Remove or delete project items

You can remove a project item if you no longer need it in a project. You can delete an item to erase it permanently from a project file (.aprx) or from the file system.

Remove items

You can remove an item from a project if you previously added or created it through an item connection. For example, you can remove a folder from the Folders container , a database from the Databases container , or a style from the Styles container .

Removing an item from a project makes it unavailable to the project. It does not delete files on the file system. After removing an item, you can add it to the project again if you need it.

The following items can't be removed from a project:

• Items stored inside the project file, such as maps, layouts, and reports. These items don't exist independently of the project.
• Items accessed through a connection, such as subfolders under a folder connection or feature classes under a database connection. Only item connections can be removed.
• Required items, such as the project home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox.

Remove an item from a project

Follow these steps to remove an item from a project:

1. In the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or the Contents pane of a catalog view, browse to a project container, such as Folders , Databases , or Toolboxes , and select an item.
2. Right-click the selected item and click Remove From Project .

   The item is removed from the project.

   Tip:

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

Delete items

You can use ArcGIS Pro to delete an item if the item allows this operation and you have appropriate permissions. Items that can be deleted fall into three categories:

• Items stored inside the project file, such as maps, layouts, reports, and charts
• Items stored on a local or network computer, such as file geodatabases, toolboxes, notebooks, folders, and the contents of these items
• Remote items such as servers, cloud stores, and databases

When you delete an item stored inside the project file or on the file system, the item no longer exists. When you delete a remote item, its connection file—which is stored on the file system—no longer exists.

You can usually delete an item either from a project container or by browsing to it from a folder connection. For example, if you add a file geodatabase to a project, you can delete it from the Databases container or from a folder connection that contains the geodatabase. You can't delete a folder that is a folder connection.

If you delete a composite item or an item with dependent items, multiple items are deleted. For example, if you delete a shapefile, all its constituent files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, and so on) are deleted. If you delete a geodatabase feature class or table that participates in a relationship class, the relationship class is also deleted.

In some cases, deleting an item may fail. For example, you can't delete an item that is currently in use in another application or another instance of ArcGIS Pro. When a delete operation fails, an explanatory message appears.

Tip:

Project files (.aprx) can't be directly deleted in ArcGIS Pro. You can delete a project file in File Explorer as long as the project is not open. If the project is stored in a system folder (the default), you can delete the project by deleting its containing folder in either ArcGIS Pro or File Explorer. This also deletes any other resources stored in the folder such as the project's default geodatabase and default toolbox.

Delete portal items

If you are signed in to an active portal and have privileges to create, update, and delete content, you can delete items in My Content from the Catalog pane, catalog views, or browse dialog boxes. You cannot delete items that are delete-protected or that are necessary to support other portal items. In these cases, you may need to manage and delete the items in your ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal. Learn more about delete operations and layer dependencies in ArcGIS Online or the corresponding topic in the ArcGIS Enterprise help.

Delete an item

Follow these steps to delete an item:

1. In the Catalog pane, a catalog view, or the Contents pane of a catalog view, browse to an item and select it. Optionally, press the Shift or Ctrl keys to select multiple items.
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 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.

   Caution:

   When you delete an item from ArcGIS Pro, you are prompted to confirm the deletion. In most cases, the deletion cannot be undone. Deleted items cannot be recovered from the file system.

3. On the Delete prompt, click Yes.

   The item is deleted.

Delete items in the Favorites collection

You can't delete a favorite item from the Favorites collection. If a favorite item contains other items, you can delete the contained items. For example, you can browse to an item inside a favorite folder and delete that item from disk. However, the recommended practice is to delete items on the Project tab of the Catalog pane, in a catalog view, or in the Contents pane of a catalog view.

You can remove favorite items from the Favorites collection with the Remove From Favorites command on the item's context menu.