---
sourceDocument: Australia Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/build-workflows

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Wait For Condition activity

# Wait For Condition activity {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 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 Wait For Condition activity

The Wait For Condition activity in ServiceNow playbooks allows you to pause the playbook execution until a specified record meets defined field value conditions.
This activity is essential for controlling playbook flow based on dynamic data changes, ensuring subsequent steps occur only when prerequisites are met.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Role and Availability:** Available as a common activity; can be added by users with admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles.
* **Inputs Configuration:**
  * **Label and Description:** Define the display title and informational text for the activity within the playbook.
  * **Run Condition:** Use a condition builder to specify when the activity or stage should run, leveraging data from prior activities.
  * **Start Rule:** Choose when the stage or activity should start, either at playbook start, after specific stages, or after specific activities.
  * **Start with Delay:** Optionally delay the start of the activity or stage by a set duration.
  * **Record Reference and Table:** Specify the record to monitor and the table it belongs to, which the playbook will pause on until conditions are met.
  * **Conditions Template:** Define the exact criteria that the record must satisfy for the playbook to continue.
* **Advanced Inputs:**
  * **Enable Timeout:** Optionally set a timeout period after which the activity is skipped if conditions remain unmet.
  * **Duration and Schedule:** Configure how long to wait before timing out and which schedule to use for duration calculation.
* **Outputs:** This activity does not produce outputs.

## Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers

This activity enables you to synchronize playbook progression with real-time data state changes, improving automation control and accuracy. By configuring precise conditions and timeout options, you can tailor playbook pauses to your operational needs, ensuring dependent steps only execute when appropriate data conditions are satisfied. This leads to more reliable and efficient process automation within your ServiceNow environment.  
Pause the playbook until a record has field values that match a set of
conditions.

## Roles and availability {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_pwq_rb5_kcb}

* This activity is available as a common activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pd_author can add this activity to a playbook.
{#wait-for-condition-activity__ul_mcq_1c5_kcb}

## Inputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_yb4_zq3_plb}

Open the activity properties panel and configure your activity to add values for the following inputs. If the input value varies, use the pill-picker to show where to get the value. To learn more about the pill-picker, see [Dot-walking examples](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=dot-walking-examples&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US). {#wait-for-condition-activity__table_ajt_sr3_plb__entry__3}

| Input | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| Label | String | Title to display as activity and playbook card. |
| Description | String | Information to display about activity usage or outcome. |
| Run condition | Condition Builder | Conditions that must be met to run an activity or stage. You can use data from prior activities to build conditions. Note: Select Show additional options to see this field. |
| Start Rule | Choice | Under ScheduleStart Rule, select a start rule for when your stage should start running: * When process starts: Your stage starts running as soon as the playbook starts. * After specific stages: Your stage starts running after specified stage(s) have finished running. {#wait-for-condition-activity__ul_f4z_nq1_ppb}Under Schedule \> Start Rule, select a start rule for when your activity should start running: <!-- --> * When stage starts: Your activity starts running as soon as its stage starts running. Your stage starts running when your playbook is triggered. * After specific activities: Your activity starts running after specified activities have finished running. {#wait-for-condition-activity__ul_zzc_3ls_m1c} |
| Start with delay | True/False | Option to wait for a duration of time before running an activity or stage. When enabled, this input displays the [Start with delay input properties](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EdInaaLAHZCnrBcJbs96Lw "Specify a duration of time to wait before running an activity or a stage whose start rule and conditions have been met. Give users time to act during automated playbooks. Give users time to wait for a specific date and time to complete actions."). Note: Select Show additional options to see this field. |
| Record | Reference | Reference to the record that pauses the playbook until conditions match. |
| Table | Table Name | Table containing the record to update. |
| Conditions | Template Value | Criteria that a record must meet for the playbook to continue. |
[ ]

{#wait-for-condition-activity__table_ajt_sr3_plb}

## Advanced inputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_bgh_1r3_plb}

After configuring the required inputs for your activity, you can also choose to configure additional inputs. In the side panel, select Show additional options to display these advanced inputs. For more information, see [Activity experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/aEvbv54ObgcCjjhXabvx8w#activity-definitions__activity-experience). {#wait-for-condition-activity__table_cjj_sr3_plb__entry__3}

| Input | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| Enable timeout | Choice | Option to time out the Wait for Condition activity if the conditions aren't met after a specified Duration. |
| Duration | Date/Time | Amount of time to wait before the activity times out and its state is set to Skipped. This input requires setting the Enable timeout input. |
| Schedule | Choice | Schedule used to compute duration values. This input requires setting the Enable timeout input. |
[ ]

{#wait-for-condition-activity__table_cjj_sr3_plb}

## Outputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_unx_fr3_plb}

The Wait for Condition activity has no outputs.

*[\>]: and then