---
sourceDocument: Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform user interface
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/platform-user-interface
Release :
- zurich
ft:locale :
- en-US
ft:publication_title :
- Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform user interface
ft:clusterId :
- platux
bundleId :
- platux
workflow :
- Platform
---
# Enabling accessibility features
# Enabling accessibility features {#ariaid-title1}
* Release version: Zurich
*
* Updated July 31, 2025
*
*  5 minutes to read
You can configure accessibility features globally or for specific users. Users can
also individually enable user preferences for themselves to meet their specific
accessibility needs.
The platform includes features that support Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA and WCAG 2.1 AA (for some products) to make the interface more accessible to all users. These features improve the user experience
when accessing the instance with screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Accessibility features are not enabled by default because some features are user
specific. Administrators have the flexibility to enable features globally or for
individual users.
All of these options can be configured globally or for specific users.
* Enable the accessibility option.
* Enable the high contrast theme.
* Use skip links.
* Turn off first field focus
{#c_SetUpSect508ComplianceFeature__steps-unordered_f4n_545_2r}
## Enable accessibility mode {#ariaid-title2}
Enable accessibility mode on your instance.
### Before you begin
Role required: none
### About this task
Administrators can enable accessibility mode for specific users by navigating to User AdministrationUser Preferences and searching for the glide.ui.accessibility
user preference. For more information on configuring user preferences, see [User preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jFBr0J5ISZn5QTiwOOSRcQ "Users can configure many UI features, such as the number of rows per page in a list or whether the response time displays at the bottom of a list or form. Administrators can modify or delete these preferences as needed.").
### Procedure
1. Navigate to User AdministrationUser Preferences.
2. Click the gear icon (![Gear icon]()) in the banner frame to open the System Settings window.
3. From the General tab, select the Accessibility enabled option.
Accessible tooltips on forms is enabled automatically the first time you enable accessibility mode.
### What to do next
Alternatively, enable accessibility mode using the Enable Accessibility skip link. For more information on skip links, see [Use skip links](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cUoJELrF4V0e_mpISctSeQ#t_UseSkipLinks "Skip links allow users to quickly navigate to the main content on a page, list, or form, bypassing icons, banner text, navigation links, and other elements. Skip links are not visible until you tab to them.").
Figure 1. Enable accessibility skip link
**Related concepts**
* [User preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jFBr0J5ISZn5QTiwOOSRcQ "Users can configure many UI features, such as the number of rows per page in a list or whether the response time displays at the bottom of a list or form. Administrators can modify or delete these preferences as needed.")
## Enable the high contrast theme {#ariaid-title3}
In Core UI, administrators can enable the Contrast UI theme for users
who need a greater contrast in color.
### Before you begin
Role required: admin
### About this task
Individual users can enable the contrast theme for themselves by navigating to the
Theme tab of the [system
settings](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qfLw3FqTTLFrcFVjf77GcA "You can define system settings to customize the Core UI for yourself. The gear icon, located within the banner frame, displays the system settings window.") menu. From the Theme tab, select the Contrast UI theme.
### Procedure
1. Navigate to AllUser AdministrationUser preferences.
2. Click New then configure the following fields.
{#enable-contrast-theme__table_wdt_wtv_x1b__entry__2}
| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Name | glide.css.theme.ui16 |
| System | Make sure that the check box is cleared. |
| User | Name of the user you want to enable the contrast UI theme for. Add a user preference for each user you want to enable the theme for. |
| Type | string |
| Value | The sys_id of the contrast UI theme. You can find the sys_id by navigating to System UIThemes. Then right-click Contrast UI and click Copy sys_id. |
[Table 1. User preferences fields]
{#enable-contrast-theme__table_wdt_wtv_x1b}
3. Click Submit.
The user may have to sign out and sign back in for the theme to take effect.
## Turn off first field focus {#ariaid-title4}
When a form loads, the system automatically sends focus to the first field on the
form. For accessibility reasons, you can disable this option so that focus starts on the
first element on the top of the page.
### Before you begin
Role required: admin
### About this task
Sending focus to the first field on a form is useful to most users however, it
presents challenges for users with certain disabilities. For example, a user using
the system with a screen reader may not realize there is additional content above
the field that receives focus.
### Procedure
1. Navigate to AllSystem PropertiesUI Properties.
2. Locate the On form load, focus on first writable element. (glide.ui.focus_first_element) property.
3. Clear the checkbox to turn off first field focus.
Note:
If your instance has list v3 enabled, instead navigate to AllUser AdministrationUser Preferences instead and update the glide.ui.accessibility.focus_first_field
## Enable the accessible form tooltips feature {#ariaid-title5}
The accessible tooltips user preference adds a tooltip icon that users can tab to, to
view a tooltip for a field.
