Open a local automation project in RPA Desktop Design Studio

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 1 minute to read

    • Open an automation project from the local file system in RPA Desktop Design Studio, so that you can debug, build, or modify the automation.

    Before you begin

    Create an automation project. For more information, see Create an automation project manually or Create an automation with Now Assist.

    Download the automation package file by accessing the associated package file in RPA Hub. For more information, see Download a package version in RPA Hub.

    Role required: none

    Procedure

    1. In the RPA Desktop Design Studio, navigate to Home > Automation projects.
    2. Select Open local project.
    3. In the Open ServiceNow Automation Project dialog box, select a project.
    4. Select Open.
    5. Optional: If the plugin versions that are used in the project aren’t found in the local framework, go to the Choose Plugin Version dialog box, select the plugin versions to be used, and select OK.
      Important:
      When you open an older automation project in the latest version of Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio, the Upgrade Plugin Version dialog box is displayed. If you proceed to upgrade the plugin version and any automation components are unavailable after the upgrade, then these components are marked as Unknown in the automation project.