A common question is, "How can I get the sys_id column to show up in a List View?"

ServiceNow makes this surprisingly difficult. Before you jump through hoops to do that, be aware that if you are just trying to find a single record, and you know the sys_id, there is generally a Sys ID option in the FILTER on list views; so there is no need to add a sys_id column. Example of using the Filter to find a specific record by sys_id:

There are also other ways to get sys_id values to show up in VIEWS, REPORTS, and in EXPORTS. But if you really want a sys_id column on a list view, and you have admin rights to make changes, here is a step by step process, with screenshots, that may help you:

Example of adding a sys_id column to a List View:1) In the Filter Navigator, type "System UI".2) Select the "Lists" module ( or navigate directly to "sys_ui_list.list" ).3) Find the name of the table where you want the sys_id column to appear, for example "sc_catalog".

4) Open the record for the specific list view where you want to see the sys_id column, such as the "Default view", for all users / (empty) user.

5) In the Related Lists "List Elements" section, click "New" to create a new element with name "sys_id".

6) Give the element a Position, such as 6, and verify that it shows up in the List Elements list.

7) Navigate to your list view, for example "sc_catalog.list".

Click the Gear icon ("Update Personalized List").

9) Click "Reset to column defaults"…

10) In the filter navigator, enter "cache.do" to flush the cache (believe this will affect all users) Or log out and log back into your instance.

11) Navigate to your list.

12) You should now, finally, see the sys_id column in the list view.

Note. If you then make ANY CHANGES AT ALL, using the Gear Icon ("Personalize List"), ServiceNow will A) Throw away any existing user-specific sys_ui_list record you may have had, and create a brand new one. And B) it will also throw away your sys_id column. You will then need to take another action…

13) Add the sys_id column to your user-specific sys_ui_list records, and again execute another cache.do (or log out and back in).

Hopefully this helps someone. Cheers.