Find answers to common questions about ArcGIS Pro.
Installation
- What are the system requirements for ArcGIS Pro?
- How do I get ArcGIS Pro?
- How do I update ArcGIS Pro?
- Do I need to uninstall the current version of ArcGIS Pro before updating to a new version?
- Are ArcGIS Pro 3.x versions compatible with 2.x versions?
- Can I install multiple versions of ArcGIS Pro on the same computer?
- Can ArcGIS Pro be installed on a computer with a localized operating system?
- Is ArcGIS Pro supported in virtualized environments?
- As a software administrator, can I block update notifications to prevent users from updating ArcGIS Pro on their own?
- As a software administrator, can I control ArcGIS Pro application settings to ensure they are the same for everyone?
Licensing
- Can I use ArcGIS Pro on more than one computer?
- How do I start my first ArcGIS Pro session?
- What are the differences between the Basic, Standard, and Advanced license levels?
- How do I know which license level and extensions I have?
- How do I change my license type?
- Can I transfer an ArcGIS Pro Single Use license from one computer to another?
- If I have a Single Use or Concurrent Use license, can I access web maps, layers, and other content from a portal?
- Can I take my ArcGIS Pro license offline?
- How do I return a license that I have taken offline?
- As an ArcGIS organization administrator, how do I assign ArcGIS Pro Named User licenses?
- As an administrator, can I assign an ArcGIS Pro license to a different user?
- As an administrator, can I move ArcGIS Pro licenses from an ArcGIS Online organization to an ArcGIS Enterprise organization?
- As an administrator, can I convert ArcGIS Pro licenses from Named User to a different license type?
- If I convert ArcGIS Pro licenses to Single Use or Concurrent Use, can I later convert them back to Named User licenses?
- Can Named User licenses be converted to Single Use or Concurrent Use licenses if they are checked out for offline use?
- If our maintenance program lapses and our ArcGIS Online subscription expires, can I still convert Named User licenses to Single Use or Concurrent Use?
Functionality
- What is an ArcGIS Pro project?
- Do I need to create a project every time I start ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I save an ArcGIS Pro project to my portal?
- Can I publish map services to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server from ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I store my ArcGIS Pro project in Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive?
- How do I add and remove portal connections in ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I connect to multiple portals at the same time?
- What is a licensing portal?
- Can I change the default ArcGIS Pro settings?
- How do I change the default location for storing ArcGIS Pro projects?
- Can I customize the ArcGIS Pro user interface?
- Are there keyboard shortcuts for common operations?
- How do I work with recent projects on the start page?
- Can I work with files and folders on my computer in ArcGIS Pro without creating a folder connection?
- Can I make folder, database, and server connections permanently available so I don't need to create them again in new projects?
- Why are the commands on the Map tab unavailable in my project?
- I moved some datasets on my computer and now the map layers in my project are broken. What should I do?
- Is the 3D Analyst extension required to work with 3D maps in ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I create a map without a basemap?
- Is it possible to add Bing basemaps to ArcGIS Pro?
- Will my custom Conda environments work when I upgrade to a new version of ArcGIS Pro?
- If ArcGIS Pro shuts down unexpectedly, can I recover my work?
- Are there resources for troubleshooting ArcGIS Pro performance?
Accessibility
Help
- How do I get help for ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I use the help system if I work offline?
- How can I quickly find the tools and commands I need in the ArcGIS Pro user interface?
- Where can I find information on ArcGIS Pro releases?
- Are there resources available to help me learn ArcGIS Pro?
- How do I connect with the ArcGIS Pro community?
- How do I submit enhancement ideas or report bugs?
- As an ArcGIS organization administrator, who do I contact with questions about ArcGIS Pro?
- As the primary maintenance contact for my organization, who do I contact with questions about ArcGIS Pro?
Installation
The system requirements depend on your ArcGIS Pro version.
There are several ways to get ArcGIS Pro:
- You can buy a Creator, Professional, or Professional Plus user type. Each of these user types includes an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise identity and provides access to ArcGIS Pro and additional apps. View the ArcGIS user type comparison matrix.
- You may qualify to buy ArcGIS for Personal Use or ArcGIS for Student Use, both of which include ArcGIS Pro.
- You can get an ArcGIS Pro free trial.
- If you have ArcGIS Desktop, and your maintenance program is current, you can download ArcGIS Pro from My Esri or ArcGIS Online.
Note:
ArcGIS Desktop is currently in mature support. There will be no further software updates or patches. It is recommended that you migrate to ArcGIS Pro.
When a new version is available, an update notification appears when you start ArcGIS Pro. Click the notification to begin the update process.
No. However, if you have ArcGIS Pro language packs installed, it is recommended that you uninstall them before updating the software.
ArcGIS Pro 3.0 was a major release, which means that it is not fully compatible with 2.x versions. See Migration from ArcGIS Pro 2.x to 3.x for more information.
Yes. It is 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.
Yes, you can run ArcGIS Pro in a virtualized environment.
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.
As a software administrator, can I control ArcGIS Pro application settings to ensure they are the same for everyone?
Yes. You can manage application settings in many application areas.
Licensing
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 at a time.
- 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 or a Concurrent Use license and you authorize ArcGIS Pro to work offline, you can use the application on a single computer that you authorize for offline use.
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 Single Use license, complete the authorization process. Contact your administrator for an authorization number, if necessary. To start with a Concurrent Use license, specify a license manager. Contact your administrator for the license manager name, if necessary.
Most ArcGIS Pro functionality is available with a Basic license. The Standard and Advanced license levels provide additional functionality in areas such as geodatabase management, editing, imagery, and spatial analysis.
You can view your license information on the ArcGIS Pro settings page.
