---
sourceDocument: Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/platform-administration

 Release :

    - zurich

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Activate hybrid search for a search application configuration in AI Search

# Activate hybrid search for a search application configuration in AI Search {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Zurich
* 
* Updated November 3, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Activate the hybrid search mode for a search application configuration that uses AI Search as its search engine. Hybrid search offers improved precision and recall for knowledge article, Catalog Item, external content, and topic retrieval searches.

## Before you begin

Your ServiceNow AI Platform® instance must have at least Now Assist in AI Search 15 installed.

Role required: ais_admin

## About this task

Beginning with ServiceNow Otto for AI Search 17, when ServiceNow Otto for AI Search is installed for the first time, hybrid search is automatically activated for all search application configurations (SACs) in the instance. If you upgraded to ServiceNow Otto for AI Search from an earlier release, hybrid search isn't automatically activated in your SACs for search applications that use AI Search as their search engine. You can perform this task to manually activate hybrid search in the SAC for a search application that uses AI Search as its search engine. Repeat these steps for each application you want to switch to hybrid search for.

To learn more about the nature and benefits of hybrid search, see [Hybrid search in AI Search](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/WdxVW3Pv1ORwZ3lPqQnHng "In hybrid search mode, AI Search blends keyword search and semantic vector search to find results that best match the terms and meaning of your search.").

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllAI SearchSearch ExperienceSearch Applications.
2. Edit the search application configuration record for the search application that you want to activate hybrid search for.  
   Note:  
   You can only activate hybrid search for search application configurations that use AI Search as their search engine. Search application configurations that use the legacy Zing text indexing and search engine don't support hybrid search.
3. If you don't see the \[\[\[ Hybrid search \]\]\] option shown on the Search Application Configuration form, select a situation and follow the corresponding steps.

   | Situation | Steps |
   | Beginning with Zurich patch 10 | 1. Select New. The Search Application Attribute Configuration New record page appears. 2. For the Attribute, select enable_hybrid_search. 3. For the Value, enter <kbd class="ph userinput">true</kbd>. 4. Select Submit. |
   | Versions before Zurich patch 10 | 1. Configure the form layout.For instructions on configuring the form layout, see [Configuring the form layout](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4N5aple9yUvGIKGr8gROow#configure-form-layout "Administrators or users with the personalize_form role can configure the form and related list layout."). 2. Select the \[\[\[ Hybrid search \]\]\] option. 3. Select Update. |
   |-|-|

## Result

Hybrid search is activated for the selected search application configuration.

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