Upgrade Console release notes

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Upgrade Console release notes - Zurich Release

    The ServiceNow Upgrade Console application streamlines and guides customers through the entire instance upgrade process to ensure a comprehensive and efficient upgrade experience. The Zurich release introduces enhancements to both production and sub-production instance upgrades, offering structured phases and new access methods to improve usability and success rates.

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    Key Features

    • New Access Method: You can now reach Upgrade Console via the Admin menu by navigating to Admin Home, then selecting the Upgrade Console link, providing easier access.
    • Guided Upgrade Process:
      • Sub-production Instances: Follow a three-phase upgrade process comprising Pre-upgrade, Instance upgrade, and Post-upgrade tasks to facilitate smooth transitions.
      • Production Instances: A four-phase upgrade process including Select upgrade, Pre-upgrade, Instance upgrade, and Post-upgrade tasks helps ensure thorough and successful upgrades.
    • Upgrade Plan Selection: During the Pre-upgrade phase, you can now choose or create an upgrade plan applicable to both production and sub-production instances, enhancing upgrade preparation.
    • Enhanced Preview Application Upgrades: New functionalities within the Preview application upgrades step help you better assess upgrade impacts across instance types.
    • Improved Store Application Upgrades: In the post-upgrade phase, updated sections provide clearer information on app updates, including a new “Sync Now” option to refresh installed applications lists after external changes.
    • User Interface Updates: The default Coral theme offers a modern, brand-neutral design with new illustrations for portals, web, and mobile experiences, plus a dark theme option for web and mobile users.
    • Access to Guided Upgrade: In addition to the Guided upgrade tab, you can resume ongoing upgrades directly via the “Resume upgrade” option for improved convenience.

    Changes and Removals

    • The "Ready your environment" step has been removed from the pre-upgrade activities for production instances, simplifying the upgrade workflow.

    Activation Information

    The Upgrade Console is an AI Platform feature that is active by default and available through the ServiceNow Store, enabling customers to start using it immediately without additional activation steps.

    The ServiceNow® Upgrade Console application guides you for a comprehensive and efficient upgrade experience. Upgrade Console was enhanced and updated in the Zurich release.

    Upgrade Console highlights for the Zurich release

    • Enable a smooth upgrade experience on your production and sub-production instances by completing essential tasks before, during, and after the instance upgrade.
    • Access Upgrade Console and Guided upgrade by experiencing the new and updated options.

    See Upgrade Console for more information.

    Important:
    Upgrade Console is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes.

    New in the Zurich release

    Additional way to access Upgrade Management
    You can now access Upgrade Console through the Admin menu by selecting Admin Home, and then selecting the Upgrade Console link.
    Guided upgrade on sub-production instance
    Upgrade your sub-production instance to facilitate a seamless and successful transition. This process is structured into three pivotal phases: Pre-upgrade, Instance upgrade, and Post-upgrade tasks.
    Guided upgrade on production instance
    Elevate your upgrade experience within your production instance by meticulously completing each stage of the transition. This comprehensive process encompasses four crucial phases: Select upgrade, Pre-upgrade, Instance upgrade, and Post-upgrade tasks, all designed for a successful upgrade experience.
    Additional step in pre-upgrade activities
    You an now choose an upgrade plan in the Choose an upgrade plan step by either selecting an existing plan or by creating a new plan. This new step is applicable for both production and sub-production instances.
    Enhanced functionalities in the Preview application upgrades step
    Experience the new functionalities within the Preview application upgrades step for a seamless upgrade experience on your instance. These new functionalities are applicable for both production and sub-production instances.
    Enhanced capabilities in the Store application upgrades step
    Review the Store application upgrades step in the post-upgrade activities for updated information in the App updates and Upgrade store applications sections. You can also use the new Sync Now option to update the list of installed applications that were either added or upgraded outside the upgrade process.

    UI changes

    Coral theme
    Coral is now the default theme for new portal, web, and mobile experiences with Next Experience or Core UI enabled. This theme provides a fresh look and feel, featuring brand-neutral illustrations to enhance your user experience. A dark theme option is available for web and mobile experiences.

    Changed in this release

    Updated access to Guided upgrade
    Apart from the Guided upgrade tab option, you can also access Guided upgrade by selecting Resume upgrade if there is an ongoing upgrade in the instance.

    Removed in this release

    • Removed the Ready your environment step in the pre-upgrade activities on a production instance.

    Activation information

    Upgrade Console is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.