Create a default profile
Create a connection profile that the ServiceNow CLI uses by default. You must create a default profile to set up the CLI's initial connection with an instance.
Before you begin
Role required: none.
About this task
By default, the information in this profile is used when you run a command that does not explicitly specify a profile to use.
Note: Sensitive credential information is only stored in the OS keychain, not in the configuration file.
Procedure
-
Open your system's command-line tool and execute this command.
Shell$ snc configure profile setThe CLI prompts you for more information.
-
Enter the requested values.
When prompting for information, the CLI displays current values in brackets []. To keep an existing value, press the Enter key.
Requested information Description Host The host name of the instance to connect to. Supports both the full URL (https://my-instance.service-now.com) or just the host name (my-instance). Login method The login method to use to connect to the instance. Supports Basic,OAuth, andOAuth + MFA.Username The user name to use to connect to the instance. Password The password to use to connect to the instance. Client id The client ID to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth or OAuth + MFA. Client secret The client secret to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth or OAuth + MFA. Authentication code The authentication code to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth + MFA. Default output format Specifies how to format the command results. Options are json,yaml,text, andtable.Shell$ snc configure profile set Host: https://myinstance.service-now.com Login Method (Basic, OAuth, OAuth + MFA): Basic Username: myusername Password: mypassword -
Run any command using the values specified in your default profile by omitting the
--profileattribute from your command.Shell$ snc record createThe command creates a record in the instance specified in the default profile with the specified connection options.
Parent Topic:Configuring and managing your ServiceNow CLI connection profiles
---
title: Create a default profile
description: Create a connection profile that the ServiceNow CLI uses by default. You must create a default profile to set up the CLI's initial connection with an instance.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development/servicenow-cli/create-default-profile.html
release: australia
product: ServiceNow CLI
classification: servicenow-cli
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Configuring and managing your ServiceNow CLI connection profiles, ServiceNow CLI, Developing your application, Classic app development, Building applications]
---
# Create a default profile
Create a connection profile that the ServiceNow CLI uses by default. You must create a default profile to set up the CLI's initial connection with an instance.
## Before you begin
Role required: none.
## About this task
By default, the information in this profile is used when you run a command that does not explicitly specify a profile to use.
**Note:** Sensitive credential information is only stored in the OS keychain, not in the configuration file.
## Procedure
1. Open your system's command-line tool and execute this command.
```
$ snc configure profile set
```
The CLI prompts you for more information.
2. Enter the requested values.
When prompting for information, the CLI displays current values in brackets \[\]. To keep an existing value, press the Enter key.
|Requested information|Description|
|---------------------|-----------|
|Host|The host name of the instance to connect to. Supports both the full URL \(https://my-instance.service-now.com\) or just the host name \(my-instance\).|
|Login method|The login method to use to connect to the instance. Supports `Basic`, `OAuth`, and `OAuth + MFA`.|
|Username|The user name to use to connect to the instance.|
|Password|The password to use to connect to the instance.|
|Client id|The client ID to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth or OAuth + MFA.|
|Client secret|The client secret to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth or OAuth + MFA.|
|Authentication code|The authentication code to use to connect to the instance when the login method is OAuth + MFA.|
|Default output format|Specifies how to format the command results. Options are `json`, `yaml`, `text`, and `table`.|
```
$ snc configure profile set
Host:
https://myinstance.service-now.com
Login Method (Basic, OAuth, OAuth + MFA):
Basic
Username:
myusername
Password:
mypassword
```
3. Run any command using the values specified in your default profile by omitting the `--profile` attribute from your command.
```
$ snc record create
```
The command creates a record in the instance specified in the default profile with the specified connection options.
**Parent Topic:**[Configuring and managing your ServiceNow CLI connection profiles](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-cli/configure-profile.md)
| title | Create a default profile |
| description | Create a connection profile that the ServiceNow CLI uses by default. You must create a default profile to set up the CLI's initial connection with an instance. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development/servicenow-cli/create-default-profile.html |
| release | australia |
| product | ServiceNow CLI |
| classification | servicenow-cli |
| topic_type | task |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 1 |
| breadcrumb | Configuring and managing your ServiceNow CLI connection profilesServiceNow CLIDeveloping your applicationClassic app developmentBuilding applications |