Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions about ArcGIS Pro.

Installation

Licensing

Functionality

For ArcMap users

Additional resources

Installation

What are the system requirements for ArcGIS Pro?

The system requirements depend on your ArcGIS Pro version.

How do I get ArcGIS Pro?

There are several ways to get ArcGIS Pro:

Is it necessary to install ArcGIS Pro on a computer where ArcGIS Desktop is installed?

No. You can install ArcGIS Pro on a computer with or without ArcGIS Desktop (or other Esri products). If you install ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Desktop on the same computer, it is not necessary to maintain parity between product versions. For example, you can have the current version of ArcGIS Pro and an older version of ArcGIS Desktop.

Can I install multiple versions of ArcGIS Pro on the same computer?

No. Only one version of ArcGIS Pro can be installed on a computer at a time.

Can ArcGIS Pro be installed on a computer with a localized operating system?

Yes. It is strongly recommended that you accept the default installation location and not install to a path that includes Unicode characters. If you receive the message Error 1324, The path ???????? contains an invalid character when installing or uninstalling ArcGIS Pro, contact Esri Technical Support.

How do I update ArcGIS Pro?

If a new version is available, an update notification appears when you start ArcGIS Pro. Click the notification to begin the update process.

Do I need to uninstall the current version of ArcGIS Pro before updating to a new version?

No, you do not need to uninstall ArcGIS Pro before updating to a new version. However, if you have ArcGIS Pro language packs installed, it is recommended that you uninstall them before updating the software.

As a software administrator, can I block update notifications to prevent users from updating ArcGIS Pro on their own?

Yes, you can block update notifications by making changes to the Windows registry.

Is ArcGIS Pro supported in virtualized environments?

Licensing

Can I get ArcGIS Pro if I don't have a license for ArcGIS Desktop?

Yes, there are several ways to get ArcGIS Pro.

Can I use ArcGIS Pro on more than one computer?

It depends on your license type:

  • With a Named User license (the default), you can use ArcGIS Pro on up to three computers at the same time.
  • With a Single Use license, you can use ArcGIS Pro on one authorized computer.
  • With a Concurrent Use license, you can use ArcGIS Pro on one authorized computer at a time, drawing your license from a pool of shared licenses.

Note:

If you have a Named User license and you authorize ArcGIS Pro to work offline, you can use the application on a single computer that you authorize for offline use.

How do I know which type of license I have?

You can view your license information on the ArcGIS Pro Settings page.

As an ArcGIS organization administrator, how do I assign ArcGIS Pro Named User licenses?

Depending on the type of ArcGIS organization you administer, see Assign ArcGIS Pro licenses in ArcGIS Online or Configure ArcGIS Pro licenses for ArcGIS Enterprise.

Note:

To use ArcGIS Pro, organization members must have the Creator or GIS Professional user type. As an administrator, you only assign ArcGIS Pro licenses to the Creator user type. ArcGIS Pro licenses included with the GIS Professional user type are automatically assigned to the user.

As an administrator, can I move ArcGIS Pro licenses from an ArcGIS Online organization to an ArcGIS Enterprise organization?

If ArcGIS Pro is received as an entitlement through an ArcGIS Desktop license, it is delivered by default as a Named User license to ArcGIS Online. You can move this ArcGIS Pro license to ArcGIS Enterprise by contacting Esri Customer Service or your distributor.

If an ArcGIS Pro license is purchased specifically for ArcGIS Online, it must stay as a Named User license in its current environment.

Note:

When moving ArcGIS Pro licenses from ArcGIS Online to ArcGIS Enterprise, the corresponding Creator user types move to ArcGIS Enterprise as well.

As an administrator, can I convert ArcGIS Pro licenses from Named User to a different license type?

ArcGIS Pro licenses that are purchased specifically for ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise must stay as Named User licenses in their current environment.

ArcGIS Pro licenses that are received as an entitlement through an ArcGIS Desktop license can be converted to Single Use or converted to Concurrent Use licenses through My Esri as long as you have permission to take licensing actions in My Esri.

The conversion steps are the same whether the ArcGIS Pro licenses are managed in an ArcGIS Online organization or an ArcGIS Enterprise organization.

Note:

The ArcGIS Pro Named User license must be converted to a license type (Single Use or Concurrent Use) that matches the corresponding ArcGIS Desktop license. For example, an ArcGIS Pro entitlement based on an ArcGIS Desktop Advanced Single Use license must be converted to an ArcGIS Pro Advanced Single Use license.

If our maintenance program lapses, and our ArcGIS Online subscription expires, am I able to convert Named User licenses to Single Use or Concurrent Use?

