--- sourceDocument: Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform user interface sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-user-interface Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform user interface ft:clusterId : - platux bundleId : - platux workflow : - Platform --- # Working with themes # Working with themes in Next Experience {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Working with themes in Next Experience Theming in Next Experience enables ServiceNow customers to customize the visual appearance of their platform to align with their brand identity. Using the Theme Builder, admins can create, edit, preview, and publish themes that adjust colors, typography, imagery, and shapes while maintaining the overall ServiceNow look and feel. Theming applies primarily to the classic environment elements such as Lists, Forms, and Dashboards, but does not affect custom components. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Default Themes:** Instances come with default themes like Next Experience Coral (enabled by default) and Polaris. These base themes are read-only and cannot be edited or copied directly. * **Creating Custom Themes:** Admins create new themes by copying existing Theme Builder theme records and modifying associated styles. At least one Core style must be defined to configure colors, typography, imagery, and shapes. * **Theme Styles and Variants:** Styles have an order value determining precedence, with higher-order styles overriding lower ones when applicable. Core styles are active by default, while users can select Variant styles (such as dark mode) via preferences. Variants support accessibility needs like color blindness. * **Dark Theme Support:** Coral and Polaris themes include dark mode variants to reduce blue light for comfort in low-light environments, applicable to workspaces, lists, forms, dashboards, and reports. Theme Builder allows creating alternate color palettes for dark themes. * **Theme-able Empty State Images:** Customize empty state illustrations to guide users and enhance the experience when no content is available. * **Login Page Customization:** Admins can personalize login illustrations, background colors, and remove gradients to better reflect branding on the Next Experience login page. * **Guided Tours and Help:** Theme Builder includes guided tours and a dark mode switch to help admins learn and work efficiently. Support videos and admin contacts are available for additional assistance. ## Key Outcomes By leveraging Next Experience theming capabilities, ServiceNow customers can: * Deliver a consistent, branded user interface across core platform components. * Improve accessibility and user comfort with variants such as dark mode. * Ensure upgrade-safe theme management by using Theme Builder's structured approach. * Enhance user engagement with customized empty state visuals and login experiences. * Empower end users to select preferred theme variants that suit their needs. Overall, theming in Next Experience supports creating a visually cohesive and user-friendly ServiceNow environment that aligns with organizational branding and accessibility standards. Themes let you customize the visual experience to match your brand. Quickly create, edit, preview, and publish themes to your experiences using Theme Builder. See [Configure Next Experience with Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ii1LUN_iqysttEwOtRCE7Q "Reflect your company's brand on your ServiceNow instance by managing, editing, and implementing Next Experience themes in an easy, efficient, and upgrade-safe way using Theme Builder. Theme Builder is included as a core plugin with the Next Experience and is available by default.") for more information. Note: Theming applies to the classic environment in Lists, Forms, and Dashboards. Custom components don't reflect theming. ## Theming at a glance {#next-experience-theming__section_hr1_h2r_vcc} * Theming is the ability to customize the Next Experience Design System to reflect your product or brand. * Theming means styling various aspects of the ServiceNow® platform while maintaining the overall look and feel. * Theming typically involves changing the colors to your company brand colors but can also include typography, imagery, shape and form. {#next-experience-theming__ul_d1m_32r_vcc} ## Next Experience default themes {#next-experience-theming__section_rj5_qw2_mfc} Customers have the Next Experience Coral theme enabled by default on their instance. Customers upgrading from a previous release continue to see the theme applied to their instance before the upgrade, for example the Next Experience Polaris theme or a theme created in Theme Builder. Use [Theme Builder to publish Coral theme to your instance](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EeNfZqwwgjP8kRSiH2R0IQ "Publish multiple themes to your web instance or a single theme to your mobile instance to reflect your company's brand.") or [add Coral theme to the Next Experience UX Parent App Theme table.