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 control which ArcGIS Pro updates are available to my users?
- 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?
- What is a licensing portal?
- What happens if I get disconnected from the licensing portal?
- 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 existing 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?
Functionality
- What is an ArcGIS Pro project?
- Do I need to create a project every time I start ArcGIS Pro?
- Can multiple users in my organization make changes to the same project at the same time?
- 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?
- Can I change the default ArcGIS Pro settings?
- How can I quickly find the tools and commands I need in the ArcGIS Pro user interface?
- Can 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?
- Where can I find information about new functionality?
- How is AI used in ArcGIS Pro?
- What is semantic search?
- How can an organization administrator manage the use of AI in ArcGIS Pro?
Accessibility
Help
- How do I get help for ArcGIS Pro?
- Can I use the help system if I work offline?
- Where can I find information on ArcGIS Pro releases?
- When a new version of ArcGIS Pro is released, why are some help topics not available in my language?
- 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. Compare user types.
- 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 user types.
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 update ArcGIS Pro before updating the language pack.
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.
Yes. You can configure 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 any machine on which it is installed.
- 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, spatial analysis, advanced cartography, and GeoAI. In an ArcGIS organization, license levels are associated with user types.
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.
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.
If you sign out of the portal that validates your Named User license, or if your organization administrator ends your session, you receive a toast notification that you have 60 minutes to save your work. After 60 minutes, ArcGIS Pro closes automatically. If you lose internet connectivity while you are signed in to your licensing portal, you are notified that you have 24 hours to save your work. After 24 hours, ArcGIS Pro closes automatically.
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.
If I have a Single Use or Concurrent Use license, can I access web maps, layers, and other content from a portal?
Yes. A Single Use or Concurrent Use license allows you to use ArcGIS Pro without signing in to an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal. You may be able to access publicly shared resources from ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Living Atlas without being signed in. However, to access portal content shared to your organization or to groups, you must sign in to a portal with ArcGIS organization credentials. You can do this while using a Single Use or Concurrent Use license.
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 side 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?
Yes, if ArcGIS Pro is provided through an ArcGIS Desktop deployment. In this case, you can move the default ArcGIS Online add-on Named User license to ArcGIS Enterprise by contacting Esri Customer Service or your distributor.
Note:
When moving ArcGIS Pro licenses from ArcGIS Online to ArcGIS Enterprise, the corresponding user types move to ArcGIS Enterprise as well.
ArcGIS Pro licenses that are provided through user type purchases cannot be converted to a different license type.
ArcGIS Pro licenses that are obtained as an entitlement through an ArcGIS Desktop license can be converted to Single Use or converted to Concurrent Use licenses through My Esri if you have permission to take licensing actions in My Esri.
Note:
ArcGIS Pro Named User licenses must be converted to the license type (Single Use or Concurrent Use) that matches the ArcGIS Desktop license through which they are provisioned. 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.
Can Named User licenses be converted to Single Use or Concurrent Use licenses if they are checked out for offline use?
Yes. Named User licenses can be converted in My Esri whether or not they are checked out. However, license conversion reduces the number of add-on Named User licenses in your ArcGIS organization. Administrators may need to unassign add-on Named User licenses to ensure that the number of licenses assigned does not exceed the number available.
Functionality
An ArcGIS Pro project is a single file, with the extension .aprx, 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 or used by the project. You can create a project on a local or network drive. You can create a portal project on an ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later version portal.
No. For some tasks, such as file management or data exploration, you may not need to create and save a project. In those situations, you can start without a project template. Any items you create during your session will be deleted when you close ArcGIS Pro. You have the option to save your work as a project at any time during the session.
Yes. Portal projects can be opened and updated by many users at the same time. Each user's changes are uploaded to the project. When conflicts arise—for example, when two users make changes to the same map—a conflict resolution workflow is used to decide which changes to keep and which to discard. Portal projects are available in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later versions. They are not available in ArcGIS Online.
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 currently supported. See ArcGIS Pro and Cloud Storage Services for more information. However, if you have an ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later deployment, you can store projects in your portal.
On the ArcGIS Pro start page, click the Settings tab and click the Portals side tab to manage portal connections.
You can store connections to multiple portals, such as ArcGIS Online and different ArcGIS Enterprise portals. However, only one portal can be active at a time. You can switch your active portal to add content from different portals to a project.
Yes. You can change the settings of many project and application options.
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.
Yes. You can change the default project location by setting the general options for creating projects.
Yes, you can customize the user interface in the following ways:
- Add or remove commands by customizing the ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar.
- Set the application theme to dark or light.
- Set user interface options such as context menu behavior, default placement of views, and the size of text and icons.
- Create custom pane sets.
- Change the ribbon display options.
Yes. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box to view, create, modify, and export shortcuts. By default, keyboard shortcuts appear on context menu commands.
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. For portal projects, you can open the project's item page in a web browser. 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 various ways:
- Add frequently used connections to your project favorites.
- Create a project template that contains the connections. (This option is not available for portal projects.)
- Use the Save Project As command on a portal project to make a new project with the same 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.
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. In the Map and Scene options, you can specify the default basemap for maps and the default basemap for scenes. One of the options is not to use a basemap. However, a basemap layer is required 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. On the Package Manager page, 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.
New functionality in the current release is summarized in What's new in ArcGIS Pro 3.5. To learn about planned enhancements, see the ArcGIS Pro Roadmap on Esri Community.
AI is currently implemented in ArcGIS Pro in three ways. Of these, GeoAI and the ArcGIS Pro AI Assistant use generative AI technology.
- GeoAI allows users to perform geospatial analysis and make predictions based on vector, raster, and time series data.
- AI models can be used to find user interface settings, to find and suggest geoprocessing tools, and to help build geocoding locators. They are optionally installed components of ArcGIS Pro.
- The ArcGIS Pro AI Assistant is available as a beta opportunity to Early Adopter Community members. See the ArcGIS Pro AI Assistant (Beta) documentation to learn about its capabilities.
Esri is exploring the benefits of using generative AI to increase the productivity of ArcGIS Pro users. New capabilities will be released progressively.
Semantic search is an enhanced search technology that provides more robust results than traditional search. It is one of the AI models that is an optionally installed component of ArcGIS Pro. When installed, semantic search is used in several areas of the application, including Command Search, geoprocessing tool search, and other parts of the user interface.
GeoAI tools are enabled with the installation of deep learning libraries. AI models are managed as optionally installed components of ArcGIS Pro. Access to the ArcGIS Pro AI Assistant and other ArcGIS AI Assistants can be allowed or blocked at the ArcGIS organization level.
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. A general overview of accessible functionality can be found in Accessibility in ArcGIS Pro. Features include keyboard navigation and shortcuts, color vision deficiency simulation, support for screen readers, and the ability to create accessible PDFs.
Yes. See Use ArcGIS Pro with a keyboard and Use the offline help system with a keyboard for more information.
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 for maps and scenes are available from the Basemap gallery 
.
Help
Click the View Help button 
at the top of the ArcGIS Pro window, or press the F1 key anywhere in the application. You can also open the help system in other ways. Context-sensitive help is available for geoprocessing tools and many user interface commands.
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.
The product life cycle chart lists all release and retirement dates, and other related information, for ArcGIS Pro 3.5 and earlier versions.
When a new version of ArcGIS Pro is released, why are some help topics not available in my language?
There is a short delay between the publication of online help in English and the translation of new and updated topics to supported languages.
Yes. You can access learning resources from the start page, the settings page, or the Help tab on the ribbon. Learning resources include tutorials, web courses, 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 Pro 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.