to access your instance either app or from a browser.

    Use the native tablet app for an experience similar to the native mobile app. Applications or modules that you have favorited in a desktop instance appear as tiles on your mobile app homescreen.

    The tablet web UI mimics the desktop experience in Core UI. $tablet.do has been disabled in Core UI because the tablet interface is the same as the desktop.

    Connect to an instance using the browser on your tablet for an experience similar to the standard desktop user interface.

    Tablet features with limited support

    • Editing lists: You cannot edit field values in a record from the list view. Access the record form to modify any field values.
    • Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tool: Graphics-based tools can be viewed but not modified from the tablet interface. Data presented by these tools is read-only when accessed through the tablet interface.
    • Calendars: You can access calendar reports but scrolling around the calendar as you would on the desktop interface is not supported.
    • Video and image attachment upload: Attach videos and images with both iOS 9 and Android. Other file type attachments are not allowed.

    Unsupported tablet features

    • Field watcher: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the Field Watcher.
    • JavaScript debugger: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the JavaScript debug window.
    • Language picker: Even if the internationalization plugin is enabled, the language picker does not appear in the tablet UI toolbar. Language selected through the desktop interface applies to the tablet UI.
    • Domain picker: Tablet users cannot select any other domains that administrators configure for domain-specific personalizations. To select a new domain, use the desktop interface.
    • Slushbucket feature: Any lists, fields, or filters that use the slushbucket feature are unsupported on a tablet device. Slushbuckets are only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Suffix in the navigation filter: You can use the .list, .do, or .form shortcuts to access a list of records in a table or a new form from the desktop version only.
    • Support chat: End users cannot request a chat session nor can support technicians respond to chat requests when using the tablet interface. Help desk chat is only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Printer friendly view: This view, which shows the current screen in a pop-up window without frames and the application navigator, is not available from the tablet.
    • Timeline sliders and the Timeline Metrics UI actions: Features that use timelines, such as the workflow timeline and the Gantt chart are not supported from the tablet.