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gR5HZEdGOSax495eDjV4MA "Publish multiple themes and set the order of your Next Experience custom and Theme Builder themes to configure how they’re displayed in the user's Theme preferences.")Figure 1. Next Experience default themes in Preferences modal Figure 2. Coral theme light variant Figure 3. Coral theme dark variant ## Theme record {#next-experience-theming__section_syw_ffr_vcc} This image shows the default Polaris theme, which is read-only. Polaris and Coral are fixed, base themes and cannot be copied or edited. You create your own themes and styles to be used by experiences in your instance by [copying a Theme Builder theme record](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/WnNh0Jq09VC8hyymGwwnjQ "Create a custom theme in the Next Experience more efficiently using a published Theme Builder theme record."). After copying a theme record, you must also copy the styles under UX Theme Styles and modify those styles as needed. At least one Core type style must be defined. ## Theme styles {#next-experience-theming__section_gjq_2ky_1rb} When you configure a theme, you adjust the color schemes, fonts, and images of your applications. On the Theme Builder Theme form, you configure Order, Style, and Type settings. Order : Style records with higher-order values override styles with lower values. The base system styles all have the order 0. If you meet the Applicability constraint, styles with higher values override the base system styles. If you do not meet the Applicability constraint, the lower-value style is used. Style : Style records define reusable styles that together comprise a theme. Core styles include color, shape and form, typography, and imagery. Variants are a different version of the theme, commonly different colors, that users can select in preferences. The most common use of variants is for accessibility purposes, particularly to account for color blindness. If you decide to use a dark theme, consider selecting the Polaris or Coral theme or [create a dark alternate color palette in Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dRv_Mx7AMl_GwTI2c6llVA "Customize a Theme Builder theme by creating an alternate color palette for the theme and publishing it to your instance."). Type : Styles can be of either the Core type or the Variant type. Core styles are active by default. Users can choose from available variants from their Theme user preference, and those variant styles override the core style. Theme Builder doesn't automatically generate dark theme variants; however, you can create a dark alternate color palette with limited customization. For more information, see [Add an alternate color palette](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dRv_Mx7AMl_GwTI2c6llVA "Customize a Theme Builder theme by creating an alternate color palette for the theme and publishing it to your instance."). The Polaris and Coral themes include a Dark Theme variant that is available on instances with Next Experience enabled. * **[Guided tours in Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pA1U1dDt6VERxDE_REq20Q)** Learn about Theme Builder guided tours, including how to access and take them to build your knowledge of Theme Builder. * **[Dark mode in Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/9QVvzPHzgOnIIhfmWkScYQ)** Learn how to switch to dark mode in Theme Builder. * **[Get help with Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Qt_5xUtntrD1juAS5ZTrHA)** To get help with Theme Builder, your ServiceNow instance, plugins, permissions, and more, watch a short video to contact the ServiceNow admin who works in your company. * **[Configuring Next Experience with Theme Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ii1LUN_iqysttEwOtRCE7Q)** Reflect your company's brand on your ServiceNow instance by managing, editing, and implementing Next Experience themes in an easy, efficient, and upgrade-safe way using Theme Builder. Theme Builder is included as a core plugin with the Next Experience and is available by default. * **[Working with the dark theme](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/8Opgntj_VePBiEQABfyedg)** The dark theme emits less blue light, making the display easier for your eyes and less disturbing in low-light settings. The dark theme is supported for configurable workspaces, lists, forms, dashboards, and reports. * **[Working with theme-able empty state images](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jv026Qr3G1_qAvMxwH8yiw)** Add theme-able empty state images to customize empty states and improve the user experience. Empty states include guidance or actions for users to add or create content. * **[Configuring Next Experience themes and preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1w6D8JRJDfREeG1nVEI6cw)** Theming in Next Experience applies to individual experiences. As an admin user, you can configure the variables for colors, shapes, fonts, and other aspects of the user experience. * **[Configure login theming in Next Experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/8GY8kVnArgExIq2scZzS2g)** Configure Next Experience login illustrations and welcome text to provide a login experience that reflects your branding. * **[Customize the Next Experience login background illustration](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QrgWxZkAbUG2bAsKdBANeQ)** Customize and change the background illustration applied to your Next Experience login page. * **[Customize the Next Experience login background color](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/CRukYfdn0F6G~p9cOy1cEQ)** Customize and change the background color applied to your Next Experience login page. * **[Remove the gradient from the Next Experience login page](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Asm0NdU05QuDuHTQdaZ7mg)** Remove the gradient from the Next Experience login page and restore the solid color of your default theme.