---
sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/application-development

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build or modify applications

ft:clusterId :

    - cadev

bundleId :

    - cadev

workflow :

    - Development, Data, and Analytics


---

# Authenticate

# Authenticating to a ServiceNow instance with the ServiceNow SDK {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Authenticate to a ServiceNow instance and store user credentials for accessing the instance on your system with the ServiceNow SDK.

You can use basic or OAuth 2.0 credentials to authenticate to an instance. To use OAuth 2.0 authentication, your instance must have ServiceNow IDE (version 1.1 or later) installed or have the required XML configuration imported. By default, instances on the Australia release include ServiceNow IDE version 1.1.4 and support using OAuth 2.0 authentication with the ServiceNow SDK.

After authenticating to an instance with the ServiceNow SDK command-line interface (CLI), you can begin developing applications and installing them on your instance. A non-production instance should be used for application development.
* **[Authenticate to a ServiceNow instance using basic authentication with the ServiceNow SDK](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/a_ctuEvd_Klkf1M1q4lc1A)**   
  Use basic authentication to connect to a ServiceNow instance with the ServiceNow SDK.
* **[Authenticate to a ServiceNow instance using OAuth 2.0 with the ServiceNow SDK](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UvgmLCMgarS2HtvURn1HjQ)**   
  Use OAuth 2.0 authentication to connect to a ServiceNow instance with the ServiceNow SDK.