Remove or delete project items

You can remove a project item if you no longer need it in a project but don't want to delete it from your computer. Alternatively, you can delete an item permanently.

Remove items

You can remove an item from a project if you previously added or created it through an item connection. For example, in the Catalog pane, 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. They can be deleted but not removed.
• Items contained by a connected item, such as subfolders of a folder connection, or feature classes in a connected database. Only the connected item itself can be removed.
• Required items, such as the project home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox.

Follow these steps to remove an item from a project:

1. In the Catalog pane, click the Project tab.

   Alternatively, make the Contents pane of a catalog view active.

2. Expand an item container, such as Folders , Databases , or Toolboxes , and select an item.
3. Right-click the selected item and click Remove From Project .

   The item is removed.

   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 project items

You can use ArcGIS Pro to delete an item that has been added to a project if the item allows this operation and you have appropriate permissions. Items that can be deleted fall into the following categories: items stored inside the project file, items stored on a local or network computer, and items accessed through a connection file. These categories are described below.

You can usually delete an item either from an item 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 in the Catalog pane or from a folder connection that contains the geodatabase. However, you can't delete a folder that is currently 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, 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.

Items stored inside the project file

Items stored inside the project file include maps, scenes, layouts, reports, link charts, and presentations. When you delete an item stored inside the project file, it no longer exists. If the item is linked to a portal item, such as a web map or web scene, you delete the copy of the item that exists in your project—you do not delete the portal item itself.

You can use ArcGIS Pro to delete portal items that you own, but you must do so from My Content .

Items stored on a local or network computer

Items stored on a local or network computer include folders, file and mobile geodatabases, toolboxes, notebooks, and the contents of these items. Some item types, such as styles, can be removed from a project but can't be deleted in ArcGIS Pro.

If an item contains other items, deleting it also deletes its contents. For example, if you delete a file geodatabase, you also delete its feature classes and any other items it contains. Some items, such as catalog datasets and mosaic datasets, reference files without containing them. Deleting these items does not delete the files they reference.

Items accessed through connection files

Items accessed through connection files include servers, enterprise geodatabases, cloud stores, multifile feature connections, STAC connections, and BIM cloud connections. When you delete these items, you only delete the connection file—which is stored on your computer or a network drive—not the item itself. You may be able to delete the contents of an item, such as feature classes in an enterprise geodatabase, if you have appropriate permissions.

Delete project items

Follow these steps to delete a project item:

1. In the Catalog pane, click the Project tab.

   Alternatively, make the Contents pane of a catalog view active.

2. Expand an item container, browse to an item, and click it to select it.
3. Press the Delete key on the keyboard or right click the item and click Delete .

   If the Delete key doesn't work or the Delete command does not appear on the context menu (or is disabled), the item cannot be deleted in ArcGIS Pro.

4. On the Delete prompt, click Yes.

   Caution:

   Deleted project items cannot be recovered. They are not sent to the operating system's recycle bin and cannot be restored with the Undo command .

Delete portal items

If you are signed in to an active portal and have the necessary privileges, you can delete items that you own from the My Content portal collection in the Catalog pane or a catalog view. 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.

Follow these steps to delete a portal item:

1. In the Catalog pane, click the Portal tab and click My Content .

   Alternatively, in the Contents pane of a catalog view, under Portal, click My Content .

2. In the Catalog pane or catalog view, browse to an item and select it. Optionally, press the Shift or Ctrl keys to select multiple items.
3. 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	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 .

   Note:

   When you delete a portal item in ArcGIS Pro, you are prompted to confirm the deletion. After deletion, if your ArcGIS Online organization has opted to use the recycle bin (the default), deleted items can be recovered for 14 days. After 14 days, they are permanently deleted. Deleted items must be recovered using the portal application. If your ArcGIS Online organization has opted out of using the recycle bin, item deletion is immediate and permanent. The recycle bin is not available in ArcGIS Enterprise organizations.

4. On the Delete prompt, click Yes.

   The item is deleted.

   Tip:

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

Delete items in the Favorites collection

You can't delete a favorite item from the Favorites collection. If a favorite item contains other items, it is possible to delete the contained items. However, the recommended practice is to delete items in the Catalog pane or a catalog view.

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

Delete projects

Project files (.aprx) can't be directly deleted in ArcGIS Pro. You can delete a project file in Microsoft File Explorer as long as the project is not open. You can delete other items or data associated with the project if you are sure they are not used by other projects and you no longer need them.

The default project location is the \Documents\ArcGIS\Projects folder in your user profile. To see the file path of an open project, click the drop-down arrow next to the project name at the top of ArcGIS Pro. Alternatively, click the Project tab on the ribbon and click Info in the list of side tabs.

The project name is shown with the pointer hovering over the link to show the full path. You can click the link to open the folder in File Explorer.

To see the paths of recent projects, click the Project tab on the ribbon, click Open in the list of side tabs, and view the list of recent projects.