Edit an existing application using Build Agent

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 25, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read

    • Modify existing ServiceNow applications using natural language prompts with Build Agent.

    Before you begin

    Install and enable Build Agent. For more information, see Install Build Agent.

    For some prompting guidelines and ideas, see Example prompts.

    You can convert existing apps to ServiceNow Fluent and work on them in Build Agent. For more information, see Convert an application with the ServiceNow SDK.

    Role required: admin

    About this task

    You can edit an application with Build Agent in both ServiceNow Studio and the ServiceNow IDE. If you're using the ServiceNow IDE, the application must be open in your workspace. You can add it to the workspace in the following ways:
    • Applications created with Build Agent are automatically added to the workspace in which they were created. They can also be opened in other workspaces in the ServiceNow IDE.
    • For applications that were not developed using the ServiceNow IDE, ServiceNow Studio, or the ServiceNow SDK, you must convert them into Fluent format to enable development within the Build Agent. You can prompt the Build Agent to use the open app tool to locate the application you want. Alternatively, you can search for an application directly within the Build Agent, and it will automatically use the open app tool. The open app tool can find an application, convert it to Fluent format, and then add the converted app to your workspace.
    • Copy an existing application created with the ServiceNow IDE or ServiceNow SDK from a Git repository. For more information, see Clone a Git repository with the ServiceNow IDE.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to All > App Development > ServiceNow Studio.
      You can also open Build Agent in the ServiceNow IDE if you prefer a more code-centric experience.
      The Build Agent chat panel opens by default in new ServiceNow Studio sessions. If the panel isn't open, select Open Build Agent from the status bar in the lower corner of your browser. You can also select the ServiceNow Otto icon in the application banner.
      Figure 1. Open Build Agent
      If Build Agent isn't open, open it from the status bar in the corner of your browser.
    2. Select Update an app in the chat panel.
      Figure 2. Update an app in Build Agent
      Chat panel showing four action buttons with Update an app highlighted
    3. Select the application that you want to edit and select the Submit button.
      Applications converted into ServiceNow Fluent code appear in the Application list.
      Figure 3. Select the app to edit
      App selection dialog with Planner Tracker selected from a list of available apps
    4. Describe what you want to change in the application in plain language.
      Build Agent can provide you with some suggestions, such as Update a table or add/modify fields.
    5. Select the Send icon .
      Build Agent starts updating the application.
    6. Review the changes in the Change Log in a tab in ServiceNow Studio and continue iterating to refine the app.
      For more information on the change log, see Build Agent checkpoints and conversation change log.

      Review updates to generated tables, flows, and scripts, and preview any user interfaces created in your application. You can interact with the preview to make additional edits, for example, select a button in the Preview tab and tell Build Agent to Change the color of the button to purple.

    7. Approve the changes:
      1. If prompted, select Review all edits to view the changes.
      2. If the changes are correct, select Approve plan.
    8. Optional: Prompt and Approve Build Agent to build and deploy the application to an update set if it doesn't do so automatically.

    Result

    The application is built and installed.
    Note:
    Follow the on-screen instructions, as the Build Agent functions interactively.

    What to do next

    Review the application and its metadata in ServiceNow Studio using the change log. For more information, see Build Agent checkpoints and conversation change log. You can also review the application using the File Navigator in ServiceNow Studio. For more information, see Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel.

    When you're ready, deploy the app. For more information, see Deploying what you built with Build Agent.

    If you want to view source code, open the ServiceNow IDE and select the File Explorer view from the Activity bar. The ServiceNow Fluent application code and other source code in the src directory appears.
    Figure 4. App code in the ServiceNow IDE

    File Explorer showing project structure with folders and configuration files