---
title: Select user criteria for a knowledge block
description: Control which users can read or not read knowledge block content within an article in a knowledge base by setting user criteria at the knowledge base and knowledge block level. As a knowledge contributor, you can apply user criteria at the knowledge block level.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/select-user-criteria-for-knowledge-block.html
release: australia
product: Knowledge Management
classification: knowledge-management
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Create a knowledge block, Using knowledge blocks, Using Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management, Manage content capabilities, Extend ServiceNow AI Platform capabilities]
---

# Select user criteria for a knowledge block

Control which users can read or not read knowledge block content within an article in a knowledge base by setting user criteria at the knowledge base and knowledge block level. As a knowledge contributor, you can apply user criteria at the knowledge block level.

## Before you begin

[Activate knowledge blocks](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/activate-knowledge-blocks.md)

Role required: knowledge\_admin or admin

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **Knowledge** > **Knowledge Blocks** > **All**.

2.  Open a knowledge block.

3.  Apply the desired user criteria for the **Can Read** and **Cannot Read** fields.

    |Name|Description|
    |----|-----------|
    |Can Read|User criteria to apply for read access at the knowledge block level.|
    |Cannot Read|User criteria to apply for cannot read access at the knowledge block level.|

    **Note:**

    -   You can use existing or create new user criteria records. To create a new record, see [Create a user criteria record in Knowledge Management](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/create-user-criteria-record-in-knowledge-management.md).
    -   If a user meets any **Can Contribute** criteria at the knowledge base level, they can read all knowledge block content, regardless of the **Can read** and **Cannot read** criteria set at the knowledge block level.
    -   If a user meets any **Cannot read** criteria at the knowledge block level, they cannot read the block content, regardless of the **Can read** criteria set at the knowledge block level.
    -   If a user has access to knowledge article and doesn't have access to one or more blocks within article then user can still read the content but without specify block content.
4.  Right-click the form header and click **Save**.


## What to do next

-   To finish and publish the block, see [Create a knowledge block](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/create-modify-knowledge-block.md).
-   To add the block to an article, as well as preview the article by impersonating different users, see [Add knowledge blocks to a knowledge article](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/add-knowledge-block-to-knowledge-article.md).

**Parent Topic:**[Create a knowledge block](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/knowledge-management/create-modify-knowledge-block.md)