Manage add-ins

An add-in is custom functionality created by developers or users with the ArcGIS Pro SDK 2.8 for the Microsoft .NET Framework. Add-ins integrate seamlessly with ArcGIS Pro. In many cases, add-ins customize the user interface, providing a new tool, or set of tools, that appears on the Add-In ribbon tab or other tabs, or other areas of the application such as custom panes.

When the MagnifierWindow add-in is installed, a custom tool appears on the Add-In tab. The tool allows you to pan and zoom a second window over a map view.

An add-in is packaged as a single compressed file with the extension .esriAddInX. This is a simple file type that can be sent by email, downloaded from a portal, or exchanged in the same ways as other ordinary files.

Add-ins can be installed to a default local folder with an installation utility or loaded from a folder designated as a well-known folder. Both methods are described in the sections below. Add-ins are viewed and deleted from the Add-In Manager on the ArcGIS Pro Settings page.

Add-ins provide unique functionality but may also introduce security risks or lead to unstable software behavior. It is important to know and trust the source of an add-in.

To create your own add-ins, you need the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET. The ArcGIS Developers site has tutorials to help you build your first add-in.

Install an add-in with the installation utility

When you install an add-in with the installation utility, the add-in is copied to this default location: %System Drive%\Users\<username>\Documents\ArcGIS\AddIns\ArcGISPro. Before copying the file, the utility ensures that a newer version of the add-in does not already exist in the location.

1. Browse to the folder location of an add-in file (*.esriAddInX) on your computer or a network drive.
2. Double-click the file to open the Esri ArcGIS Add-In Installation Utility.

   Review the information in the Esri ArcGIS Add-In Installation Utility window.

3. To continue, click Install Add-In.

   The add-in is copied to the default location and installed. A copy of the file remains in the location where you browsed to it.

4. If ArcGIS Pro is open, exit and restart the application.

   The add-in is now available for use.

Load an add-in from a well-known folder

You can designate a local or network folder as a well-known location for add-ins. On startup, ArcGIS Pro will check this folder and automatically load any add-ins that it finds there.

Designating a well-known folder on a network drive is a convenient way for many people in a workplace to use the same add-ins. However, it may cause ArcGIS Pro to start more slowly. If you use a network folder, it is recommended that you use a subfolder of the root folder and that this subfolder contain only add-in files.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro Settings page.
   • On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings .
   • In an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
2. In the list of tabs on the left, click Add-In Manager.
3. On the Add-In Manager, click Options.
4. On the Options tab, click Add Folder.
5. On the browse dialog box, browse to the folder that you want to designate as a well-known folder.
6. Click the folder to select it. Click OK.

   

   The full path to the folder appears in the list of well-known folders.

   Note:

   By default, the option is selected to load all add-ins that are found in the well-known folder. You can choose a different option if you want to load only add-ins provided by Esri or only those digitally signed by a trusted publisher.

7. Exit ArcGIS Pro.
8. Use Windows Explorer to copy one or more .esriAddInX files into the well-known folder in its location on disk.
9. Start ArcGIS Pro.

   Add-ins in the well-known folder are loaded. The folder is checked for newly added or deleted add-ins each time you start ArcGIS Pro.

   Tip:

   To stop using a well-known folder, click the folder in the list of well-known folders and click Remove Folder. Restart ArcGIS Pro.

View add-ins

You can see your available add-ins on the Add-In Manager.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro Settings page:
   • On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings .
   • In an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
2. In the list of tabs on the left, click Add-In Manager.
3. On the Add-Ins tab, under My Add-Ins, click an add-in to view information about it.

   

Delete an add-in

If you no longer need an add-in, you can delete it from the Add-In Manager. Deleting an installed add-in uninstalls it from ArcGIS Pro and moves the .esriAddInX file to the system recycle bin.

Caution:

If you use the Add-In Manager to delete an add-in that is loaded from a well-known folder on a network drive, the .esriAddInX file is permanently deleted, just as it would be if you used Windows Explorer to delete the file from its location on disk.

1. Open the Add-In Manager and select an add-in as described in the View add-ins section above.
2. Click Delete this Add-In.

   

   The add-in is marked for deletion but remains available in your current ArcGIS Pro session.

   

3. Exit and restart ArcGIS Pro.

   The add-in is uninstalled and removed from the Add-In Manager.

   Note:

   You cannot delete any add-ins that appear under the Shared Add-Ins heading of the Add-In Manager because they are managed by your software administrator. For more information, see the Make administrative settings section below.

Disable add-ins

If ArcGIS Pro behaves in unexpected ways or stops working after you install add-ins, you can disable add-ins by starting ArcGIS Pro from the Windows command prompt with a special parameter. If the software behaves normally when add-ins are disabled, you may need to delete one or more add-ins.

To disable add-ins, start ArcGIS Pro from the command line with the following command:

"%ProgramFiles%\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\ArcGISPro.exe" /disableaddins

No add-ins appear on the Add-In Manager. To reenable add-ins, exit and restart ArcGIS Pro normally.

Make administrative settings

As a software administrator, you can make registry edits to block user access to add-ins, designate well-known folders, and set security levels for add-ins.

In the Windows Registry Editor, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > ESRI > ArcGISPro > Settings, create an Add-In Folders key and use string values to designate well-known folders. Add-in files placed in these folders will appear as Shared Add-Ins in the Add-In Manager. For complete information on making these registry edits, see ArcGIS Pro Registry Keys.