--- sourceDocument: Australia Mobile Configuration and Navigation sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/mobile Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Mobile Configuration and Navigation ft:clusterId : - mobile bundleId : - mobile workflow : - Development, Data and Analytics --- # Smart button functions # Smart button functions {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 12, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Smart Button Functions Smart buttons allow users to interact with native applications on their mobile devices, enabling quick actions such as navigation, communication, and web access directly from the ServiceNow app. This functionality enhances productivity by streamlining common tasks for mobile users. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Smart Button Types:** * **Address:** Navigate to a specified address using mobile navigation software. * **Email:** Send emails to predefined or dynamic recipients from within records. * **Phone:** Make calls or send SMS messages using numbers from records or static entries. * **URL:** Open web addresses, with options for relative URLs within the app or external URLs in the browser. * **Smart Button Context:** * **Record Context:** Utilizes information from the record where the button is placed, allowing dynamic changes based on the record. * **Global Context:** Uses static information, such as a fixed support number, regardless of the record context. * **Advanced Configurations:** Control visibility of buttons based on display conditions and user roles. For instance, hide buttons when no relevant information is available. * **Deep Linking:** Supports deep linking to third-party applications via properly formatted URIs, enhancing integration with external tools. ## Key Outcomes By leveraging smart buttons, ServiceNow customers can improve operational efficiency with quick access to essential functions, reduce time spent on routine tasks, and enhance the overall user experience on mobile devices. Configuring these buttons to fit specific needs and contexts allows for a tailored solution that meets varied user requirements. Use smart buttons to interact with native applications on your mobile device, such as your phone, map, or email applications. ## Smart buttons {#sg-mobile-smart-button__section_wmv_k1l_4gb} Use smart buttons to quickly perform actions you specify outside the app. These actions can include navigating to a location on a map, sending a text message or email to a contact, placing a phone call, or opening a URL in a browser. You can choose from any of the following options. ## Smart button types {#sg-mobile-smart-button__section_vlr_vbd_clb} {#sg-mobile-smart-button__table_lrd_51l_4gb__entry__2} | Type | Description | |-|-| | Address | Use the Address smart button type to navigate to an address on your instance using your mobile devices navigation software. For example, you can configure a button to direct your field technician to their next work location. | | Email | Use the Email smart button type to send an email. The recipient can be a static email address, or an email address stored on a table on your instance. For example, you can configure a button to send a email with a preset subject from within an incident record. | | Phone | Use the Phone smart button type to place a call or send an SMS text message. As with email, the recipient can be a static, or a number stored on an instance record. For example, you can configure a button on an incident record to call your customer. You can configure your smart button to automatically use the phone number in your customer's user record. | | URL | Use the URL smart button to navigate to a web address. For example, you can configure a button to open your company's website. URLs can be relative or external. Relative URLs display within the app, while external URLs open in the mobile device's default browser. | [ ] {#sg-mobile-smart-button__table_lrd_51l_4gb} ## Smart button context {#sg-mobile-smart-button__section_mgt_xbd_clb} Context determines whether a smart button uses information in a record, or static information you define when creating the smart button. Record Context : Use record context when you want to use information from the record where you have included your smart button. For example, you want to create a smart button to call the user listed in the Caller field of an incident. In this case you would select Record in the smart button's context field. The number used for the phone call is specified by selecting a table and field where the caller's phone number is stored. Using this method, the number called changes dynamically when accessing incidents with different callers. Global Context : Use global context when you want to create a button that does not depend on information in the record. For example, you want to create a smart button that calls your company's support number. This number remains the same no matter where the smart button is placed in your application. When creating a smart button with the global context, you have a Phone Number field where you can input the number. For examples of configuring smart buttons, see [Configure a smart button](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bE6kEl5x4~nGaHqPIDrEww "Smart buttons are actions that allow you to perform another action, such as sending an email, making a phone call, pulling up a location, or navigating directly to a URL."). ## Smart button advanced configurations {#sg-mobile-smart-button__section_f5m_z4j_4gb} Use advanced configurations to control when your button appears, based on conditions or roles. You may, for example want to hide an email button for records that have no email address, or display a URL link only to your admin users. {#sg-mobile-smart-button__table_ozg_gpj_4gb__entry__2} | Configuration | Description | |-|-| | Display Conditions | Conditions under which the smart button is visible. | | Roles Permission | Roles that can see the smart button. If no roles are selected, the button is visible to all users. | [ ] {#sg-mobile-smart-button__table_ozg_gpj_4gb} ## Deep linking to third party applications {#sg-mobile-smart-button__section_ijm_4qj_2nb} ServiceNow mobile supports deep linking to third party applications using the URL smart buttons. To make use of this feature, enter a properly formatted URI in the URL field. The format for a deep linking URI varies depending on the target app. For information on these URI formats, refer to deep linking documentation provided by the third party vendors. Administrators can use the glide.sg.allowed_external_deeplinks property to define which third party apps. For details on this property, see [Configure which external apps are available for deep linking](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/5Bod7zSVJiLzwln6Zp710g "Administrators can define which external apps can be used in deep links with the glide.sg.allowed_external_deeplinks property.").