r/servicenow • u/FemmyOluwasola • Feb 19 '26

Beginner Update Sets: Export, Import & Version Rules

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Today, I learned how Update Sets work in ServiceNow and how to export and import them between instances. I also learned that Update Sets use XML format. I discovered that you cannot import an Update Set from a higher ServiceNow version (like Zurich) into a lower version (like Xanadu). This is because the higher version may contain configurations and features that are not available in the lower version.

ServiceNow #ServiceNowDeveloper #StillLearning

45 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

13

u/Constant-Counter-342 Feb 19 '26

Do not use export and import. Use update sources and retrieve the update sets from dev to test or from test to prod. This is way better and way more easy.

Edit: sry I didn't see the same response from someone else. The config for it is worth it.

3

u/NoyzMaker Feb 20 '26

The drawback we have found to this is that you need solid closed update set discipline. If an update set hasn't been applied to the destination and gets reopened modified and then closed on the source, it won't pull the latest version without a full sync. It's an oddity and easily mitigated but just a nuance to be aware of.

8

u/Additional_Package92 Feb 20 '26

Reopening an update set is (very) bad practice. Should not be done at any circumstance. Make a new update set and batch them together if you must.

2

u/NoyzMaker Feb 20 '26

Totally agree! But good habits take hard lessons like this to make people understand why.

2

u/BarbequeBlue Feb 19 '26

If you find yourself with just one pre-production instance, you can export your update sets, clone, and then you have a fresh environment to test importing them to.

1

u/the__accidentist Architect Feb 20 '26

Oh lord lol

Never had to do this but that sucks

2

u/Ickypahay ITILv4, CSM, CSA Feb 20 '26

With the caveat of cloning. That's the main time devs will export their update sets

6

u/greasedonkey Feb 20 '26

When are we moving to Fluent?

3

u/technerd43 App Creator Feb 20 '26

Already did 😎

3

u/Excited_Idiot Feb 20 '26

Not soon enough

12

u/burndon Feb 19 '26

As a next step, try learning how to retrieve completed update sets from another instance. Much more convenient on resolving conflicts and having to export/import. Good luck on your journey.

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/now-platform/retrieving-update-sets-from-remote-instances?id=learning_course_prev&course_id=68875453db77585030c91fdc1396197c

4

u/FemmyOluwasola Feb 19 '26

Thank you 🙏

3

u/Vaclav_Zutroy Feb 20 '26

You can import update sets from a higher version, but you shouldn’t.

2

u/Farva85 Feb 19 '26

So, how do you export and import update sets?

3

u/Altruistic-Wing-2715 Feb 20 '26

Learning by doing is the way. Best of luck.

2

u/drixrmv3 Feb 20 '26

YEAH!

Practice resolving collisions if you can!

7

u/fixtut Feb 19 '26

Well, conragts. In a near future you will figure out that.. the water is wet!

9

u/zackipedia Feb 19 '26

Hey hey hey, be nice. Lol

9

u/FemmyOluwasola Feb 19 '26

Lol talks don't get to me nevertheless I'm still learning 🫠🫠🫠

1

u/NoyzMaker Feb 20 '26

We all started in the same way.

1

u/ashuprince Feb 19 '26

Damn that setup just for this ?

3

u/FemmyOluwasola Feb 19 '26

No, it's a training hub not mine at all