---
sourceDocument: Australia Employee Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/employee-service-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Employee Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - emplsm

bundleId :

    - emplsm

workflow :

    - Employee


---

# Configure default canvas

# Configure the default canvas dashboard {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated April 24, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Configure the default canvas dashboard that Employee Slate presents to employees before they personalize their canvas. Set the subtitle, widget layout, and preview experience.

## Before you begin

The System administrator role or the canvas administrator role.

The widgets that you plan to add to the dashboard are present in the widget library.

Role required: admin.

## About this task

The default canvas dashboard is the starting layout that employees see on their canvas page. Employees can personalize their canvas after they land on it.{#eslate-configure-canvas__eslate-configure-canvas-context-1}

## Procedure

1. In the Employee Slate Admin Console, open the canvas configuration page.  
   The canvas configuration page shows the current subtitle, a preview of the default dashboard, and presentation controls for theme and device.
2. In the Subtitle field, enter a subtitle and save the change.  
   The preview shows the change after the save completes.
3. Use the theme and device controls at the top of the preview to confirm that the layout renders correctly in light mode, dark mode, desktop, and mobile.
4. Select the folder icon or the canvas preview to open the dashboard editor.
5. **Optional:** Reset the canvas to an empty layout if you're starting from scratch.  
   Note:  
   The canvas is empty. Refresh the page to confirm that the canvas is empty.
6. Drag widgets from the widget library onto the canvas, resize them, and rearrange them to the layout you want.
7. **Optional:** Select the Edit in Widget Builder from the widget settings to open the widget.  
   Edit the component source to adjust the widget and save the change.
8. Save and publish the canvas layout.  
   The published canvas layout is available as the default canvas dashboard for employees.  
   Note:  
   Refresh the canvas configuration page to confirm that the layout appears in the preview.

## Result

Employees see the layout and widgets that you configured. This layout applies when they open their canvas for the first time or reset it to the default. Employees personalize their canvas from this starting point.