--- sourceDocument: Yokohama Release Notes sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/release-notes Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama Release Notes ft:clusterId : - rn bundleId : - rn --- # Upgrade tools and resources # Upgrade tools and resources {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Yokohama Updated April 7, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 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 Upgrade tools and resources ServiceNow offers a range of products and tools designed to streamline and enhance the upgrade experience for your instance. These resources help automate testing, manage upgrade processes centrally, and provide best practices and expert support to ensure smooth, risk-mitigated upgrades. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Automated Test Framework (ATF):** Enables creation and execution of automated tests to verify your instance's functionality post-upgrade or after configuration changes. It helps identify issues by reviewing failed test results. Note that automated tests should only run in non-production environments to prevent data loss or outages. * **Upgrade Center:** Centralized hub to plan, manage, and monitor upgrades. It includes the Upgrade Preview module to explore available releases without upgrading, the Upgrade Monitor module to track ongoing upgrades, a visual task board for managing post-upgrade skips, and an Upgrade History module to review past upgrades. * **Upgrade Tools:** Includes Now Support upgrade assist for automating upgrade scheduling, Known Error portal to review known issues in patch releases, and downloadable sample upgrade project plans (PDF, Excel, MPP) to organize and track upgrade progress. * **Best Practices and Expert Guidance:** Access curated best practices to accelerate upgrade outcomes, maintain platform health, and balance customization value with upgrade risk. ServiceNow also offers Impact success plans and expert services for tailored adoption guidance and hands-on support during upgrades. ## Key Outcomes * Efficient, automated testing ensures your instance functions correctly after upgrades, reducing risk and downtime. * Centralized upgrade management via Upgrade Center simplifies planning, execution, and monitoring, leading to smoother upgrade cycles. * Access to upgrade tools and known error information helps you anticipate and mitigate common issues. * Best practice guidance and expert support empower you to maximize upgrade value, maintain platform health, and adopt new features faster. Learn about ServiceNow products and tools that can improve your upgrade experience. ## Products Use these ServiceNow products to automate parts of your upgrade testing and manage your upgrades from one central place. [Automated Test Framework](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=automated-test-framework&version=yokohama&pubname=yokohama-application-development&ft:locale=en-US) : The Automated Test Framework (ATF) enables you to create and run automated tests to confirm that your instance works after making a change. For example, after an upgrade, during application development, or when deploying instance configurations with update sets. Review failed test results to identify the changes that caused the failure and the changes that you should review. Note: By default, the system property to run automated tests is disabled to prevent you from accidentally running them on a production system. Run tests only on development, test, and other non-production instances to avoid data corruption and outage. [Upgrade Center](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=uc-landing-page&version=yokohama&pubname=yokohama-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Use ServiceNow® Upgrade Center to plan and manage your upgrades. Use the Upgrade Preview module to explore different release versions available to you and gain insights about the experience of an upgrade without actually upgrading your instance. You can also monitor the status of any ongoing upgrade and view the summary of your latest upgrade with the new Upgrade Monitor module. The Upgrade Center also features an Upgrade visual task board (VTB) to manage post-upgrade skips. A separate Upgrade History module can be used to view all your past upgrades. ## Upgrade tools In addition to upgrade-related products, you can also use ServiceNow's upgrade tools. [Now Support upgrade assist](https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0788171) : Stay current by automating your ServiceNow upgrades. Use an automated service to offload upgrade scheduling tasks. [Known Error portal](https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0597477) : Review a list of known issues in selected patch release versions. Sample upgrade project plans : The [Upgrade planning checklist](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ML4E~_LCvGwwbOFOM6f59Q "Plan and track the activities related to your ServiceNow instance upgrade. To help ensure that you complete all the tasks for a successful upgrade, follow the step-by-step instructions in the upgrade planning checklist to track and plan the upgrade.") provides a quick look at the steps in an upgrade. If you'd like to track your upgrade progress in Excel, PDF, or Microsoft Project, you can download these sample project plans to get started. * [PDF](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow-upgrade-planning-checklist.pdf) * [Excel](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow_upgrade_sample_project_plan_v1.0.xlsx) * [MPP](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow_upgrade_sample_project_plan_v1.0.mpp) ## Best practices Visit the ServiceNow [Best Practices](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/home) website for more information on how to accelerate outcomes with expert-curated best practices. [Upgrade quickly and maintain platform health](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/success-packs/core-platform-upgrade) : Plan and execute smooth ServiceNow AI Platform upgrades, reduce risk, cut costs, and adopt new features faster across your ServiceNow instance. [Balance value and risk with platform customizations](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/assets/businesssmart-customization) : Learn when and how to customize your instance to maximize value and minimize upgrade impact.
## Resources [ServiceNow Impact success plans](https://www.servicenow.com/impact.html) : Receive long-term adoption guidance and support with an Impact success plan tailored to you. [Expert services](https://www.servicenow.com/services/expert-services.html) : Connect with a ServiceNow expert who will help you apply best practices and tools to upgrade to the most recent ServiceNow innovations.