Working offline on ServiceNow Agent

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
  • When you are at a task site that doesn't have an internet connection, you can work on field service tasks, record time, track asset usage, create part requirements, and complete work orders and tasks using the ServiceNow Agent application.

    Run ServiceNow Agent in offline mode

    Download field service data to the application cache and enable mobile offline mode to execute field service tasks at locations with no internet connection. Synchronize the data when your mobile device is online again.

    Before you begin

    Role required: wm_agent or wm_dispatcher

    About this task

    You can view a list of all actions taken when your device was offline and the time stamp for each action in the offline mode outbox. Generates flat data of agent schedules that are used in the mobile application for scheduled downloads of offline payloads. The administrator can also choose to download the cache automatically in the background by setting up the system properties. This helps to at least give you one download of data at the beginning of the shift.

    Procedure

    1. Open ServiceNow Agent application.
    2. Log in to your Field Service application instance.
    3. Do the following: Tap the menu icon and select Offline.
      • Tap More.
      • Tap Settings.
      • Tap Offline.
    4. To automatically download the scheduled cache in background, tap the Enable button.
      For more information, see Scheduled offline caching.
      Scheduled offline caching automatically downloads your cache according to your work schedule. Scheduled caching works in the background, so you can continue to use the application while the download completes. You can also enable Wi-Fi only to download cache when you are connected to Wi-Fi. This provides seamless synchronization when the device turns online.
    5. Do one of the following to download data and go offline.
      ToDo this
      Take the app offline when the data is downloaded.
      1. Tap the Offline Mode button.
      2. Tap Download cache & go offline.

      The app takes a few minutes to download the data and then takes the app offline. You can click cancel if you do not want to download data and go offline.

      Manually download the data and then choose to take the app offline.
      1. Tap Download data.
      2. After the data is downloaded:
        • To take the app offline, tap Go offline.
        • To stay online, tap OK.
    6. Update or clear cache on the mobile application.
      If you take your app online and then offline again, you can download the updated data to the app cache. You can clear the cache after you take the app online.
      • To update the app cache, tap Update cache. The app reloads the data to the cache. Refer to the previous step to take the app offline.
      • To clear the cache, tap Clear cache.
    7. Synchronize updated records.
      ToDo this
      Synchronize the data when your mobile device is offline
      1. Tap Outbox.
      2. Tap Sync.
      3. Tap Go Online & Sync.
      Synchronize the data after your mobile device is connected online
      1. Tap the Offline Mode button.
      2. Tap Go Online & Sync
      The application synchronizes all of the data that you updated offline.

    Working with tasks when your mobile device is offline

    Manage tasks, record time, track inventory, pause tasks, complete tasks, and view knowledge articles using your mobile device when you're offline.

    With your Field Service instance on your mobile device in offline mode, you can:
    Execute tasks assigned to you at the task location.
    View knowledge articles
    Track asset usage.
    Record an incidental expense.
    Record an incidental expense that occurred when you’re offline: Record an incidental expense
    Create a work order task.
    Create, work on, and mark a task as closed complete while offline: Create a work order task
    Pause work order tasks.
    When you want to take a break from the task activity pause a work order task.
    Create a part requirement.
    Create a new part requirement when offline: Request inventory
    Complete work orders and work order tasks.
    Log incidentals.
    Report the expenses such as car rental cost, mileage, car rental cost, and vendor cost to execute the work order tasks by logging incidentals.
    Complete questionnaire
    Take questionnaires when mobile is offline. For more information, see Complete questionnaire.

    You can close work order SLAs in offline mode. The Field Service mobile application records the device timestamp when the SLA was closed. After you connect your device online and synchronize the data, the SLA admin can repair the SLA to display the actual time the SLA was closed.

    Repair an SLA after closing a work order on ServiceNow Agent

    Repair an SLA to capture the device timestamp that was recorded when an SLA was closed on the ServiceNow Agent application in offline mode.

    Before you begin

    Role required: sla_admin or admin

    About this task

    Agents and dispatchers can close work-order SLAs when their mobile application is offline. The mobile application records the device timestamp when the SLA was closed. When the mobile application is online again and the data is synchronized, you can repair the SLA and capture that device timestamp. That reflects the actual time when the SLA was closed.

    Procedure

    1. In your desktop instance, navigate to Field Service > SLAs Updated Offline.
    2. Perform one of the following actions:
      • Select an SLA to repair.
      • If you have more than one SLA to repair, select those SLAs.
    3. Click Repair.