--- sourceDocument: Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Administration sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-administration Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Administration ft:clusterId : - platadm bundleId : - platadm workflow : - Platform --- # Time zones # Time zones {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 Time zones ServiceNow stores all times in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and displays them based on the system time zone. However, users see times adjusted to their local time zone according to their user preference settings. This approach ensures consistent time management across global instances. Show full answer Show less ## Time Zone Representation and Configuration Time zones are represented primarily in a Country/City format (e.g., America/LosAngeles). Alternative IDs (e.g., US/Pacific) link to these primary zones without affecting functionality. If no default time zone is set at the user or system level, the JVM uses the server's default, which may vary. Administrators should explicitly configure the system default time zone using the **glide.sys.default.tz** property to avoid inconsistencies. ## Daylight Saving Time (DST) Handling When specifying a location-based time zone (e.g., America/LosAngeles), the system automatically adjusts for DST. Using generic time zone names like GMT is discouraged because they typically do not adjust for DST. This behavior aligns with Java standards and the IANA time zone database. ## User Preferences and Time Zone Selection Users can select their preferred time zone via their user profile (Self-Service \> My Profile). The system default time zone is shown as "System (\[default time zone\])" to help users understand the baseline setting used when no preference is specified. ## Java Time Zone Support ServiceNow supports all Java time zone IDs, accessible through the user record's time zone field by selecting "Show Choices." This comprehensive list helps administrators and users select the correct time zone for their needs. ## Time Zones in Notifications and SLAs * **Email notifications:** Use the system time zone for date/time stamps, not the recipient's time zone. The **glide.email.append.timezone** property controls whether the system time zone is appended to outbound emails. * **Service Level Agreements (SLAs):** SLA definitions allow selecting the time zone source. Using the caller's time zone can cause unpredictable results if undefined; specifying the SLA time zone manually is recommended for clarity. ## Time Zones in Scripting Server-side scripts use GlideSystem date and time methods to handle time zone conversions and values. Developers can reference the GlideSystem API for detailed usage and formats to ensure proper handling of time zones in custom logic. ## Additional Features * **DST Enhancements:** Reports and queries now correctly observe Daylight Saving Time rules, impacting charts and filters using trend operations. * **Time Zone Changer:** Enabled by default, allows users to change their time zone for the current session. Settings revert to system default or user profile preference at next login. ## Practical Guidance for Customers * Ensure your instance has a configured default time zone (**glide.sys.default.tz**) to maintain consistency. * Encourage users to update their personal time zone settings for accurate local time display. * Use location-based time zones to benefit from automatic DST adjustments. * Be cautious when selecting time zones for SLAs to avoid unexpected behavior. * Leverage the Java time zone list for precise time zone selection in user profiles and scripting. * Configure email properties to append time zone information if clarity in communication timestamps is needed. All times are stored in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and appear globally based on the system time zone. However, times appear to users in their local time zone, according to their user preference settings. ## Time zone representation Time zones that have the Country/City format are primary time zone IDs. Other time zone IDs are links to the primary time zone. * For example, US/Pacific is a link to the America/Los_Angeles time zone. Both America/Los_Angeles and US/Pacific represent Pacific Standard Time with the same zone offset and Daylight Savings Time (DST) schedule. * Other than the representation, there is no impact on date and time functionality. {#r_TimeZones__ul_g55_sdy_jjb} In the absence of a default time zone for the user or the system, JVM reads default time zone information from the server. * Depending on how the server is configured, it might return the Country/City or link, for example, US/Pacific or America/Los_Angeles. * Administrators should configure their system with a default time zone `glide.sys.default.tz` to avoid system dependencies. For more information, see [Time zone representation](https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0594661). {#r_TimeZones__ul_mzm_5dy_jjb} ## Daylight Saving Time In general, if you specify a time zone based on location (for example, America/Los Angeles), the system automatically adjusts for daylight saving time. * If you specify a time zone based on the time zone name (for example, GMT), which is discouraged, it does not typically adjust for daylight saving time. There are however exceptions to these guidelines. * For more detailed information on how daylight saving time is handled in Java, see and . {#r_TimeZones__ul_oyy_wdy_jjb} ## User preferences Once the System Time Zone is defined, users can also select their own time zone from their user form, accessed through Self-ServiceMy Profile. Note: The System default appears as System (\[name of the default time zone\]). For example, if the System time zone is America/Los_Angeles, the user sees System (America/Los Angeles). ## Java time zone class {#r_TimeZones__section_fd1_q1l_43b} The ServiceNow AI Platform supports all Java time zone class time zones. To view a listing of these time zones: 1. In the Type filter text field, enter sys_user.list. 2. Open one of the user records in the listing. 3. Right-click the time zone field and select Show Choices. The resulting list is a complete listing of available time zone IDs. {#r_TimeZones__ol_rfs_1bl_43b} ## Time zones in email notifications The date and time stamp of a notification uses the system time zone and not the time zone of any recipient. Note: The glide.email.append.timezone property in System PropertiesEmail controls whether to append the time zone. If set to true, the system time zone of the instance is appended to any dates or date/times in outbound email messages (for example, 2010-07-02 04:01:14 PST). ## Time zones in service level agreements Service level agreements have different options for which time zone to use. To set a time-zone for SLAs, navigate to the SLA definition and locate the Timezone source field, and select an option. Some special considerations: * If you select the time zone for the caller, unpredictable behavior can occur if the caller does not have a time zone defined. * If you select the time zone for the SLA definition, you must manual specify the time zone on the form for the SLA. {#r_TimeZones__ul_u2v_lxf_44} ## Time zone in scripting When you create scripting on the server, the script uses several GlideSystem date and time functions to obtain time values. For more information about specific methods and to learn the format in which each returns the requested time, see the [GlideSystem API](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_GlideSystemScopedAPI&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-api-reference&ft:locale=en-US). ## Enhancements DST enhancement requires that reports and queries observe Daylight Saving Time rules. Changes affect trend charts, line charts, and filters using the "trend on" operation. ## Time zone changer The time zone changer is active by default. Users can change their time zone for the current session in the system settings (the gear on the top right of the banner). At the next login, the time zone setting reverts to the system default, or user profile setting for time zone. **Related tasks** * [Set a system time zone](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/P0jULzFwXHNFhKhLNzfTTg "Set your system time zone with a system property.") * [Change the time zone choice list](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/YMLZj_1RdpAWIRfryhJZ4w "Wherever users have a choice of time zone, the choices are populated using the Time Zone choice list on the User [sys_user] table. Not all time zones appear by default.") * [Change a time zone in a scheduled report](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/R9xKSMhPI6Z1E9xSqoAAew "By default, scheduled reports use the time zone of the user who runs them (the user in the Run As field) to evaluate the query parameters. You are able to change this time zone.") * [Change a time zone in a scheduled data import](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/zYQAB2589qI9eelzu3k4wA "By default, scheduled data imports are run using the time zone of the user who creates them. However, there is a way to manually specify the time zone for the import.") *[\>]: and then