--- sourceDocument: yokohama Combined Product Files sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/delta-xanadu-yokohama Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - yokohama Combined Product Files ft:clusterId : - delta3yx bundleId : - delta3yx --- # Combined Next Experience release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama # Combined Next Experience release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Yokohama Updated October 8, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 6 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 Combined Next Experience Release Notes for Upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama This consolidated guide provides ServiceNow customers with essential information on upgrading the Next Experience from the Xanadu release to the Yokohama release. It details new features, changes, activation instructions, browser requirements, accessibility enhancements, and practical tips to help customers prepare and optimize their upgrade process. Show full answer Show less ## New Features * **Keyboard Shortcuts:** Xanadu introduced a shortcut to quickly open the OpenFrame window for improved efficiency, while Yokohama added customizable shortcuts, including new ones for opening/closing the Now Assist panel and enabling voice input mode. * **User Preferences:** A new "User experience" preference group was added to manage settings like turning off Next Experience and enabling analytics. Yokohama enhanced this with a streamlined search function and user preference icons that align with your theme colors. * **Notifications and Activity Stream:** Pin your notifications menu for quick access, and enable the activity stream to auto-expand activities within Workspace preferences. * **Performance Metrics:** View detailed performance metrics for any Next Experience page to identify and troubleshoot UI load times and anomalies. * **Theme Management:** Theme Builder themes are preserved during cloning to avoid overwriting customizations. Multiple core themes created with Theme Builder can be selected and applied. * **Search Enhancements:** Yokohama introduced fuzzy search within Unified Navigation menus, improving search relevance by ranking results based on similarity and allowing adjustment of the minimum accuracy score. ## Changes * **Keyboard Focus Preference:** The setting "Enable keyboard focus on truncated text" was renamed and improved to "Enable keyboard focus on text that displays a tooltip" for better accessibility. * **Keyboard Shortcut Modal:** Redesigned to include searchable, categorized shortcut lists with descriptions and a more user-friendly interface. * **Next Experience Preferences Panel:** Updated to a wider modal with a search bar and grouped preferences, enabling faster navigation and configuration. ## Activation Information * Next Experience is an AI Platform feature enabled by default in both Xanadu and Yokohama releases. * Administrators can create an opt-out system property prior to upgrade if issues are anticipated with enabling Next Experience. * Theme Builder is included and activated by default starting with Yokohama; earlier versions require installation via the ServiceNow Store. ## Browser Requirements * Both Xanadu and Yokohama releases do not support Internet Explorer 11 or the iOS version of Firefox; users cannot log in through these browsers. ## Accessibility Enhancements * Expanded keyboard shortcuts with over 40 options and categorized lists to improve navigation and usability. * New voice input feature for Now Assist, enabling voice-to-text interactions if enabled by the system administrator. * Improved keyboard interactions including arrow key support to expand/collapse rows and customizable shortcuts to boost productivity. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Streamlined upgrade preparation with a combined reference of all Next Experience changes from Xanadu through Yokohama. * Improved user productivity through customizable keyboard shortcuts and enhanced preference management. * Better user experience continuity with preserved themes during cloning and enhanced notification accessibility. * More effective troubleshooting with access to detailed UI performance metrics and improved search capabilities. * Ensured compliance with modern browser standards and accessibility requirements. Consolidated page of all release notes for Next Experience from Xanadu to Yokohama. ## How to use this page To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Next Experience release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Xanadu to Yokohama. Tip: If there were no updates for a release notes section in a certain family release, we included a short note for your reference. For example, if a product did not have any updates in Tokyo, the row says "No updates for this release." ## Important information for upgrading Next Experience to Yokohama Before you upgrade to Yokohama, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__2} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## New features Between your current release family and Yokohama, new features were introduced for Next Experience. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__8} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | [Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-keyboard-shortcuts&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Use a new keyboard shortcut to reduce the time required to open the OpenFrame window. [User experience user preference group added](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=set-up-preferences-next-experience&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : A new "User experience" user preference group has been added for the Turn off Next Experience, Enable analytics, and Current start page preferences. [Pin your notifications menu](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=using-the-next-experience-global-header&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Pin your notifications menu for quick access to important updates. [View Next Experience performance metrics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=measuring-performance-next-experience&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : View performance metrics for any Next Experience page. [Preserve your custom Next Experience theme during a clone](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=preserve-next-experience-theme-during-clone&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Cloning is optimized to preserve your Next Experience and Theme Builder themes. This helps ensure that the themes are not overwritten during the cloning process. | | Yokohama | [Fuzzy search results returned within the Unified Navigation menus](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=using-the-next-experience-global-header&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Find relevant search results even with shortened text by using the fuzzy results filter, which ranks results based on their similarity to your search query. Adjust the minimum accuracy score to help fine-tune filter behavior. [Customizing the Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=customize-keyboard-shortcuts&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Assign specific actions to unique key combinations to quickly execute tasks. See the Accessibility information section for details. [Activity stream user preference available](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-workspace-preferences&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Enable the activity stream to automatically expand all activities from within the Workspace user preference group. [Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-keyboard-shortcuts&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Use a new keyboard shortcut to open and close the Now Assist panel and another keyboard shortcut to enable Now Assist voice input mode. | [ ] ## Changes Between your current release family and Yokohama, some changes were made to existing Next Experience features. