Time zones

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Time zones

    ServiceNow stores all times in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) internally, displaying them to users in their local time zone based on user preference settings. Administrators should configure a system default time zone to avoid server dependencies and ensure consistent time zone handling across the platform.

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    Key Features

    • Time zone representation: Primary time zones use the Country/City format (e.g., America/LosAngeles). Other IDs (e.g., US/Pacific) link to these primary zones with identical offsets and daylight saving rules.
    • Daylight Saving Time (DST): Location-based time zones automatically adjust for DST. Time zones specified by name (e.g., GMT) generally do not adjust for DST. Exceptions exist, so proper time zone selection is important.
    • User preferences: Users can select their own time zone via Self-Service > My Profile, or inherit the system default time zone.
    • Java time zone support: The platform supports all Java time zone IDs, which can be viewed by examining the choices on the user record’s time zone field.
    • Time zones in notifications: Email notifications use the system time zone for timestamps. The glide.email.append.timezone property controls whether the time zone abbreviation is appended to outbound emails.
    • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): SLA definitions allow setting the time zone source, either for the SLA definition itself or based on the caller’s time zone, though the latter requires callers to have a defined time zone to avoid unpredictable behavior.
    • Scripting: Server-side scripts use GlideSystem API methods to retrieve date and time values consistent with configured time zones.
    • DST enhancements: Reports and queries now observe DST rules, affecting trend and line charts and filters using "trend on" operations.
    • Time zone changer: Users can temporarily change their session time zone via system settings, which resets to the system default or user profile setting at next login.

    Practical Guidance for ServiceNow Customers

    • Configure a default system time zone (glide.sys.default.tz) to ensure consistent time handling across the instance.
    • Encourage users to select their local time zone in their profile for accurate time display.
    • Use location-based time zones rather than generic names like GMT for proper DST adjustments.
    • Review and set the time zone source in SLA definitions carefully to avoid unexpected time calculations.
    • Understand that email notifications will show times in the system time zone, with optional time zone suffixes.
    • Leverage the GlideSystem API in scripting to handle time zone-aware date/time operations effectively.
    • Be aware that reports and charts correctly reflect DST changes to maintain accurate trend analysis.

    All times are stored in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and appear globally based on the system time zone. However, times appear to users in their local time zone, according to their user preference settings.

    Time zone representation

    Time zones that have the Country/City format are primary time zone IDs. Other time zone IDs are links to the primary time zone.
    • For example, US/Pacific is a link to the America/Los_Angeles time zone. Both America/Los_Angeles and US/Pacific represent Pacific Standard Time with the same zone offset and Daylight Savings Time (DST) schedule.
    • Other than the representation, there is no impact on date and time functionality.
    In the absence of a default time zone for the user or the system, JVM reads default time zone information from the server.
    • Depending on how the server is configured, it might return the Country/City or link, for example, US/Pacific or America/Los_Angeles.
    • Administrators should configure their system with a default time zone glide.sys.default.tz to avoid system dependencies. For more information, see Time zone representation.

    Daylight Saving Time

    In general, if you specify a time zone based on location (for example, America/Los Angeles), the system automatically adjusts for daylight saving time.
    • If you specify a time zone based on the time zone name (for example, GMT), which is discouraged, it does not typically adjust for daylight saving time. There are however exceptions to these guidelines.
    • For more detailed information on how daylight saving time is handled in Java, see https://www.iana.org/time-zones and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tz_database.

    User preferences

    Once the System Time Zone is defined, users can also select their own time zone from their user form, accessed through Self-Service > My Profile.
    Note:

    The System default appears as System ([name of the default time zone]). For example, if the System time zone is America/Los_Angeles, the user sees System (America/Los Angeles).

    Java time zone class

    The ServiceNow AI Platform supports all Java time zone class time zones. To view a listing of these time zones:
    1. In the Type filter text field, enter sys_user.list.
    2. Open one of the user records in the listing.
    3. Right-click the time zone field and select Show Choices.

      The resulting list is a complete listing of available time zone IDs.

    Time zones in email notifications

    The date and time stamp of a notification uses the system time zone and not the time zone of any recipient.
    Note:

    The glide.email.append.timezone property in System Properties > Email controls whether to append the time zone. If set to true, the system time zone of the instance is appended to any dates or date/times in outbound email messages (for example, 2010-07-02 04:01:14 PST).

    Time zones in service level agreements

    Service level agreements have different options for which time zone to use. To set a time-zone for SLAs, navigate to the SLA definition and locate the Timezone source field, and select an option.

    Some special considerations:
    • If you select the time zone for the caller, unpredictable behavior can occur if the caller does not have a time zone defined.
    • If you select the time zone for the SLA definition, you must manual specify the time zone on the form for the SLA.

    Time zone in scripting

    When you create scripting on the server, the script uses several GlideSystem date and time functions to obtain time values. For more information about specific methods and to learn the format in which each returns the requested time, see the GlideSystem API.

    Enhancements

    DST enhancement requires that reports and queries observe Daylight Saving Time rules. Changes affect trend charts, line charts, and filters using the "trend on" operation.

    Time zone changer

    The time zone changer is active by default. Users can change their time zone for the current session in the system settings (the gear on the top right of the banner). At the next login, the time zone setting reverts to the system default, or user profile setting for time zone.