Push notification setup with the ServiceNow mobile app

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Push Notification Setup with the ServiceNow Mobile App

    The ServiceNow mobile application automatically enables push notifications upon user login. This feature is not supported in on-premise instances. Both system administrators and users play roles in setting up push notifications, which enhance user engagement with the ServiceNow platform.

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    Key Features

    • Admin Responsibilities: Admins create and update push notifications similar to email notifications, which consist of a push message and a notification. Both components must relate to the same table.
    • Push Message Creation: Admins must create a push message in JSON format before creating the corresponding push notification.
    • Registration: New push notifications must be registered in the Push Default Registration table to be listed in user preferences during their next login.
    • User Responsibilities: Users must download and install the ServiceNow mobile app, agree to push notifications, and log in to subscribe to notifications automatically.
    • Notification Preferences: Users can customize their notification settings through Notification Settings in the app or via a desktop browser.

    Key Outcomes

    Once set up, users receive timely alerts via push notifications, enhancing their ability to respond to important updates and system changes. Admins should periodically review system notifications to determine if new push messages or notifications are required.

    The ServiceNow mobile application automatically enables push notifications and configures mobile devices for push notifications when users initially log in to the instance.

    Note:
    Push notifications with the ServiceNow mobile application are not supported in on-premise instances.
    Setting up push notifications involves both the system administrator and users.
    • Admin creates or updates push notifications for the ServiceNow mobile app. The admin does not need to set up the mobile devices for users nor update their user preferences for receiving push notifications.
    • Users install the ServiceNow mobile mobile on their iOS or Android mobile devices and set their preferences for receiving notifications on the ServiceNow mobile app.
    Figure 1. Push notification setup tasks for the ServiceNow mobile app
    Push notification setup tasks for the ServiceNow mobile app

    What to do — admins

    Admins create push notifications, similar to setting up email notifications. A push notification has two main parts: the push message and the notification, which includes the push message.

    Note:
    The push message and notification must be for the same table.
    Create the push message
    Before creating a push notification, create the push message with the actual message content (JSON payload) to be included in the push notification.
    Create the push notification that includes the push message
    Create the push notification that includes the push message and message content. A push notification specifically sends the push message. You can update a standard platform notification and use it as a push notification that includes the push message.
    Add the new push notification to the Push Default Registration table
    To ensure that a new push notification is included and enabled in the notification preferences of your users, register a new push notification in the Push Default Registration table. The notification is listed in the notification preferences of your users the next time that they log in to the ServiceNow mobile app.

    What to do — ServiceNow mobile app users

    Download the ServiceNow mobile app
    Install the ServiceNow mobile app on an iOS or Android mobile device.
    Agree to accept push notifications
    After installing the ServiceNow mobile app, users are asked to accept push notifications. When the instance receives the push notification acceptance message from a user, it creates a record in the Push Notification Installations [sys_push_notif_app_install] table. This record is what the instance uses to identify the device + mobile application combination necessary to identify a push notification recipient.

    The device then performs the following actions:

    • Obtains a token that identifies the device.
    • Triggers the creation of the device in the user notification preferences.
    Log in to the company instance from the ServiceNow mobile app
    Logging in automatically subscribes users to the push-specific notifications registered in the Push Default Registration table.
    Update preferences for receiving notifications on the ServiceNow mobile app

    Users can enable and disable through Notification Settings in the ServiceNow mobile app. They can set additional notification preferences, such as conditions or filters that affect notification delivery, by using the System Settings window on a desktop or mobile browser. For details, see Setting notification preferences in Core UI.

    Next steps

    If you are an admin, review the base system notifications and determine if new push message content and push notifications are needed.