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

Create a user

You can add a user to your instance to enable them to log in and use designated application features.

Before you begin

Role required: user_admin

Procedure

  1. Navigate to All > User Administration > Users.

  2. Select New.

  3. On the form, fill in the fields.

FieldDescription
User IDCreate a unique identifier for this user's ServiceNow login user name. Typical examples of user IDs are `cwitherspoon` and `charlie.witherspoon`. You can’t create a user whose User ID duplicates an existing user. If you do import duplicates from an update set, the more recently created name takes the duplicate User ID.
Given nameEnter the user's given \(often their first\) name.
Family nameEnter the user's family name (often their last name). Note: You can clear the First Name field, or the Last Name field in an existing user record, but you can’t clear both at the same time.
TitleEnter a title or job description, or select one from the list.
DepartmentSelect the user's department from the list.
PasswordAssign a password to the user. To set up the user's password, fill in the fields on the form and save the record. Then, select Set Password. This password can be permanent or temporary.
Password needs resetSelect this check box to require the user to change the password during the first login.
Locked outSelect this check box to lock the user out of the instance and terminate all their active sessions. The system helps prevent users with the admin role from locking themselves out.
ActiveSelect this check box to make this user active. Only the administrator sees an inactive user in: - Lists of users - The selection list on reference fields \(magnifying glass icon\) - The auto-complete list that appears when you type into a reference field
Web service access onlyIt designates a user as a non-interactive user. This field is available with Non-Interactive Sessions.Note: The Web service access only check box is automatically enabled when you select Machine in the Identity type field. The Web service access only check box is automatically disabled when you select Human or AI.
Internal Integration UserSelect this check box to Mark service accounts as internal integration users.
Email

Enter the user's email address. To enter a non-standard email address that doesn’t pass field validation, you must deactivate the validation script first:

  1. Navigate to System Definition > Validation Scripts.
  2. Select the email record.
  3. Clear the Active check box and save the change.
  4. Complete the user profile, including the email address, and update or submit the record.
  5. Reactivate the email validation script.
Identity type

Select the user identity type based on the user:- Human - Select this for a real person, such as an employee, customer, or admin. - Machine - Select this for a non-human system or device, such as a server, application, or service account that makes automated requests. - AI - Select this for an autonomous AI-driven system. AI users should be used when an AI agent or agentic workflow needs permissions greater than that of the invoking user.

See Security for AI agents for more information on using AI type users.

Note: The Web service access only check box is automatically enabled when you select Machine in the Identity type field. The Web service access only check box is automatically disabled when you select Human or AI.

Identity SubtypeDisplays the identity type subtype based on the user login. For example:- External - Internal - Guest
LanguageSelect your preferred language from the list.
Calendar integrationSelect Outlook to have this user receive meeting notifications via email directly to the calendar. Otherwise, select None.
Time zoneSelect the user's time zone.
Date formatSelect the user's preferred format for dates. The following date formats are supported:- 08/19/26 - 19/08/26 - 08-19-2026 - 08/19/2026 - 19-08-2026 - 19/08/2026 - 19.08.2026 - 2026/08/19 - 2026.08.19 - 2026-08-19 For more information, see GlideDateTime - Global.
Time formatSelect the user's preferred format for time. The following time formats are supported:- 16:30:45 - 16.30.45 - 04:30:45 PM - 04.30.45 PM - 16:30 - 16.30 - 04:30 PM - 04.30 PM For more information, see GlideDateTime - Global.
Business phoneEnter the user's business phone number.
Mobile phoneEnter the user's mobile phone number.
PhotoAttach a photo of the user, if appropriate.
The minimum fields required to create a user record are: **User ID** and either **First name** or **Last name**.

You can select the **Personalize Form** icon to remove fields.
  1. Add Roles, Groups, Delegates, Skills, and Subscriptions to the user.

    For more information, see Managing roles, Creating groups, and Delegating roles.

  2. Select Submit.

    The new user record appears in the list.

Parent Topic:Creating users