Yes. You can convert the licenses and continue to use ArcGIS Pro. However, you will no longer receive software updates, nor will you be able to access web maps and layers from ArcGIS Online. You can renew your maintenance at any time.

If I convert ArcGIS Pro licenses to Concurrent Use or Single Use, can I later convert them back to Named User licenses?

Reverse conversion is not available through My Esri. Esri Customer Service or your distributor can help you do this.

Can Named User licenses be converted to Concurrent Use or Single Use licenses if they are checked out for offline use?

No. Offline licenses must be returned to the licensing portal before they can be converted. In addition, the ArcGIS organization administrator must revoke the user's Named User license.

As a user, how do I change my license type?

If your software administrator converts your license from Named User to Single Use or Concurrent Use, you can configure ArcGIS Pro to start with a Single Use license or to start with a Concurrent Use license. If your Named User license is moved from an ArcGIS Online organization to an ArcGIS Enterprise organization, you can change your licensing portal.

What is a licensing portal?

The licensing portal is the portal that validates your Named User license when you start ArcGIS Pro. The licensing portal is displayed on both the Licensing tab and the Portals tab on the ArcGIS Pro Settings page. It is marked with a key icon Licensing Portal.

As an administrator, can I assign an existing ArcGIS Pro license to a different user?

Yes. If your ArcGIS Pro licenses are Named User licenses, you can manage license assignments through your ArcGIS organization. Removing a license from one organization member makes it available for another member. Licenses for ArcGIS Pro extensions and other apps are managed in the same way. You can also change a member's user type, which may affect their ArcGIS Pro license.

Note:

Licenses can only be assigned to organization members whose user type is compatible with an ArcGIS Pro license.

Does ArcGIS Pro use the same licenses as ArcMap?

No. ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap licenses are authorized separately. If you use Concurrent Use licensing for ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro, you can manage both sets of licenses with the same License Manager.

Can I use my ArcGIS Desktop extensions in ArcGIS Pro?

If you have an ArcGIS Desktop license for an extension product, you also have a license for the same extension in ArcGIS Pro if it is available. See ArcGIS Pro extensions for a list of available extensions. Extension licenses in ArcGIS Pro are managed with the same license type, such as Named User, as your ArcGIS Pro license.

If I have a Concurrent Use or Single Use license, can I access web maps, layers, and other content from a portal?

Yes. Your ArcGIS Desktop license includes access to ArcGIS Online regardless of how your license is managed. To access online content, you need to add a portal connection and sign in to ArcGIS Pro.

How do I start my first ArcGIS Pro session?

To start ArcGIS Pro with a Named User license, sign in to the application with your ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise credentials. To start with a Concurrent Use license, specify a license manager. (Contact your administrator for the license manager name, if necessary.) To start with a Single Use license, complete the authorization process. (Contact your administrator for an authorization number, if necessary.)

Can I take my ArcGIS Pro license offline?

Yes, you can take a Named User license offline or take a Concurrent Use license offline. Single Use licenses are enabled for offline use by default, because they are authorized on each computer individually.

How do I return a license that I have taken offline?

On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings and click the Licensing tab to return an offline Named User license or to return an offline Concurrent Use license.

How do I see my ArcGIS Pro license level and which extensions I have?

On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings and click the Licensing tab to view your license information.

Functionality

What is an ArcGIS Pro project?

An ArcGIS Pro project is a single file, with the extension .aprx, that contains a related collection of maps, scenes, layouts, reports, and other items. The project file is associated with a toolbox and geodatabase that are typically specific to the project and stored in a system folder with the project file.

Do I need to create a project every time I start ArcGIS Pro?

No. For tasks such as file management that don't require creating and saving a project, you can start without a project template. Any items you create during your session will be deleted when you close ArcGIS Pro. You have the option to save your work as a project at any time during the session.

Can I change the default ArcGIS Pro settings?

Yes. You can change default settings by selecting the project and application options that suit your needs.

Can I save my ArcGIS Pro project to ArcGIS Online?

You can share maps, scenes, and layers from ArcGIS Pro to your active ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal. You can share a complete project as a project package that can be downloaded and opened by other users. However, you cannot save a project directly to a portal.

How do I add and remove portal connections in ArcGIS Pro?

On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings and click the Portals tab to manage your portal connections.

How do I change the location for creating and storing projects in ArcGIS Pro?

On the ArcGIS Pro Settings page, open the General options and expand the Create projects options.

How do I get help for ArcGIS Pro?

To open the help system, click the View Help button View Help at the top of the application window. Search by keyword for a relevant help topic or browse the table of contents.

Can I use the help system if I work offline?

