If you work in ServiceNow and aren't using SNUtils yet, you're probably spending hours each week on tasks that could take seconds. This free browser extension has become essential for over 100,000 ServiceNow professionals worldwide, and for good reason.

Created by ServiceNow Solution Architect Arnoud Kooi, SNUtils transforms how you interact with ServiceNow through slash commands, keyboard shortcuts, and seamless VS Code integration. This guide covers everything you need to know to maximize your productivity with SNUtils.

What Makes SNUtils Essential for ServiceNow Developers

SNUtils is a free, open-source browser extension that adds over 70 productivity features to ServiceNow. With a 4.9 out of 5 rating based on 232 reviews, it has become the most widely-adopted productivity tool in the ServiceNow ecosystem.

Key capabilities include:

• Quick navigation using slash commands
• Instant table and record searches
• Direct image pasting into forms
• VS Code integration through sn-scriptsync
• Custom command creation
• Technical name toggles and keyboard shortcuts

The extension works across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Version 9.1.1.2, released September 2024, requires just 3.95 MiB of storage. Two versions exist: the standard version for service-now.com domains and SN Utils OnPrem for custom domains.

Why developers love it: A 2022 survey of 2,100+ users found that 22% save more than one hour daily using SNUtils. One user called it "an absolute MUST for every ServiceNow Admin/Developer," while another stated that "everyone who touches a servicenow instance in any admin capacity should be using this."

Essential Slash Commands Reference

Type / or press CTRL / to activate the command palette. Here are the commands you'll use most frequently.

Navigation Commands

Basic navigation:

• / - Opens the command palette
• /aes - App Engine Studio
• /debug - Script Debugger
• /st - Studio
• /fd - Flow Designer
• /script - Background Scripts
• /logs - System Logs

Table access:

• Type /<table_name> to jump directly to any table
• /incident - Incident table
• /sys_user - User table
• /cmdb_ci_server - Server table
• /sys_id:<sys_id> - Opens record by sys_id

Dynamic search:

• Type /sys_ux to find tables starting with those characters
• Type /alert* for tables containing "alert"
• Use -m switch to filter "updated/created by me"
• Use -ut switch for "updated today"
• Use -s switch for "current scope"

Form and Record Commands

Record inspection:

• /xml - View current record in XML format
• /dict - View table dictionary
• /schema - Open schema map
• /br - View business rules for current table
• /ui - View UI policies for current form

Record operations:

• /env [instance] - Open current record in another instance
• /imp [user] - Impersonate a specific user
• /tn - Toggle technical names on/off

Developer Commands

Development tools:

• /code [search] - Search across all scriptable tables
• /br [search] - Search business rules
• /u [search] - Search users
• /cache - Clear cache
• /session - View session information
• /rest - Open REST API Explorer

Advanced operations:

• /perf - Performance analytics
• /ts - Transaction scheduler

Complete SNUtils Command Reference

The examples above cover the most commonly used commands. Browse all 70+ SNUtils commands below with live search, category filtering, and sorting.

Keyboard Shortcuts That Save Time

Beyond slash commands, SNUtils adds powerful keyboard shortcuts:

Record operations:

• CTRL/CMD + S - Save current record
• CTRL/CMD + SHIFT + S - Insert and stay
• CTRL/CMD + ] - Next record
• CTRL/CMD + [ - Previous record

Form interactions:

• CTRL + Click on form labels - Build clickable queries
• Double-click on form whitespace - Toggle technical names
• Double-click on form labels - View/edit field values directly

Pro tip: Configure browser-level keyboard shortcuts to open ServiceNow even faster. Combine CTRL+L to focus the address bar, type your instance URL followed by /, then your command, and press Enter.

VS Code Integration Through sn-scriptsync

The sn-scriptsync extension creates seamless bidirectional synchronization between ServiceNow and Visual Studio Code. Edit scripts, CSS, HTML, and widgets in VS Code with full IDE features, and changes automatically save back to your ServiceNow instance.

Setup Process

1. Install the sn-scriptsync extension from VS Code marketplace (latest version available on Visual Studio Marketplace)
2. Configure your sync folder (default: ~/Documents/sn-scriptsync)
3. Enable scriptsync in SNUtils settings
4. Keep the helper tab open to maintain WebSocket communication

Key Features

• Organized file structure: instancename\scopename\tablename\recordname.field.extension
• Scope tree view: Pull all artifacts from current scope in VS Code left pane
• Application scope folders: Automatic folder organization for scoped apps
• SIS ID mapping: Custom mapping file support for managing system IDs
• Live preview: SCSS changes reflect immediately in browser
• Service Portal widgets: Saved as separate files with ng-templates in subfolders
• IntelliSense: Basic autocomplete for ServiceNow APIs and functions
• Manual control: Start/stop service via VS Code status bar

Studio Integration

Click "Link VS Code via sn-scriptsync" in Studio to view your complete application artifact tree in VS Code. Pull any scriptable field directly from the server—no need to click individual buttons in the platform.

Why This Matters

You get IntelliSense, Git integration, linting, and all your favorite VS Code extensions while maintaining real-time sync with ServiceNow. It's the best of both worlds.

Advanced Features for Power Users

Custom Command Creation

Create your own slash commands for frequently-used links or queries:

1. Open SNUtils settings
2. Navigate to Custom Commands
3. Add a new command with URL pattern
4. Use your custom command anywhere in ServiceNow

Example custom commands:

• /mydev - Your personal dev instance
• /prod - Production instance
• /my - Your assigned incidents
• /open - Open incidents in your group

Update Set Management

SNUtils enhances update set workflows with:

• Quick search through update sets
• "Last 20 updates" view for administrators
• One-click switching between update sets
• Visual indicators for current update set

Favicon Badges

SNUtils adds visual badges to browser tabs, making it easy to identify which ServiceNow instance you're working in. This prevents accidentally making changes in the wrong environment.

