If you miss any content, please leave it as a comment and I will add it to this article.
| Table of Contents |
My library Knowledge Sources To Go is very popular, but it was intended mainly as a thematically grouped guide to standard sources and was provided by me as a PDF file. For certain topics, however, there is so much content that I can no longer include it in that document, as it cannot continue to grow forever.
For this reason, I have decided to handle such topics in individual community articles like this one instead.
What is Upgrading & Patching?
The upgrade process moves your instance to a new ServiceNow release version. Understanding the difference between upgrading and patching, release definitions, rollback and backup options, and how to test your non-production and production instance upgrades is crucial to customer success. Staying current enables you to take full advantage of the innovations made available through our releases, to deploy new products, and to get the highest levels of security, availability, and performance.
Unsupported and Unsupported Release Families
The current policy of ServiceNow is to support the most recent and the immediately previous release families. Because ServiceNow generally releases two new release families per year, you will need to upgrade approximately once per year to stay on a supported release family. The timing and frequency of releases is subject to change at the sole discretion of ServiceNow. ServiceNow provides Updates (e.g., patches and hotfixes) only for supported release families.
Required Upgrades
You generally can schedule upgrades at your convenience; however, if you fall behind and your instance is on an unsupported release family, ServiceNow will schedule an upgrade for your instance to the most current release family to ensure access to the latest features as well as the latest security, performance, and availability benefits.
Entry point to the official product documentation.
Perform ServiceNow upgrades efficiently and more effectively
This Success Workbook will guide you through the steps to plan and execute a successful ServiceNow upgrade as well as how to create a repeatable process to minimize time and resources needed which will streamline future upgrades.
How do I perform ServiceNow upgrades?
Quick overview answering the question.
This success pack will help you become familiar with the upgrade process, more efficient with every new upgrade, and bring new features to market faster. Have an easy and efficient upgrade experie
Find out answers to the most popular questions and customer issues received related to instance upgrades. This information applies to out-of-box instances.
Patching and Upgrades Program | Release Cycle
The ServiceNow release cycle is designed to provide optimal stability and quality, with the flexibility to quickly address problems and deliver new features.
ServiceNow Patching Program FAQs
The ServiceNow release cycle is designed to provide optimal stability and quality, with the flexibility to quickly address problems and deliver new features.
What’s the process to review and address skipped changes?
Quick overview answering the question.
Run book to allow skipped logs to be reviewed and actioned, after an instance upgrade.
Trainings & Courses
The important skills for delivering instance changes effectively include previewing upgrades, reviewing skipped records, the Automated Test Framework (ATF), and Debug Upgrade. You can master the ServiceNow Upgrade Essentials with the help of the on-demand courses in this Learning Path.
Articles & Blog Posts
How to manage and schedule instance upgrades
You can upgrade and patch your instance in the Now Support portal by request, as described below, or be automatically upgraded or patched by ServiceNow. You can also manage and schedule the instance upgrades by following the below-mentioned steps.
Features that can be affected during an instance upgrade 🔒
While an upgrade is running, the system cannot be guaranteed to run every business process perfectly, especially those that run continuously. For that reason, some features run less or not at all during the instance upgrade. This article describes some of those features, especially platform features on which many applications rely.
Skipped Update Records Resolution Tracking
The ServiceNow release cycle is designed to provide optimal stability and quality, with the flexibility to quickly address problems and deliver new features.
2024-03-15 by @Mark Roethof
Exploring Upgrade Center Skipped Record Rules
With the Vancouver release ServiceNow introduced "Skipped Record Rules" within Upgrade Center. It appears to be a very useful addition when working on Skipped Updates after Hot fixes/Patches/Upgrades. Since Skipped Record Rules didn't get much love and attention yet from the ServiceNow eco-system, let's dive into it!
2024-03-15 by @Dhruv Gupta1
Upgrading ServiceNow: How to Avoid Turning Your Platform into a Drama Series !!
“Upgrading ServiceNow? Just click the button and let the magic happen.” Said no one who’s survived a real upgrade.
Videos & Podcasts
2019-01-28 by ServiceNow Support
Overview of the ServiceNow Patching Program, which ensures that customer instances are optimized for security, performance, and functionality.
2019-02-11 by ServiceNow Support
Patching and Upgrades Fundamentals
Overview of the Patching and Upgrade fundamentals on the NOW Platform.
2019-05-21 by ServiceNow Support
Upgrading to a New ServiceNow Release
This video describes the process for planning, testing, communicating, and applying a ServiceNow release family upgrade.
2020-09-17 by ServiceNow Community
TechNow Ep 79 | Simplify your next upgrade
Join the TechNow team and their very special guest, Jivanjot Kaur, Sr. Product Manager for upgrades at ServiceNow, as she takes you on a deep dive in to the game changing capabilities to help you upgrade and fast track your digital initiatives. We'll look at the new Upgrade Center and Automated Test Framework.
2020-10-02 by ServiceNow Support
How to schedule and manage instance upgrades on Now Support
Stay current by upgrading your instance to the latest ServiceNow release. This video covers the benefits of upgrading, managing an upgrade using the Instances Dashboard, rescheduling an upgrade, and staying updated with notifications.
2020-10-10 by ServiceNow Support
Provides an overview of the Upgrade Center, which helps you plan, manage and navigate your ServiceNow upgrades.