Yes. ArcGIS Pro has both an online help system (the default) and an offline help system. To use the offline help system, download and install it if you have not done so. On the ArcGIS Pro Settings page, open the General options. Under Help source, choose Offline help from your computer.

Can I customize the ArcGIS Pro user interface?

Yes. You can customize the ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar to adapt the user interface to your needs. You can also choose between light and dark application themes.

How do I remove recent projects from the start page?

On the start page, in the list of recent projects, right-click the name of the project you want to remove and click Remove Project from list.

Can I make folder and database connections permanently available so I don't need to recreate them in new projects?

Yes, you can add frequently used folder and database connections to your project favorites. Alternatively, you can add them to a project template and create projects from the template.

I added a map to my project and now I can't find it. Where did it go?

You may have accidentally closed the map. Closed maps and scenes can be opened from the Catalog pane:

  1. Make the Catalog pane active. At the top of the pane, click the Project tab, if necessary.
  2. Expand the Maps collection to see maps and scenes contained in the project.
  3. Right-click a map and click Open, or right-click a scene and click Open Global View or Open Local View.

Why is the Add Data button unavailable in my project?

The Add Data button Add Data is available on the Map tab on the ribbon as long as a map or scene is open in the project. You may need to add a map or scene to your project or open a closed map or scene.

Can I use personal geodatabases (.mdb) as data sources for ArcGIS Pro?

No. Personal geodatabases are not supported in ArcGIS Pro. Personal geodatabase datasets can't be used as inputs to geoprocessing tools. Similarly, output datasets can't be stored in personal geodatabases. File geodatabases are the default workspaces for ArcGIS Pro projects.

Can I publish map services to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server from ArcGIS Pro?

Yes. You can publish services, including map services, geocode services, geoprocessing services, and image services, to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server. Your ArcGIS Pro project must contain a publisher or administrator connection to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server 10.6 or later.

Is the 3D Analyst extension required to work with 3D maps in ArcGIS Pro?

No. You can navigate, author, edit, and share 3D maps, called scenes in ArcGIS Pro, without the 3D Analyst extension. However, the extension is required to perform 3D analysis and to run geoprocessing tools in the 3D Analyst toolbox.

Is it possible to add Bing basemaps to ArcGIS Pro?

Yes. Bing Maps can be used in all ArcGIS products.

Can I create a map without a basemap?

Yes. On the ArcGIS Pro Settings page, click Options and open the Map and Scene options. Under Basemap, you can specify that new maps use the default basemap of your ArcGIS organization, a custom basemap, or no basemap.

Note:

To share a map to the web, a basemap layer is required.

I moved some datasets on my computer and now the map layers in my project are broken. What should I do?

There are several ways to update the data sources for the map layers in your project.

If ArcGIS Pro shuts down unexpectedly, can I recover my work?

Yes. ArcGIS Pro automatically backs up your work by default and allows you to recover your project.

For ArcMap users

What is the difference between ArcGIS Desktop, ArcMap, and ArcGIS Pro?

ArcGIS Desktop is a suite of five applications: ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, and ArcGIS Pro. The first four are designed to work together, while ArcGIS Pro is designed to work independently and is approximately equivalent in functionality to the other four combined. ArcGIS Desktop also includes a subscription to ArcGIS Online.

ArcGIS Pro is the only one of these applications that can be purchased separately from ArcGIS Desktop.

Will an ArcObjects application built for ArcMap work in ArcGIS Pro?

No. ArcGIS Pro has a new .NET API with functionality and workflows that are different from ArcMap. The new API was built using ArcObjects; however, ArcObjects is not exposed directly.

Will Python scripts and toolboxes written for ArcMap work in ArcGIS Pro?

Yes, in most cases. ArcGIS Pro uses Python 3.x; other ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Server applications use Python 2.x. In spite of differences between these two Python versions, many geoprocessing scripts can be used without modification in either ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro. In some cases, it is necessary to migrate Python scripts to ArcGIS Pro. Use the Analyze Tools For Pro geoprocessing tool to analyze a script or toolbox for necessary changes.

Are the geoprocessing tools in ArcMap available in ArcGIS Pro?

Most of the geoprocessing tools in ArcMap are available in ArcGIS Pro. Some tools that are not available may be available in a future release. Tools that work with data formats that are not supported in ArcGIS Pro, such as coverages, will not be available in the future. Each release of ArcGIS Pro includes new geoprocessing tools that are not available in ArcMap.

Do geoprocessing models built in ArcMap work in ArcGIS Pro?

Yes, in most cases. However, if a model uses a tool that is not available in ArcGIS Pro, the model will not work. You may be able to remove the tool and use an alternate workflow. A model built in ArcMap may include a tool that has slightly different functionality in ArcGIS Pro. For example, in ArcGIS Pro, the Calculate Field tool does not support Visual Basic (VB) expressions. Refer to a tool's help topic to determine what changes may be required for the tool to run successfully in an ArcGIS Pro model.