### Before you begin
Role required: admin
### About this task
Some fields on forms have associated tooltips that contain additional information. By default, these tooltips are accessible by pointing to the field label or mandatory indicator asterisk. However, a user who relies on keyboard navigation cannot point to the field to access the tooltip. The accessible form tooltip feature solves this problem by adding a keyboard-accessible icon next to each field that has a tooltip. Tabbing or pointing to the icon shows the tooltip.
Administrators can
enable accessible form tooltips for specific users by navigating to User AdministrationUser Preferences and searching for the
glide.ui.accessibility.accessible.tooltips user
preference. For more information on configuring user preferences, see [User preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jFBr0J5ISZn5QTiwOOSRcQ "Users can configure many UI features, such as the number of rows per page in a list or whether the response time displays at the bottom of a list or form. Administrators can modify or delete these preferences as needed.").
Accessibility must be
enabled for the accessible form tooltips user preference to work.
### Procedure
1. Click the gear icon (![Gear icon]()) in the banner frame to open the System Settings window.
2. From the General tab, select the Accessibility enabled option.
The Accessible tooltips on forms option is enabled automatically the first time you enable accessibility mode.
3. **Optional:** Clear the Accessible tooltips on forms option to disable the accessible tooltips.
If you disable accessibility mode and re-enable it, Accessible tooltips on forms will remain disabled.
{#enable-accessible-tooltips__steps_e4n_5dk_4db}
**Related concepts**
* [User preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jFBr0J5ISZn5QTiwOOSRcQ "Users can configure many UI features, such as the number of rows per page in a list or whether the response time displays at the bottom of a list or form. Administrators can modify or delete these preferences as needed.")
## Configure a Windows 64-bit host to use 32-bit NVDA with Java applications {#ariaid-title6}
The NVDA Assistive Technology screen reader is a 32-bit application that, when the Java Access bridge has been enabled, reads aloud Java applications built to support accessibility. If you encounter a problem using NVDA to access Java applications on a 64-bit Windows host, you must configure the Java Access bridge.
### Before you begin
Role required: local or domain administrator on the host Windows machine
### About this task
The following example assumes:
* The 32-bit and 64-bit Oracle Java jdk versions 8u171 are being installed in the default location.
* A Windows command prompt with administrative privileges is used to execute command line utilities.
* Executable statements are prefixed with the `PROMPT>` string.
{#configure-windows-nvda__ul_v5k_3sc_vdb}
Note:
* This configuration was used on a Windows 7 VM host to test the NVDA and JAWS screen readers.
* This example refers to Java version 8u171. If you are using a later version of Java, substitute that version.
{#configure-windows-nvda__ul_wkp_lg4_xdb}
### Procedure
1. On the [Oracle Java SE downloads page](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html), download the Oracle Java jdk for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows environments.
* 32-bit: `jdk-8u171-windows-i586.exe`
* 64-bit: `jdk-8u171-windows-x64.exe`
{#configure-windows-nvda__choices_pdk_ftc_vdb}
To access and download the files listed in the above example, go to the [Oracle Java SE jdk download page](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html).
2. Install the 64-bit version of the Oracle Java jdk in the default location.
PROMPT> jdk-8u171-windows-x64.exe
Verify that the installation process installed the following:
* Java 64-bit jdk in the C:\\Program Files\\Java\\jdk1.8.0_171 directory.
* WindowsAccessBridge-64.dll in the C:\\Windows\\System32 directory.
{#configure-windows-nvda__ul_jhx_ytc_vdb}
3. Enable the Java Access bridge for 64-bit applications using the 64-bit jabswitch application located in the 64-bit Java jdk bin directory.
PROMPT> cd "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_171\bin"
PROMPT> jabswitch -enable
4. Copy the WindowsAccessBridge-64.dll located in the C:\\Windows\\System32 directory to the 32-bit C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64 directory.
PROMPT> cd C:\Windows\System32
PROMPT> copy WindowsAccessBridge-64.dll C:\Windows\SysWOW64
Verify that the copied WindowsAccessBridge-64.dll exists
in the 32-bit C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64 directory.
5. Install the 32-bit version of the Oracle Java jdk in the default location.
PROMPT> jdk-8u171-windows-i586.exe
Verify that the installation process installed the following:
* Java 32-bit jdk in the C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Java\\jdk1.8.0_171 directory.
* WindowsAccessBridge-32.dll in the C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64 directory.
{#configure-windows-nvda__ul_ing_vh4_xdb}
6. Enable the Java Access bridge for 32-bit applications using the 32-bit jabswitch application located in the 32-bit Java jdk bin directory.
PROMPT> cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_171\bin"
PROMPT> jabswitch -enable
7. Restart the NVDA Assistive Technology software through the task bar or the NVDA menu.
* Select the NVDA shortcut pinned to the task bar, pinned to the start menu, or located on the desktop.
* Navigate to the StartAll ProgramsNVDANVDA menu selection.
{#configure-windows-nvda__choices_ylw_ply_jyb}
8. On an administrative command prompt terminal, launch the Edge Encryption Interactive Installer.
PROMPT> java -jar .jar
*[\>]: and then