Tablet interface

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 11, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Tablet Interface

    ServiceNow's tablet interface allows customers to access their instances via native tablet apps or a tablet browser. The native app offers an experience similar to the mobile app, with favorited applications or modules appearing as tiles on the homescreen. The tablet web UI closely mimics the desktop Core UI experience, with the $tablet.do functionality disabled since the tablet interface matches the desktop UI.

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    Key Features

    • Access Flexibility: Use either a native tablet app or a browser for full instance access.
    • Favorites Synchronization: Applications/modules favorited on desktop appear as tiles on the tablet app homescreen.
    • Read-only Graphics Tools: Dependency Views map, schema map, graphical Workflow Editor, Gantt chart, and visual dispatch tool can be viewed but not edited on tablets.
    • Calendar Access: Calendar reports are accessible, though scrolling functionality is limited compared to desktop.
    • Media Attachments: Upload of video and image attachments is supported on iOS 9 and Android tablets; other file types are not supported.

    Limitations and Unsupported Features

    • List Editing: Field values cannot be edited directly from list views; users must open record forms to modify fields.
    • Administrative Tools: Features like Field Watcher and JavaScript debugger require desktop interface access.
    • Language and Domain Selection: Language picker does not appear on tablet UI; language choice must be set on desktop. Domain picker is unavailable on tablets, requiring desktop for domain changes.
    • Slushbucket Feature: Not supported on tablets; only available on desktop.
    • Navigation Shortcuts: Shortcuts using suffixes like .list, .do, or .form only function in the desktop interface.
    • Support Chat: Chat sessions cannot be initiated or received on the tablet interface; help desk chat is desktop-only.
    • Printer-Friendly View: Not available on tablets.
    • Timeline Features: Timeline sliders and Timeline Metrics UI actions, such as workflow timeline and Gantt chart interactivity, are unsupported on tablets.

    Practical Implications for Customers

    ServiceNow customers using tablets can expect a user experience similar to desktop for general navigation and viewing, especially through the browser interface. However, editing capabilities are limited, and some administrative and interactive features require desktop access. Understanding these limitations helps customers plan tablet usage primarily for consumption and light interaction while reserving complex tasks and configurations for desktop environments.

    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.