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.
Yes. A Single Use license authorizes one person to use ArcGIS Pro. That person can use the software on one computer at a time, while having it installed on a maximum of two computers. If necessary, you can deauthorize ArcGIS Pro on one computer and authorize it on another computer on which ArcGIS Pro is installed, using the same authorization number or license file. See How To: Deauthorize single use licenses in ArcGIS Pro and Authorize and start ArcGIS Pro with a Single Use license for more information.
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.
On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click the Settings tab 
and click the Licensing tab to return an offline Named User license or to return an offline Concurrent Use license.
ArcGIS Pro licenses are assigned automatically when you set a member's user type to Creator, Professional, or Professional Plus. See Manage ArcGIS Pro licenses in ArcGIS Online for more information.
Yes, in effect. You can change a member's user type, which determines whether they have an ArcGIS Pro license.
As an administrator, can I move ArcGIS Pro licenses from an ArcGIS Online organization to an ArcGIS Enterprise organization?
It depends. If an ArcGIS Pro license is provided through an ArcGIS Desktop deployment, it is delivered 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 obtained through an ArcGIS Online user type purchase, it must stay 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.
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 I convert ArcGIS Pro licenses to Single Use or Concurrent Use, can I later convert them back to Named User licenses?
Yes. You can request that licenses be converted back to Named User licenses in My Esri. You can also contact Esri Customer Service or your distributor directly.
If our maintenance program lapses and our ArcGIS Online subscription expires, can I still 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.
Functionality
An ArcGIS Pro project is a single file, with the .aprx extension, that contains a collection of maps, scenes, layouts, reports, and other items. The project file is associated with a home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox, each of which stores different output files created in the project. You can create a project on a local or network drive.
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 the session will be deleted when you close ArcGIS Pro. You can save your work as a project at any time during the session.
You can share maps, scenes, and layers from ArcGIS Pro to your active ArcGIS Online portal. You can also share a project as a project package that can be downloaded and opened by other users. However, you cannot save a project directly to a portal.
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 server connection to a stand-alone instance of ArcGIS Server 10.6 or later.
Storing projects in OneDrive or Google Drive is not supported. See ArcGIS Pro and Cloud Storage Services for more information.
On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click the Settings tab and click the Portals tab to manage portal connections.
Yes. You can store connections to multiple portals, such as ArcGIS Online and different ArcGIS Enterprise portals. Only one connection can be active at a time; however, you can switch your active portal to add content from different portals to a project.
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 
. The licensing portal can be different from the active portal. If you have a Single Use or Concurrent Use license, there is no licensing portal.
Yes. You can change the settings of many project and application options.
Open the General options for the application. Click Create projects > On a local or network computer. Under Project location, you can set a default path for storing new projects.
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.
Yes. You can search for, create, and edit shortcuts on the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box. You can also refer to the complete list of default ArcGIS Pro keyboard shortcuts.
You can work with recent projects in several ways. You can pin a project, remove it from the list, or show its location in Microsoft File Explorer. You can also sort and find recent projects and display them as tiles with thumbnail images.
of a catalog view, you can access and manage computer items as you do in Can I make folder, database, and server connections permanently available so I don't need to create them again in new projects?
Yes, you can do this in the following ways:
- Add frequently used connections to your project favorites.
- Create a project template that contains the connections.
If you start ArcGIS Pro without a template, your untitled project contains no maps or scenes. To enable the commands on the Map tab, you must insert a map or scene. If your project contains maps or scenes, but none are open, you must open a closed map or scene.
I moved some datasets on my computer and now the map layers in my project are broken. What should I do?
You can update the data sources for the map layers in your project in various ways.
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 advanced 3D analysis and to run most geoprocessing tools in the 3D Analyst toolbox.
Yes. On the ArcGIS Pro settings page, click Options and open the Map and Scene options. Under Basemap, click None. A basemap layer is required, however, to share a map to the web.
Yes. Bing Maps can be used in all ArcGIS products.
Yes, because you can automatically upgrade the environment. With each ArcGIS Pro release, the packages in the default arcgispro-py3 environment are upgraded to include the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. In the Package Manger, custom environments created with an older version of ArcGIS Pro are detected and can be upgraded for compatibility with the latest version.
Yes. ArcGIS Pro automatically backs up your work by default and allows you to recover your project.
Accessibility
Yes. See the Esri Accessibility Conformance Reports and Esri Legal Accessibility for more information about product conformance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Yes. See Accessibility in ArcGIS Pro for a general overview of accessible functionality. Features include keyboard navigation and shortcuts, color vision deficiency simulation, support for screen readers, and the ability to create accessible PDFs.
Yes. In ArcGIS Pro, a Color Vision Deficiency Simulator tool is available, as well as color schemes that are color-blind safe. Enhanced-contrast basemaps are available from the Basemap gallery 
.
Help
To open the help system, click the View Help button 
at the top of the application window. You can also access the online help by opening a web browser to https://pro.arcgis.com.
You can also open the offline and online help from the Help tab on the ribbon.
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. In the ArcGIS Pro settings, open the General options. Under Help source, choose Offline help from your computer.
In an open project, you can find tools and commands—including geoprocessing tools—by searching in the Command Search box at the top of the application window. From the list of search results, you can run commands, open tools for further configuration, or open help topics.
The product life cycle chart lists all release and retirement dates, and other related information, for ArcGIS Pro 3.3 and earlier versions.
Yes. You can access learning resources from the start page, the settings page, or the Help tab on the ribbon. Learning resources include tutorials, tutorial series, blog posts, and more.
You can connect with other users and ask questions in the ArcGIS Pro space in Esri Community.
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.
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.