2021-03-09 by ServiceNow Dev Program
Join Brad Tilton as he shows us preview upgrade feature introduced in Paris, and some of the new upgrade capabilities in the Quebec release.
2021-05-24 by ServiceNow Community
Managing and planning upgrades on the Now Support Portal
Join upgrade experts from Now Platform to share best practices on planning, scheduling and managing upgrades on the Now Support Portal. Learn how programs such as Early Release and Upgrade Assist can help you streamline upgrades and get ahead of the pack. We will show you the experience live in Now Support, provide best practices, and take your questions during this session!
2021-05-24 by ServiceNow Community
Simplify how you preview, assess, and monitor upgrades!
Join one of our resident upgrade experts as they share best practices on simplifying how you preview, assess, and monitor upgrades using tools like the Upgrade Center which runs on the Now Platform.
2022-08-30 by ServiceNow Dev Program
Upgrade plans are a new feature in the Tokyo release that allow you to reduce the time it takes to upgrade your instance family to a new release. Join our product managers Padmaja Vattikuti and Chiarng Lin to discover how upgrade plans can help.
2022-06-09 by ServiceNow Community
Using the ServiceNow store for smoother upgrades
The Now Platform San Diego release can help you drive new levels of productivity, automation, and innovation. Don’t miss out. Join our Meetup to learn how the ServiceNow® store can help you make your upgrade experience better.
2022-09-22 by ServiceNow Community
Improving Your Upgrade Experience
The San Diego release is here, and we want to help you get ready for your upgrade. Join this session to learn the best practices and resources for simplifying this upgrade and discover features that make building on the ServiceNow platform easier than ever. Walk away with hot tips to make your upgrade go smoothly.
2022-11-02 by ServiceNow Community
Leverage ServiceNow Platform capabilities for a smoother upgrade
Are you ready to jumpstart your next platform upgrade? Join ServiceNow experts to learn how you can take advantage of platform tools to speed your testing time and ensure a smooth upgrade. By joining this live webinar, you’ll learn how you can:
- Use Upgrade Plans, a new feature available with the Now Platform Tokyo release
- Reduce testing time with enhancements to the Automated Test Framework (ATF)
- Get data-driven insights to optimize your platform configuration with Instance Scan
2022-11-17 by ServiceNow Community
Build a streamlined project plan for upgrade success
Ensuring a seamless upgrade starts with a strong project plan. Join this webinar to learn how you can build a project plan driven by industry best practices. ServiceNow® experts will walk you step by step through the upgrade process—offering guidance on building a repeatable upgrade plan for future use.
2022-11-17 by ServiceNow Community
Upgrade Plans for faster and more organized upgrades
Join us for another session with Paige, Miguel, and Jarod! This time we'll show you how to leverage Upgrade Plans to make your upgrades faster and more organized. With Utah General Availability around the corner, this is the perfect time to improve your upgrade process.
2023-11-02 by ServiceNow Community
Learn the ins and outs of Upgrades from Paige Duffey. Before joining ServiceNow, she ran upgrades as a customer and she has a lot of wisdom to share. During this session we will:
- Recommend strategies for a quicker, smoother upgrade
- Explain how to use the Upgrade Center for a smooth transition
- Answer upgrade questions you may have during this live event
2024-02-07 by ServiceNow Community
Tips and Tricks for a Successful Upgrade to the Now Platform Washington release
Don't get behind on ServiceNow releases! Learn how to prepare properly for upgrades and how to make them run smoothly.
2024-04-17 by ServiceNow Community
Champion your upgrade to the Now Platform Washington release
Join us for an enlightening webinar as we delve into the realm of upgrading, uncovering strategies to sidestep common pitfalls. From meticulous preparation to seamless scheduling and vigilant monitoring, we'll equip you with the knowledge and tools you need for a smooth transition.
2024-04-22 by ServiceNow Community
Platform Fundamentals Academy - Upgrades in Washington
On April 18th, 2024 we had our Platform Fundamentals Academy, where we discussed the Upgrades that came with the Washington release. Join ServiceNow Product Manager, Govind Menon, as he delves into the intricacies of ServiceNow's streamlined upgrade process. Discover how ServiceNow is revolutionizing upgrades, making them more accessible and efficient than ever before. Don't miss out on this insightful Platform Fundamentals Academy!
2025-04-29 by ServiceNow Community
Champion Your Upgrade to the Now Platform Yokohama Release
re you eager to harness the powerful innovations introduced in the Now Platform Yokohama release? Yet, the prospect of upgrading might seem overwhelming. Fret not! You're not alone. Our team of ServiceNow experts is here to guide you through it all. Join us for an enlightening webinar as we delve into the realm of upgrading, uncovering strategies to sidestep common pitfalls. From meticulous preparation to seamless scheduling and vigilant monitoring, we'll equip you with the knowledge and tools you need for a smooth transition. Experience firsthand the platform capabilities designed to ease your upgrade with live demos showcasing Upgrade Center and Instance Scan functionalities.
Troubleshooting
Known Error Portal
Pre-configured filter for the respective topic. Remove the query string or modify the filters on the left side if you want to narrow down the search results in a different way.
Selected Articles
Skipped updates count mismatch between "Upgrade Summary Report in Upgrade Monitor" vs "Skipped updat... (KB0725798)
Revert customised record to OOB and transfer via Update-set for Upgradeability (KB0993700)
Upgrade Monitor shows "Waiting for summary job to run" after the upgrade has completed because the U... (KB1285461)
