Tablet interface

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

    ServiceNow’s tablet interface allows users to access their instance either through a native tablet app or a tablet web browser. The native tablet app offers a user experience similar to the mobile app, with favorited applications or modules appearing as tiles on the homescreen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop experience using the Core UI, as the dedicated tablet interface ($tablet.do) has been disabled in favor of this uniform experience.

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    Key Features

    • Access Methods: Use either the native tablet app for a mobile-like experience or connect via a tablet browser to access the Core UI desktop-like interface.
    • Favorites Sync: Applications or modules favorited on the desktop instance appear as tiles on the tablet app homescreen, ensuring seamless navigation.
    • File Attachments: Videos and images can be attached on both iOS 9 and Android tablets; however, other file types are not supported for attachment.
    • Read-Only Graphics Tools: Tools such as Dependency Views, schema maps, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt charts, and visual dispatch tools can be viewed but not edited on tablets.

    Limitations and Unsupported Features

    • Editing Restrictions: Inline editing of field values in list views is not supported; users must open individual record forms to modify fields.
    • Calendar Navigation: Calendar reports are accessible but lack smooth scrolling capabilities found on the desktop.
    • Administrative Tools: Features like Field Watcher and JavaScript debugger require the desktop interface.
    • Language and Domain Selection: The language picker is not available on tablets; language settings from the desktop apply. Tablet users cannot select domains; domain changes must be done on desktop.
    • UI Components: Slushbucket fields, filters, and lists are not supported on tablets.
    • Navigation Shortcuts: URL suffix shortcuts (.list, .do, .form) work only in the desktop version.
    • Support Chat: End users and support technicians cannot initiate or respond to chat sessions via tablet interface; chat support is desktop-only.
    • Printer Friendly View and Timeline Features: Printer-friendly views and timeline-based UI actions (e.g., workflow timelines, Gantt charts) are unavailable on tablets.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers using tablets can expect a consistent experience closely aligned with the desktop Core UI, enabling access to most functionalities and applications they use on desktops. However, certain editing capabilities, administrative tools, and interactive graphical features are limited or unavailable, requiring desktop access for full functionality. Understanding these constraints will help customers plan workflows and support strategies effectively, ensuring that tablet use complements rather than replaces the desktop experience.

    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.