Tablet interface

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Tablet interface

    The Tablet interface in ServiceNow allows users to access their instance via a tablet, either through a native app or a web browser. The native tablet app offers an experience similar to the native mobile app, displaying favorited applications or modules as tiles on the homescreen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop Core UI experience, with$tablet.dodisabled since the tablet interface aligns with the desktop UI.

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    Key Features

    • Native Tablet App: Provides a tile-based interface similar to the mobile app for quick access to favorited modules.
    • Tablet Web UI: Supports full desktop-like interaction using a browser, maintaining Core UI consistency.
    • Attachment Support: Allows uploading video and image files on iOS 9 and Android tablets.
    • Read-Only Graphics Tools: Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tool can be viewed but not edited.
    • Calendar Access: Calendar reports are accessible, though scrolling functionality is limited compared to desktop.

    Limitations and Unsupported Features

    • List Editing: Editing field values directly in list view is not supported; users must open record forms to make changes.
    • Field Watcher and JavaScript Debugger: Administrators need to use the desktop interface for these tools.
    • Language and Domain Pickers: Language selection is controlled via desktop settings; domain switching is unavailable on tablets.
    • Slushbucket Feature: Not supported on tablets; only available on desktop.
    • Navigation Filter Suffixes: Using shortcuts like .list, .do, or .form is restricted to the desktop UI.
    • Support Chat: Chat functionality for end users and support technicians is only available on desktop.
    • Printer Friendly View and Timeline Features: These views and UI actions involving timelines are not available on tablets.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers can confidently use tablets to perform most core tasks with an interface closely aligned to the desktop experience. However, for activities requiring advanced editing, configuration, or administration (such as debugging, domain switching, or chat support), users must switch to the desktop interface. Understanding these capabilities and limitations helps optimize workflows and ensures users select the appropriate device and interface for their tasks.

    Use a tablet to access your instance either app or from a browser.

    Use the native tablet app for an experience similar to the native mobile app. Applications or modules that you have favorited in a desktop instance appear as tiles on your mobile app homescreen.

    The tablet web UI mimics the desktop experience in Core UI. $tablet.do has been disabled in Core UI because the tablet interface is the same as the desktop.

    Connect to an instance using the browser on your tablet for an experience similar to the standard desktop user interface.

    Tablet features with limited support

    • Editing lists: You cannot edit field values in a record from the list view. Access the record form to modify any field values.
    • Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tool: Graphics-based tools can be viewed but not modified from the tablet interface. Data presented by these tools is read-only when accessed through the tablet interface.
    • Calendars: You can access calendar reports but scrolling around the calendar as you would on the desktop interface is not supported.
    • Video and image attachment upload: Attach videos and images with both iOS 9 and Android. Other file type attachments are not allowed.

    Unsupported tablet features

    • Field watcher: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the Field Watcher.
    • JavaScript debugger: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the JavaScript debug window.
    • Language picker: Even if the internationalization plugin is enabled, the language picker does not appear in the tablet UI toolbar. Language selected through the desktop interface applies to the tablet UI.
    • Domain picker: Tablet users cannot select any other domains that administrators configure for domain-specific personalizations. To select a new domain, use the desktop interface.
    • Slushbucket feature: Any lists, fields, or filters that use the slushbucket feature are unsupported on a tablet device. Slushbuckets are only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Suffix in the navigation filter: You can use the .list, .do, or .form shortcuts to access a list of records in a table or a new form from the desktop version only.
    • Support chat: End users cannot request a chat session nor can support technicians respond to chat requests when using the tablet interface. Help desk chat is only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Printer friendly view: This view, which shows the current screen in a pop-up window without frames and the application navigator, is not available from the tablet.
    • Timeline sliders and the Timeline Metrics UI actions: Features that use timelines, such as the workflow timeline and the Gantt chart are not supported from the tablet.