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

Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio

Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio to add your ServiceNow RPA Hub instance details in Connection Manager and to start using the application.

Watch this video to learn about the configuration of RPA Desktop Design Studio.

[Omitted video] Description: Setup of RPA Desktop Design Studio application

Before you begin

Install RPA Desktop Design Studio. For more information on how to install it, see Install RPA Desktop Design Studio.

Role required: none

About this task

You can do this task when you’re setting up RPA Desktop Design Studio for the first time or when you’re adding an RPA Hub instance.

Procedure

  1. From your desktop, double-click the RPA Desktop Design Studio icon (
Image omitted: rpa-design-studio-icon.png
RPA Desktop Design Studio icon.\).
If you’re using RPA Desktop Design Studio for the first time, you can add the instance details in the Connection Manager dialog box.
Image omitted: add-instance-cm.png
Add the ServiceNow instance in Connection Manager.
  1. When you start using RPA Desktop Design Studio and want to add an instance from Connection Manager, select Add New.
Image omitted: addnew-cm.png
Add new instance from Connection Manager.
  1. On the form, fill in the fields.
  1. If you want to add proxy settings for your internet connection according to the company policies, do the following actions:

    1. In the Proxy Settings tab of the Connection Manager dialog box, fill in the fields for the server address, user name, password, and select the Save Password check box to save the password.

    2. Select Save.

  2. Select Proceed and the plugins from the RPA Hub instance download to your machine.

Image omitted: plugin-download.png
Downloading plugins from the RPA Hub instance.
When the plugins download, the login page of your RPA Hub instance is displayed.
Image omitted: connection-manager-auth.png
Login page for the RPA Hub instance.
**Note:** If the error `Connection failed. Verify if the RPA Plugins are available in the ServiceNow instance.` is displayed when you start RPA Desktop Design Studio, select **OK** and configure a ServiceNow instance URL that has the RPA plugins installed. Restart RPA Desktop Design Studio and try again.
  1. Authenticate your connection by entering the user name and password of your RPA Hub instance and then select Log in.

    The RPA Hub instance authentication page is displayed.

Image omitted: cm-authenticate.png
RPA Hub instance authentication.
**Important:**

-   When you enter credentials in the Connection Manager dialog box but don’t select the **Allow** button in the next screen, the session times out.
-   You must authenticate your RPA Hub instance each time that you launch RPA Desktop Design Studio. If you don't authenticate and cancel the login operation, RPA Desktop Design Studio doesn't launch.
  1. Select Allow.

    The authentication is complete and the home page of RPA Desktop Design Studio is displayed.

What to do next

You can start creating automations from the RPA Desktop Design Studio home page. For more information on how to create automations, see Create an automation project manually or Create an automation with Now Assist.

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© 2026 ServiceNow, Inc. All rights reserved.

Documentation content is redistributed under the Apache License 2.0 from the ServiceNowDocs repository.

FieldDescription
NameName of your ServiceNow RPA Hub instance for easy identification of the instance. For example, `Dev instance`.
URLServiceNow RPA Hub instance URL. For example, `https://.service-now.com/`.
Mark as defaultOption for enabling this instance as the default. RPA Desktop Design Studio launches each time by using this default instance.Clearing this option opens the Connection Manager dialog box each time you double-click the RPA Desktop Design Studio icon \(
Image omitted: rpa-design-studio-icon.png
RPA Desktop Design Studio icon.\).
Launch in default browserOption for launching the instance in the default browser of your machine.