Tablet interface

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated June 11, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Tablet interface

    ServiceNow's tablet interface allows users to access their instance either through a native tablet app or a tablet browser. The native tablet app offers a user experience similar to the mobile app, displaying favorited applications or modules as tiles on the home screen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop Core UI experience, making it easy for users to navigate and work efficiently on tablet devices. The tablet-specific URL parameter$tablet.dohas been disabled as the tablet interface aligns with the desktop UI.

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    Key Features

    • Access Options: Use either the native tablet app or a browser for a desktop-like experience.
    • Favorites Display: Favorited applications/modules on the desktop appear as tiles on the tablet app homescreen.
    • Read-Only Graphics Tools: View dependency views (map, schema map), graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt charts, and visual dispatch tools; however, these are read-only and cannot be modified on tablets.
    • Calendar Access: Calendar reports are accessible, but smooth scrolling like on desktop is not supported.
    • Attachment Support: Upload videos and images on iOS 9 and Android tablets; other file types are not supported for attachment uploads.

    Limitations and Unsupported Features

    • List Editing: Field values cannot be edited directly from the list view; users must open the record form to make changes.
    • Administrative Tools: Features like Field Watcher and JavaScript Debugger require the desktop interface.
    • Language and Domain Selection: The language picker is not visible in the tablet UI; language changes must be made via desktop. Domain picker is also unavailable on tablets, necessitating use of desktop for domain-specific personalizations.
    • UI Components: No support for slushbuckets, navigation filter suffix shortcuts (.list, .do, .form), printer-friendly views, timeline sliders, and Timeline Metrics UI actions.
    • Support Chat: End users cannot initiate chat sessions and support technicians cannot respond to chat requests on tablets; chat functionality is desktop-only.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers can confidently use tablets to access and interact with their instances, benefiting from a familiar desktop-like experience. However, for tasks involving advanced editing, administrative tools, language or domain switching, and certain UI features, switching to the desktop interface is necessary. Understanding these limitations enables customers to plan workflows accordingly and ensures smooth operation on tablet devices while leveraging full desktop capabilities when needed.

    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.