Add and configure a trigger in a playbook

---
title: Add and configure a trigger in a playbook
description: Begin building your playbook by adding and configuring the trigger.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/add-configure-trigger.html
release: australia
product: Workflow Studio
classification: workflow-studio
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Triggers, Understanding the playbook components, Build Playbooks, Playbooks, Workflow Studio, Build workflows]
---

# Add and configure a trigger in a playbook

Begin building your playbook by adding and configuring the trigger.

## Before you begin

Role required: playbook.admin or pd\_author

Review [Triggers](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/process-automation-designer-triggers.md).

## About this task

You can add one or multiple triggers to your playbook. The triggers can either be record based or scheduled. Record based triggers start your playbook when a record is created, updated, or both. The scheduled triggers give you the option to run the playbook at the time you need. You can also add an existing trigger that matches the conditions for your playbook.

**Note:** You can create up to 10 triggers of any type. It can be record-based triggers, scheduled triggers, or a combination of both.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **Process Automation** > **Workflow Studio** > **Playbooks**.

2.  Open the playbook that you want to configure or create a playbook.

3.  On the left sidebar, select **Triggers** \(\[Omitted image "triggers-icon.png"\] Alt text: Icon to open the triggers.\)\).

    **Note:** You can't open triggers until the parent table is specified for the playbook. To specify a parent table, edit **Start** in the diagram view, or open the **More actions menu** \(\[Omitted image "icon-horizontal-menu.png"\] Alt text: More actions menu\) and select **Properties**.

    \[Omitted image "triggers-playbook.png"\] Alt text: Triggers in playbooks with options to edit, delete, or create triggers.

    If triggers are already added to the playbook, the **Triggers** screen displays a list of the associated triggers. You can edit, delete, or add a trigger.

4.  Select an existing trigger to edit, or add a trigger.

<table id="table_d5r_w4z_zfc"><thead><tr><th>

Trigger type

</th><th>

Actions

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Record based

</td><td>

Go to **Add trigger** &gt; **Record based** and select when you want the playbook to run:-   When record is created
-   When record is updated
-   When record is created or updated
Specify the following settings and select **Save and close**.1.  If required, specify a different table for the trigger than the parent table.
2.  Select **Run this trigger on extended tables** if you want the playbook to run on [Table extension and classes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/platform-administration/table-extension-and-classes.md).
3.  Select **Trigger on unique values** if you want the playbook to run only on unique changes of the record values.

If you edit and reactivate an existing playbook, the playbook may run automatically for a fulfilled trigger. To prevent the playbook from running again for the same trigger, select the trigger to run on unique values.

4.  Specify any additional conditions that should start the playbook.
If you want to use a trigger that has all the conditions you need for your playbook, select **Choose existing playbook trigger**. Then, choose an existing trigger from the list and select **Save and close**.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Scheduled

</td><td>

1.  Select **Add trigger** &gt; **Scheduled**.
2.  Specify the scheduling details and the conditions for the trigger and select **Save and close**.
For more information about scheduling a trigger, see [Create a scheduled trigger for Playbook](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/create-scheduled-trigger-definition.md)

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>
## Result

The trigger is configured.

## What to do next

[Add and configure your stages.](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/add-configure-stage.md)

**Parent Topic:**[Triggers](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/process-automation-designer-triggers.md)