Mouse Interactions

Additional productivity features:

• Right-click on navigation items for quick actions
• Drag and drop to reorder lists (where supported)
• Context menus on most ServiceNow elements

How SNUtils Compares to Other Tools

SNUtils strengths:

• Most comprehensive slash command system
• VS Code integration via sn-scriptsync
• Active development with regular updates
• Largest user base (100,000+ users)
• Completely free and open-source

Alternative tools:

ServiceNow Toolbelt: Lightweight, privacy-focused alternative with colored favicons, instance management, and tab grouping. Good for users wanting minimal footprint.

Xplore Developer Toolkit: A ServiceNow application (not a browser extension) that complements SNUtils for server-side development work. Many developers use both together.

SwissNow: Excellent for record comparison and configuration exports, but removed from Chrome Web Store (still available on Edge).

Security, Privacy, and Enterprise Adoption

SNUtils collects zero data. The privacy policy explicitly states no data collection occurs. The open-source code on GitHub (282 stars) allows security teams to audit the extension before deployment.

Permission differences:

• Standard version: Limited to service-now.com domains
• OnPrem version: Broader permissions for custom domains

Major enterprises have approved SNUtils with no reported security incidents in its 10+ year history. Security teams can review the complete source code before deployment.

Getting Started in Minutes

Installation:

1. Visit your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons, Mozilla Add-ons, or Apple App Store)
2. Search "SN Utils"
3. Click Add/Install
4. Refresh any open ServiceNow tabs

Post-installation setup:

1. Optional: Configure keyboard shortcuts in browser settings
2. Optional: Set up sn-scriptsync if you use VS Code
3. Optional: Create custom commands for your frequently-used links

Finding help:

• Official cheat sheet PDF at arnoudkooi.com
• GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests
• #sn-utils channel in SN Devs Slack
• Now Learning tutorials
• Email: apps@arnoudkooi.com

Pro Tips from Power Users

Tip 1: Use the right arrow for inline search refinement

When you see the ⇲ symbol next to a command result, press right arrow to refine your search further without starting over.

Tip 2: Leverage comma filtering in Studio searches

Studio searches support "type,name" format. Type /br,onload to find all business rules containing "onload."

Tip 3: Build encoded queries with CTRL+Click

Hold CTRL and click form labels to build complex encoded queries. This is much faster than manually constructing query strings.

Tip 4: Create a productivity shortcut stack

Combine multiple shortcuts for maximum efficiency:

1. Browser shortcut to focus address bar
2. Instance URL + slash command
3. Enter Result: Access any ServiceNow table in under 2 seconds from anywhere.

Tip 5: Use SNUtils in Studio

SNUtils works inside ServiceNow Studio. Use slash commands even while developing scoped apps.

What SNUtils Cannot Do (And What Can)

SNUtils is excellent for navigation and UI productivity, but it does not handle:

• Automated code generation
• Test case generation
• Deployment automation across instances
• Technical documentation creation

For these capabilities, you'll need additional tools. Modern AI-powered development platforms like Echelon complement SNUtils by automating the development work itself, while SNUtils accelerates navigation and interaction with the ServiceNow interface.

The ideal stack: SNUtils for navigation and UI productivity, sn-scriptsync for modern IDE experience, and AI-powered tools for automating development tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is SNUtils safe to use?
   Yes. SNUtils is open-source, created by a respected ServiceNow professional (Arnoud Kooi), and used by over 100,000 people worldwide. Major enterprises have approved it after security review.
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2. Does SNUtils work with my ServiceNow instance?
   The standard version works with service-now.com instances automatically. For custom domains, use the "SN Utils OnPrem" version.
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3. Can I use SNUtils at work?
   Check with your IT/security team, but SNUtils is widely approved in enterprise environments. Its open-source nature makes security review straightforward.
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4. How often is SNUtils updated?
   Regular updates occur every few months. Enable auto-update to get the latest features automatically.
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5. Can I contribute to SNUtils?
   Yes. SNUtils is open-source on GitHub. You can contribute code, report bugs, or suggest features.
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6. Does SNUtils require payment?
   No. SNUtils is completely free.

Conclusion: Make SNUtils Your ServiceNow Foundation

SNUtils has become essential infrastructure for ServiceNow professionals because it solves a universal problem: ServiceNow's interface, while powerful, requires too many clicks for common tasks. SNUtils reduces those clicks to keystrokes.

The 22% of users who report saving more than one hour daily aren't exaggerating. When you multiply those time savings across weeks, months, and years, SNUtils becomes one of the highest-ROI tools you'll ever install.

Getting started takes minutes. The productivity gains last your entire career.

Install SNUtils today, spend 15 minutes learning the basic slash commands, and you'll wonder how you ever worked without it. Then explore VS Code integration, custom commands, and advanced features as you're ready.

The ServiceNow community has spoken: SNUtils is essential. Join over 100,000 professionals who already work faster, smarter, and more efficiently with SNUtils.

Download Links:

• Chrome/Edge: Chrome Web Store
• Firefox: Mozilla Add-ons
• Safari: Apple App Store
• Official site: arnoudkooi.com

Related Resources:

• sn-scriptsync VS Code Extension
• SNUtils GitHub Repository
• ServiceNow Developer Community
• Now Learning Platform

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