Tablet interface

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated August 10, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    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 Tablet Interface

    The Tablet Interface in ServiceNow allows users to access their instance via a tablet either through a native app or a browser. The native tablet app provides a user experience similar to the mobile app, displaying favorited applications or modules as tiles on the home screen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop Core UI experience, and the $tablet.do feature has been disabled because the tablet interface is essentially the same as the desktop interface when accessed via browser.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Access Method: Use either the native tablet app or browser for access.
    • Favorites Sync: Applications or modules favorited on desktop appear as tiles on the tablet app home screen.
    • Core UI Consistency: The tablet web interface mirrors the desktop experience for core functionality.
    • Editing Limitations: Field values cannot be edited directly from list views; users must open record forms to make changes.
    • Graphics Tools: Dependency Views, schema maps, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt charts, and visual dispatch tools are view-only and cannot be modified on tablets.
    • Calendar Access: Calendar reports are accessible, but navigation such as scrolling is limited compared to desktop.
    • Attachment Support: Video and image attachments can be uploaded on iOS 9 and Android tablets; other file types are not supported.

    Unsupported Features

    • Field Watcher and JavaScript Debugger: Administrators must use the desktop interface for these tools.
    • Language Picker: Not available in the tablet UI toolbar; language settings from desktop apply.
    • Domain Picker: Tablet users cannot change domains; domain selection must be done on desktop.
    • Slushbucket Feature: Unsupported on tablets; available only on desktop.
    • Navigation Filter Suffixes: Accessing records or forms using .list, .do, or .form shortcuts is desktop-only.
    • Support Chat: Chat requests and responses are not available on tablets; only desktop supports help desk chat.
    • Printer Friendly View: Not available on the tablet interface.
    • Timeline Features: Timeline sliders and Timeline Metrics UI actions, such as workflow timelines and Gantt charts, are unsupported on tablets.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers using tablets can expect a familiar, desktop-like experience, especially when using the tablet browser interface. However, they should be aware of editing restrictions and the inability to modify graphical tools or use certain administrative features on tablets. For full functionality—such as domain selection, debugging, or chat support—users must switch to the desktop interface. This understanding helps optimize tablet usage for mobility while relying on desktops for advanced administrative or developmental tasks.

    Use a tablet to access your instance either app or from a browser.

    Use the native tablet app for an experience similar to the native mobile app. Applications or modules that you have favorited in a desktop instance appear as tiles on your mobile app homescreen.

    The tablet web UI mimics the desktop experience in Core UI. $tablet.do has been disabled in Core UI because the tablet interface is the same as the desktop.

    Connect to an instance using the browser on your tablet for an experience similar to the standard desktop user interface.

    Tablet features with limited support

    • Editing lists: You cannot edit field values in a record from the list view. Access the record form to modify any field values.
    • Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tool: Graphics-based tools can be viewed but not modified from the tablet interface. Data presented by these tools is read-only when accessed through the tablet interface.
    • Calendars: You can access calendar reports but scrolling around the calendar as you would on the desktop interface is not supported.
    • Video and image attachment upload: Attach videos and images with both iOS 9 and Android. Other file type attachments are not allowed.

    Unsupported tablet features

    • Field watcher: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the Field Watcher.
    • JavaScript debugger: Administrators must use the desktop version to access the JavaScript debug window.
    • Language picker: Even if the internationalization plugin is enabled, the language picker does not appear in the tablet UI toolbar. Language selected through the desktop interface applies to the tablet UI.
    • Domain picker: Tablet users cannot select any other domains that administrators configure for domain-specific personalizations. To select a new domain, use the desktop interface.
    • Slushbucket feature: Any lists, fields, or filters that use the slushbucket feature are unsupported on a tablet device. Slushbuckets are only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Suffix in the navigation filter: You can use the .list, .do, or .form shortcuts to access a list of records in a table or a new form from the desktop version only.
    • Support chat: End users cannot request a chat session nor can support technicians respond to chat requests when using the tablet interface. Help desk chat is only supported in the desktop interface.
    • Printer friendly view: This view, which shows the current screen in a pop-up window without frames and the application navigator, is not available from the tablet.
    • Timeline sliders and the Timeline Metrics UI actions: Features that use timelines, such as the workflow timeline and the Gantt chart are not supported from the tablet.