Login widget

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Login widget

    The Login widget is a fundamental component in your ServiceNow portal that manages user access by verifying credentials against the User [sysuser] records. It serves as the gateway for users to securely log in to your portal, either using their User ID and password or alternative authentication methods.

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    Key Features

    • Standard login: Users enter their User ID and password as stored in their user records to access the portal.
    • Forgot Password? link: By default, the widget includes a link that directs users to reset their password via the Password Reset application. This link’s visibility can be toggled using the glide.security.forgotpassword.display.link system property. The redirection page for password reset is controlled by the glide.security.passwordreset.uri system property.
    • External user self-registration: Users without accounts can self-register through a link on the login widget, enabling large-scale onboarding without administrator intervention.
    • PIV/CAC authentication: Supports certificate-based login using Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Card (CAC) cards once the administrator activates and configures this authentication method. Users can register their cards and then log in using the card reader and dedicated login option.
    • Instance options for customization: You can configure the widget’s appearance and layout on portal pages, including showing or hiding the background panel to enhance visibility and switching to an advanced layout that moves the Forgot Password? link and adds field labels.

    Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers can deploy the Login widget as-is for immediate user access control or clone and customize it to match specific business requirements. The widget’s built-in support for password reset, self-registration, and certificate-based authentication streamlines user onboarding and enhances security. Administrators can tailor the widget’s interface and behavior using instance options to improve user experience on their portals.

    To extend or modify the login experience, customers can manage widget instances and pages via the Service Portal Designer, enabling integration with broader portal workflows and branding.

    The login widget controls user access to your site. You can use this base system widget as-is in your portal or clone it to suit your own business needs.

    Using the widget

    Users log in to a portal by entering their credentials in the login widget.

    The widget uses credentials from the User [sys_user] record. In the User name field, the user enters the User ID from their user record. In the Password field, the user enters the password from their user record.

    Figure 1. Login widget
    Default login widget on the Service Portal landing page
    The login widget by default includes a Forgot Password? link that enables users to reset their password using the Password Reset application. For more information about Password Reset configuration, see Password Reset.
    Note:
    When the user selects Forgot Password?, the system redirects the user to the page value specified in the glide.security.password_reset.uri system property.

    If you don't want to include the Forgot Password? link, set the glide.security.forgot_password.display.link system property to false.

    External user self-registration

    External user self-registration enables a large group of users to register to a ServiceNow app without the help of an administrator. Users register to the app via a link at the bottom of the login widget screen that says ""Don't have an account? Register".

    Self-registration link.

    For more information on external user self-registration, see Enable external users to self-register to your ServiceNow instance.

    PIV/CAC authentication

    With certificate-based authentication activated in your instance, users can register their Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Card (CAC) card for Service Portal login.

    After self-registering their PIV/CAC card, a user can log in by inserting their card into a card reader and then selecting Login with PIV/CAC card on the login widget.

    Login page with PIV/CAC option

    Before a user can register their PIV/CAC card, an administrator must activate certificate-based authentication and then set up PIV/CAC authentication. For more information on this setup process, see Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card or Common Access Card (CAC) based authentication.

    For more information on how a user self-registers their PIV/CAC card, see Register your PIV/CAC card for Service Portal login.

    Instance options

    Use the instance options to configure the login widget for a portal page.

    Field Description
    Show panel Show or hide the panel that appears behind the login widget. The panel helps the widget stand out from the page background rather than blending in.
    Use Advanced View Changes the widget layout. Adds the Forgot Password? link to the left of the Login button and adds field names for User name and Password instead of hint text.