UI16 is the latest UI, included started in Geneva. UI16 provides usability improvements and design changes, including an enhanced application navigator, color themes, and a refreshed knowledge base that delivers a more modern style to help drive user efficiency and productivity.That means if you just received your instance from ServiceNow and it is running on Geneva, you do not need to activate the plugin to get UI16, because it is active OOB. For instances upgrading from a lower version (pre-Geneva), you will need to activate the UI16 plugin (com.glide.ui.ui16) manually. As long as you have the admin role, activating UI16 after upgrading to Geneva or newer version, is a breeze.
Before you begin hunting around for the plugin to activate, confirm that you have successfully completed the upgrade of your instance by visiting the upgrade monitor (System Diagnostics > Upgrade Monitor). When your upgrade is complete, it will display statistics on the most recent upgrade, including start and end date and a green message will appear saying it was a success.
To activate UI16 in your upgraded instance
- Navigate to System Definition>Plugins.
- Search for UI16 plugin (com.glide.ui16)
- Open the plugin record.
- Click on related link "Activate/Upgrade"
- Click Activate to activate the plugin.
- Click on "Close and Reload Form" once you see the success message popup.
- Click the gear icon in the banner frame to open the System Settings window.
- Click "Switch to UI16"
Just to emphasize, after you have enabled the plugin, you must also complete step 8! Which means after enabling, you must tell your instance to "Switch to UI16" or you will continue to see UI15. If you do not see the ability to switch between UIs and the "Switch to UI16" button is not available see ServiceNow KB: The "Switch to UI16" button is not visible (KB0564468)
Switching between UI15 and UI16
After UI16 is activated, you may need to view the changes in both versions of user interface. You can switch to UI15 while in UI16 by clicking on the gear icon in the banner frame. Please note, that by default, "Switch to UI15" button is only visible to the admin. However, if you would like to make this button available for other users, you can add a system property to configure other roles to see the "Switch to UI15" button.
Switching from UI16 to legacy UIs
If you wish to switch back to a legacy UI, I'm talking pre-UI15, you will first need to switch from UI16 to UI15, then you can switch to UI11. Unfortunately, there is no direct way to switch from UI16 to a legacy UI without, first, switching to UI15.
Congratulations, you have successfully activated UI16 plugin on your instance!
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Here are some of the highlights from the UI16 overhaul:
Flexibility in the Application Navigator:
- The Application Navigator is now completely collapsible into the "edge." Use this feature when you need more screen real estate to focus on the tasks at hand.
- Three-column structure to help you find what you need, when you need it. Columns include the standard application and module display, your favorites with new icons, and a new history log displaying recent interactions.
Improved Personalized Settings and Connect Access:
- User options are updated to include user profile, Connect sidebar (Chat functionality), search, help, and baseline system settings.
- The user profiles now feature global user presence. Whenever a user is online, a green dot will appear on their avatar. This applies for your profile and any other user profile in your instance to help communicate your status to team members. You'll see this functionality appear in activity streams, live feeds, and Connect conversations.
- Navigate to the settings to choose an instance color theme, language, time zone, list and form appearance. In addition you can set Connect notifications preferences based on personal preference.
- Automatically jump to your latest conversation or activities in the Connect sidebar.
For more details on why UI16 is cool see Navigating the updates in UI16.
For additional help on activating UI16, see what other customers have asked:
UI16 plugin status can't be changed to "Active".
Can I enable UI16 but make UI15 default for all users in Geneva?
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