Tip:

Before saving a model that was built in ArcMap in ArcGIS Pro, make a backup copy of the toolbox that contains the ArcMap model. Once a model is saved in ArcGIS Pro, it can't be used in other ArcGIS applications. Learn about migrating ModelBuilder workflows to ArcGIS Pro.

Can I run models built in ArcGIS Pro in ArcMap?

No. Models that are built, or opened and saved, in ArcGIS Pro cannot be used directly in ArcMap. However, it is possible to save a toolbox from ArcGIS Pro to a 10.x version of ArcMap. A model stored in that toolbox can then be run in ArcMap.

Note:

If the model includes tools or data types that are not available in ArcMap, the model will not run even if the toolbox is saved to an ArcMap-compatible version.

Can I use maps authored in ArcMap in ArcGIS Pro?

Yes. You can import map documents (.mxd) and map packages (.mpk) into ArcGIS Pro. You can also import scene (.sxd) and globe (.3DD) documents. The same file geodatabase and shapefile datasets can be used by both applications.

Can I use maps authored in ArcGIS Pro in ArcMap?

Yes. You cannot export a map from ArcGIS Pro as a map document (.mxd). However, after you share an ArcGIS Pro map as a web map, you can open it in ArcMap:

  1. In a new ArcMap document, click the File menu and click ArcGIS Online.
  2. In the ArcGIS Online window, sign in with your ArcGIS account credentials.
  3. Search ArcGIS Online or browse a category such as My Maps and Data.
  4. Click a web map to select it and click Open.

Note:

Alternatively, you can sign in to ArcGIS Online through a web browser, search for a web map, and open its item page. On the item page, click Open in ArcGIS Desktop > Open in ArcMap. Double-click the downloaded item.pkinfo file.

Can I run ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Pro on the same computer?

Yes. You can install and use the applications on the same computer. You can also have them open at the same time.

Can I open an ArcGIS Pro project in ArcMap?

No. ArcGIS Pro projects can be opened only in ArcGIS Pro.

I imported a map document with multiple data frames. Why do I see only one map in ArcGIS Pro?

When you import a map document (.mxd), each data frame becomes a separate map in your ArcGIS Pro project; however, only one of the maps opens. You can open the other maps from the Catalog pane.

Note:

The layout from your map document is also imported. If the map document was saved in Layout View in ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro will open with a layout view instead of a map view. You can open the imported map or maps from the Catalog pane.

Can I use ArcMap styles in ArcGIS Pro?

Many ArcMap styles have been retired and are not included as system styles in ArcGIS Pro. However, you can import ArcGIS Desktop styles into ArcGIS Pro. A number of styles have been converted to the ArcGIS Pro *.stylx format and can be downloaded from ArcGIS Online at Esri Styles, under Solution Styles.

How do I start an edit session in ArcGIS Pro?

By default, ArcGIS Pro automatically starts an edit session when you modify existing data or create data. Optionally, you can configure the application to enable and disable editing explicitly, as in ArcMap.

Can I create or use geometric networks in ArcGIS Pro?

Geometric networks are a read-only dataset in ArcGIS Pro. In ArcGIS Pro, trace networks are used to manage, model, and analyze simple networks such as hydrology networks. Utility networks are used to manage, model, and analyze complex networks such as water, gas, electric, telecom, sewer, and storm water networks.

Additional resources

Are there resources available to help me learn ArcGIS Pro?

Yes. The ArcGIS Pro start page offers links to many learning resources, including help system tutorials, guided lessons on the Learn ArcGIS website, and training courses offered by Esri Academy. You can see what's new in the current software release, and read the latest ArcGIS Pro articles by Esri product engineers.

How do I connect with the ArcGIS Pro community?

You can connect with other users and ask questions in the ArcGIS Pro space on GeoNet, the Esri community.

How do I submit enhancement ideas or report bugs?

Submit ideas for enhancements through ArcGIS Ideas. To report a software bug, contact Esri Technical Support and request a case. To report a problem with an ArcGIS Pro help topic, click the Feedback on this topic link at the bottom of the topic's web page.

As an ArcGIS Organization administrator, who do I contact with questions about ArcGIS Pro?

Contact Esri Customer Service or your account manager for licensing questions. Contact Esri Technical Support for technical assistance.

As the primary maintenance contact for my organization, who do I contact with questions about ArcGIS Pro?

Contact your account manager or inside sales representative for licensing questions. Contact Esri Technical Support for help with software downloads, installation, and other technical questions.

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