Applications in ServiceNow Studio

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 11, 2026
  • 1 minute to read
  • Create, update, manage, publish, and delete applications in ServiceNow Studio — all from a single environment, based on your permissions.

    What are ServiceNow applications?

    A ServiceNow app is a package that performs a specific task for a specified group of users. Think of an app as a container with a set of rules around who can access and edit it. For example, ServiceNow apps can include an API, a table, a workspace, a form, a flow, or any combination of those things.

    Applications range from a few files to thousands of files. In ServiceNow Studio, you can create and work on apps of any size with a variety of file types, based on your permissions.

    How do I create a new application?

    Use either Create button on the ServiceNow Studio home page to start creating an app. For more information, see Create an application in ServiceNow Studio.

    Both Create buttons on the home page enable you to create a new application.

    Opening an existing application for the first time

    When you open ServiceNow Studio for the first time, open your apps from the Navigator panel on the left side of the screen. Search for the app by name or select it from the list.

    The Navigator panel shows a list of applications in ServiceNow Studio

    Selecting an app opens its full contents in the Navigator panel, with all file types organized by category, such as Automation. Select App details to open the app in a new tab.

    Open the app in a new tab by selecting App details.

    For more information, see Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel.

    For more information about working with your application from App details, see App details page.

    Opening apps for continued work

    After you open an app for the first time, it appears in the Recently opened apps section on the ServiceNow Studio home page. Recently opened files are also available from the home page.

    Recently opened apps and app files are available directly from the home page.

    To find apps and files you have worked on recently, select the Recent section in the Navigator panel and filter by time period.

    Use the Recent section of the Navigator panel to access recently opened files and apps.