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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Basic email setup

All production instances can send and receive email using ServiceNow - provided resources. The instance has an email address of instance@service-now.com.

Network layout for standard email configuration

Below is an example of a basic email network with ServiceNow as the domain.

Image omitted: standard-email-configuration.png
Diagram showing standard ServiceNow email flow, including outbound and inbound messages routed through mail servers and DNS between a user email account and a ServiceNow instance

Basic email services and features

  • Mail servers maintained by ServiceNow.

    • Encrypt mail with opportunistic TLS (Transport Layer Security) if supported by your mail servers.

      If your internal mail servers send and receive messages via a TLS-encrypted channel, ServiceNow mail servers support that communication.

    • Provide a dedicated mailbox for your instance.

    • Pre-configured email accounts to connect to ServiceNow mail servers.
    • An SMTP account sends email to your primary Mail Exchange (MX) server from your instance email address of instance@service-now.com.
    • A POP3 account receives email sent to your instance email address of instance@service-now.com.
    • High availability features from ServiceNow datacenters.
    • Spam detection for incoming email.

Administrators who want to use basic email services can do so by enabling the email properties for sending and receiving email.

  • Enable basic email
    Enable basic email to use ServiceNow - provided email servers and accounts.

Parent Topic:Configure email administration