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__14} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | [Select a theme in Next Experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=select-a-theme-in-next-experience&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : If multiple core themes have been created using Theme Builder, then those themes and their alternate color palettes are displayed in the Theme user preference group. | | Yokohama | [Enable keyboard focus on truncated text user preference](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-accessibility-preferences&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : The "Enable keyboard focus on truncated text" user preference has been updated to "Enable keyboard focus on text that displays a tooltip." [Improved keyboard shortcut modal](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=using-the-next-experience-global-header&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : The keyboard shortcut menu has improved usability in the following ways: * The modal now includes two columns that include the keyboard shortcut and a description with a scrollable list of available shortcuts on the viewed page. * A search field enables you to search for shortcuts that are relevant to the page you're viewing. * A Close button enables you to easily close the modal. [Next Experience preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=set-up-preferences-next-experience&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : The new user preference panel provides a more efficient, streamlined way for you to work. Use the new search bar to locate your preferences. A wider modal displays all preference groups and when you select a group, all the individual preferences that are related to it appear in the same window. | [ ] ## Removed Between your current release family and Yokohama, some Next Experience features or functionality were removed. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__20} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Deprecations Between your current release family and Yokohama, some Next Experience features or functionality were deprecated. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__26} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Activation information Review information on how to activate Next Experience. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__32} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | Next Experience is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default when the user loads or upgrades to the Xanadu release. An opt-out system property can be created prior to upgrade if there are known problems with turning on Next Experience on an instance. Install Theme Builder by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store. | | Yokohama | Activation information : Next Experience is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default when the user loads or upgrades to the Yokohama release. If there are known problems with turning on Next Experience on an instance, an opt-out system property can be created prior to upgrade. Theme Builder comes with the Next Experience and is active by default. | [ ] ## Additional requirements If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Next Experience we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__38} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Browser requirements If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Next Experience we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__44} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | Xanadu no longer supports Internet Explorer 11. You can't log in through that browser. The iOS version of Firefox is also not supported. | | Yokohama | Browser requirements : The Yokohama release doesn't support Internet Explorer 11. The iOS version of Firefox is also not supported. | [ ] ## Accessibility information Review details on accessibility information for Next Experience, such as specific requirements or compliance levels. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__50} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | [Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-keyboard-shortcuts&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : In addition to the 40 keyboard shortcuts available, there is a new keyboard shortcut to reduce the time required opening the OpenFrame window. This shortcut allows agents to dial and answer the phone from the platform. | | Yokohama | Accessibility information : [Customize Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=customize-keyboard-shortcuts&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Create your own keyboard shortcuts for frequently used actions. [Next Experience keyboard shortcuts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-keyboard-shortcuts&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Keyboard shortcuts categorized: Keyboard shortcuts for each page are now organized into categories: Page Action, Page Navigation, Global Navigation, and General. : New keyboard shortcuts: Two new Next Experience keyboard shortcuts are available, one shortcut to open and close the Now Assist panel and another to enable voice input for Now Assist. : Accessibility improvements for keyboard interactions: Use the right and left arrow keys to expand and collapse rows. [Configure Next Experience accessibility preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-accessibility-preferences&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Voice input for Now Assist A new user preference activates voice-to-text input in the Now Assist panel. With this feature, you can use your voice to access Now Assist skills in the Now Assist panel in any supported language. This preference appears only if your system administrator has enabled the voice input for the Now Assist feature for your instance. For more information, see [Enable voice input for the Now Assist panel](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=enable-voice-input-for-now-assist-panel&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US). Once your system administrator has enabled voice input for your instance, the "Enable voice input for the Now Assist panel" user preference is displayed. | [ ] ## Localization information If there are specific localization considerations for Next Experience we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__56} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Highlight information If there are specific highlight considerations for Next Experience we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-nextexperience-summary__entry__62} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | * Choose from multiple themes created with Theme Builder and apply them to your instance. * A new keyboard shortcut enables you to access the OpenFrame UI. * A new "User experience" user preference group has been added for the Turn off Next Experience, Enable analytics, and Current start page preferences. * A new client interaction table displays UI load times for identifying and investigating performance anomalies. See [Next Experience UI](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-landing-page&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | | Yokohama | * Create personalized keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow and boost productivity. * Track the filters that you apply to your Workspace lists within the History menu. Each time you change your filter, the History menu displays a separate entry. * Quickly locate and adjust your user preferences by using the new streamlined search function. * User preference icons now adopt your theme colors. See [Next Experience UI](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-landing-page&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | [ ]