Need help restoring reclaimed PDI (dev311933)

[badriP]

Hello Developers,

My Personal Developer Instance (dev311933) was reclaimed even though I was actively using it. I have now been assigned a new PDI (dev191878), but my previous application and data are missing.

Is there any possibility of restoring my old PDI or recovering my application data?

Thank you.

Badri.S

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @badriP 

Sorry mate, PDIs do not come with official support. This means that once a PDI is released or taken back, it cannot be recovered, and all the data on it is lost.

However, before giving up on your PDI, please follow these troubleshooting steps to see if you can recover it.

How to Protect Your Work

Before your PDI is reclaimed:

• Export Update Sets

• Connect Scoped Applications to Source Control

• Export any custom data

• Save attachments and configurations

• Back up custom scripts and system properties

Future Improvements

ServiceNow is also working on:

• Improving the underlying PDI infrastructure

• Providing a more reliable and performant developer experience

• Continuously monitoring and enhancing PDI availability for the developer community

Key Takeaway

If your PDI is older than 90 days and you haven't logged into it within the last 10 days, it may be reclaimed. Log in regularly and back up your work to avoid losing your customizations and development artifacts.

https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-blog/keeping-pdis-available-for-active-builders-upcom...

How to Take Backup of PDI going forward:

Summary: How to Back Up Your ServiceNow Personal Developer Instance (PDI)

This guide explains the different methods for backing up your Personal Developer Instance (PDI) to protect your work before a reset or reclamation.

1. Back Up Using ServiceNow Studio (Scoped Applications)

Use ServiceNow Studio for scoped applications.

Steps:

• Create a GitHub account (if you don't already have one).
• Generate a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) with the repo scope.
• Create Basic Auth Credentials in ServiceNow using your GitHub username and PAT.
• Create a GitHub repository for your application.
• In System Applications > Studio, select your application.
• Link the application to Source Control using the GitHub repository URL and credentials.
• Push your application to GitHub.

Restore: Import the application back from Source Control using the same repository and branch.

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2. Back Up Using App Engine Studio (AES)

For applications built in App Engine Studio:

Steps:

• Configure GitHub and a Personal Access Token.
• Create ServiceNow credentials.
• Open App Engine Studio.
• Select your application.
• Choose Link to Source Control.
• Connect it to your GitHub repository.

Restore: Use Import App in App Engine Studio to retrieve the application from GitHub.

---

3. Back Up Using Update Sets

Update Sets capture configuration changes made on the platform.

Steps:

1. Create a new Local Update Set.
2. Make it the Current update set.
3. Perform all configuration work within that update set.
4. Set the update set to Complete.
5. Export it as an XML file.

You can also:

• Export multiple update sets as a batch.
• Publish an entire scoped application to an Update Set and export it.

Restore: Import the XML file into Retrieved Update Sets, then Preview and Commit the update set.

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Important Notes

• Always store backups outside your PDI.
• GitHub is recommended for application source control.
• Update Sets capture configuration changes, not business data.
• Metadata such as records is not backed up automatically.
• Export any required custom data, attachments, scripts, and configurations separately.
• Never store passwords or sensitive credentials in a public GitHub repository.

Link: https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-blog/how-to-backup-your-personal-developer-instance-p...

[Tanushree Maiti]

Hi @badriP 

There is no chance to restore those data.

Please check this Personal Developer Instance (PDI) Guide

Where it is written-

"When a PDI is reclaimed, the instance is unassigned from you, reset to its original state, and reassigned to another Developer Site user. Reclaiming instances allows ServiceNow to supply active developer site user with free instances."

[AndersBGS]

Hi @badriP 

The short answer is no - always remember to backup your work to be sure not to lose it.