---
sourceDocument: Australia Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Wait For Condition activity

# Wait For Condition activity {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read
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## Summary of Wait For Condition activity

The Wait For Condition activity in ServiceNow playbooks allows you to pause the playbook execution until a specific record's field values meet defined conditions.
This helps ensure that subsequent actions only proceed when required criteria are satisfied, enabling more controlled and conditional workflows.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Availability:** Accessible as a common activity for users with admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles.
* **Configurable Inputs:**
  * **Label and Description:** Customize the display title and informational text for the activity within the playbook.
  * **Run Condition:** Define conditions that must be met to trigger the activity or stage, including using data from prior activities.
  * **Start Rule:** Choose when the stage or activity starts running---immediately at playbook start, after specific stages, or after specific activities.
  * **Start with Delay:** Optionally delay the start of the activity or stage by a specified duration.
  * **Record Reference and Table:** Specify the record and table to monitor for the condition match.
  * **Conditions Template:** Define the criteria that the monitored record must meet for the playbook to continue.
* **Advanced Inputs:**
  * **Enable Timeout:** Optionally set a timeout duration after which the activity will stop waiting and mark itself as Skipped if conditions remain unmet.
  * **Duration and Schedule:** Configure the timeout length and schedule used to compute this duration.

## Practical Use for ServiceNow Customers

This activity is ideal for orchestrating playbooks that depend on dynamic data conditions within records. For example, you can pause a process until a requested change reaches a certain state or a field is updated, ensuring dependent tasks only proceed at the appropriate time. By leveraging start rules and delays, you can finely control the timing and sequencing of your playbook activities.

Timeout options provide fail-safe behavior to prevent indefinite waiting, allowing your workflows to handle scenarios where conditions are not met promptly.

## Outputs

The Wait For Condition activity does not produce outputs; its primary function is to control playbook flow based on record state.  
Pause the playbook until a record has field values that match a set of
conditions.

## Roles and availability {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_pwq_rb5_kcb}

* This activity is available as a common activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pd_author can add this activity to a playbook.
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## Inputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_yb4_zq3_plb}

Open the activity properties panel and configure your activity to add values for the following inputs. If the input value varies, use the pill-picker to show where to get the value. To learn more about the pill-picker, see [Dot-walking examples](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=dot-walking-examples&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US). {#wait-for-condition-activity__table_ajt_sr3_plb__entry__3}

| Input | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| Label | String | Title to display as activity and playbook card. |
| Description | String | Information to display about activity usage or outcome. |
| Run condition | Condition Builder | Conditions that must be met to run an activity or stage. You can use data from prior activities to build conditions. Note: Select Show additional options to see this field. |
| Start Rule | Choice | Under ScheduleStart Rule, select a start rule for when your stage should start running: * When process starts: Your stage starts running as soon as the playbook starts. * After specific stages: Your stage starts running after specified stage(s) have finished running. {#wait-for-condition-activity__ul_f4z_nq1_ppb}Under Schedule \> Start Rule, select a start rule for when your activity should start running: <!-- --> * When stage starts: Your activity starts running as soon as its stage starts running. Your stage starts running when your playbook is triggered. * After specific activities: Your activity starts running after specified activities have finished running. {#wait-for-condition-activity__ul_zzc_3ls_m1c} |
| Start with delay | True/False | Option to wait for a duration of time before running an activity or stage. When enabled, this input displays the [Start with delay input properties](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EdInaaLAHZCnrBcJbs96Lw "Specify a duration of time to wait before running an activity or a stage whose start rule and conditions have been met. Give users time to act during automated playbooks. Give users time to wait for a specific date and time to complete actions."). Note: Select Show additional options to see this field. |
| Record | Reference | Reference to the record that pauses the playbook until conditions match. |
| Table | Table Name | Table containing the record to update. |
| Conditions | Template Value | Criteria that a record must meet for the playbook to continue. |
[ ]

{#wait-for-condition-activity__table_ajt_sr3_plb}

## Advanced inputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_bgh_1r3_plb}

After configuring the required inputs for your activity, you can also choose to configure additional inputs. In the side panel, select Show additional options to display these advanced inputs. For more information, see [Activity experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/aEvbv54ObgcCjjhXabvx8w#activity-definitions__activity-experience). {#wait-for-condition-activity__table_cjj_sr3_plb__entry__3}

| Input | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| Enable timeout | Choice | Option to time out the Wait for Condition activity if the conditions aren't met after a specified Duration. |
| Duration | Date/Time | Amount of time to wait before the activity times out and its state is set to Skipped. This input requires setting the Enable timeout input. |
| Schedule | Choice | Schedule used to compute duration values. This input requires setting the Enable timeout input. |
[ ]

{#wait-for-condition-activity__table_cjj_sr3_plb}

## Outputs {#wait-for-condition-activity__section_unx_fr3_plb}

The Wait for Condition activity has no outputs.

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