Remove or delete project items

You can remove an item connection—such as a folder connection or database connection—from your project if you no longer need access to the item's contents. Removing an item connection does not delete files or folders on disk. After removing an item connection, you can connect to the item again at any time.

You can delete an item from the catalog if the item allows this operation and if you have appropriate permissions. Items such as maps, layouts, and reports are deleted from the project file (.aprx). Items stored outside the project file are deleted from disk. In most cases, there is no option to undo a deletion. If an item can't be deleted for some reason, an explanatory message appears.

The following project items can be deleted. When an item is deleted, the catalog is updated.

• Maps, layouts, reports, and tasks—The item is deleted from the project file (.aprx).
• File and mobile geodatabases—The files on disk are deleted. Geodatabases can be deleted either from the Databases container (if the geodatabase has been added to the project) or from a folder.
• Toolboxes—The files on disk are deleted. Toolboxes can be deleted either from the Toolboxes container (if the toolbox has been added to the project) or from a folder.
• Notebooks—The file on disk is deleted. Notebooks can be deleted either from the Notebooks container or from a folder.

Note:

Project containers are present only when populated. For example, if you delete the only map or scene in your project, the Maps container no longer appears in the Catalog pane or in a catalog view. If you then insert or import a map, the container appears again. Some containers are always populated. For example, the Folders container always includes a connection to the project home folder.

The following items can be deleted from folders that are accessible in the catalog. When an item is deleted, the catalog is updated.

• Folders—The folder on disk and all its contents are deleted. A folder can't be deleted if it is a folder connection in the project.
• Folder items—Many items stored in folders can be deleted. If a deleted item is composed of multiple files, all the files are deleted. For example, if you delete a shapefile, its component files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, and so on) are deleted. Related items that depend on a deleted item's existence may also be deleted.
• Database items—The item, such as a feature class or table, is deleted in the database. Related items, such as relationship classes, that depend on a deleted item's existence may also be deleted.
• Tools—The tool is deleted from the toolbox.

If you are signed in to your active portal and have privileges to create, update, and delete content, you can delete some types of items from My Content . Related items that depend on a deleted item's existence may also be deleted. Some items can only be deleted properly using ArcGIS Enterprise.

Projects cannot be deleted in ArcGIS Pro. To delete a project, close the project and use Windows Explorer to delete all project resources. If the project is created inside a folder, you normally only need to delete the folder.

Remove an item connection

You can remove an item connection if you don't need it in your project. Connections to required items, such as the project home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox, cannot be removed.

1. In the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or the Contents pane of a catalog view, browse to an item connection and select it.
2. Right-click the selected item connection and click Remove .

   The connection is removed from the project. There is no warning prompt because removing an item connection does not delete files or folders on disk.

   Tip:

   When a catalog view is active, you can also remove an item connection from the ribbon. On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Organize group, click Remove .

Delete an item from the catalog

You can delete an item from the catalog if the item allows this operation and you have the appropriate permissions. The item is permanently deleted from disk.

1. In the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or the Contents pane of a catalog view, browse to an item and select it.
2. Delete the item using any of the following methods:

   Catalog pane	Press the Delete key. Right-click the selected item and click Delete .
   Catalog view window or the Contents pane of a catalog view	Press the Delete key. Right-click the selected item and click Delete . On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Organize group, click Delete .

   The Delete geoprocessing tool may be able to delete items that cannot be deleted using the other methods listed above.

3. On the Delete prompt, click Yes.

   The item is deleted from disk.