Manage add-ins

An add-in is custom functionality created by developers or users with the ArcGIS Pro SDK 3.4 for .NET. Add-ins integrate seamlessly with ArcGIS Pro. In many cases, add-ins customize the user interface, providing a new tool or set of tools that appears on the Add-In ribbon tab, other tabs, or other areas of the application such as custom panes.

Note:

ArcGIS Pro 3.0 and later releases will only load add-ins that have been compiled with ArcGIS Pro SDK 3.0 and later versions. See the ProConcepts 3.0 Migration Guide for more information.

When the DynamicMenu add-in is installed, a custom tool appears on the Add-In tab. The tool allows you to select multiple features from a layer and display a context menu listing all of them.

An add-in is packaged as a single compressed file with the .esriAddInX extension. This is a simple file type that can be sent by email, downloaded from a portal, or exchanged in the same ways as other ordinary files.

Add-ins can be installed to a default local folder with an installation utility or loaded from a folder designated as a well-known folder. Both methods are described in the sections below. Add-ins appear on the Add-In Manager page in the ArcGIS Pro settings.

To create your own add-ins, you need the ArcGIS Pro SDK. The Esri Developer site has tutorials to help you build your first add-in.

Caution:

Add-ins may introduce security risks or lead to unstable software behavior. It is important to know and trust the source of an add-in.

Install an add-in with the installation utility

When you install an add-in with the installation utility, the add-in is copied to this default location: <System Drive>\Users\<username>\Documents\ArcGIS\AddIns\ArcGISPro. Each add-in is stored in a folder with a unique alphanumeric name. Before copying the file, the utility checks to see if a newer version of the add-in already exists in the location. If it does, you are prompted whether to overwrite the newer version.

1. In Microsoft File Explorer, browse to the folder location of an add-in file (*.esriAddInX) on your computer or a network drive.
2. Double-click the file to open the Esri ArcGIS Add-In Installation Utility window.

   Review the information in the window.

3. To continue, click Install Add-In.

   The add-in is copied to the default location and installed. (The add-in file also remains in its original location.) A message that the installation succeeded appears.

4. Click OK on the installation message.
5. If ArcGIS Pro is open, exit and restart the application.

   The add-in is now available for use.

   Note:

   If the add-in was written for a 2.x version of ArcGIS Pro, and you are running a 3.x version of the software, a warning prompt appears. If you proceed with the installation, the add-in is copied to the default location but does not load.

Load an add-in from a well-known folder

You can designate a local or network folder as a well-known location for add-ins. On startup, ArcGIS Pro will check this folder and automatically load any add-ins that it finds there.

Designating a well-known folder on a network drive is a convenient way for many users in a workplace to use the same add-ins. However, it may cause ArcGIS Pro to start more slowly. If you use a network folder, it is recommended that you use a subfolder of the root folder and that this subfolder contain only add-in files.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro settings page in one of the following ways:
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
   • From the start page, click the Settings tab .
2. In the list of side tabs, click Add-In Manager.
3. At the top of the Add-In Manager page, click the Options tab.
4. On the Options tab, click Add Folder.
5. On the browse dialog box, browse to the folder that you want to designate as a well-known folder.
6. Click the folder to select it and click OK.

   

   The path to the folder appears in the list of well-known folders.

   Note:

   By default, the option is selected to load all add-ins that are found in the well-known folder. You can choose a different option if you want to load only add-ins provided by Esri or only those digitally signed by a trusted publisher.

7. Exit ArcGIS Pro.
8. Use File Explorer to copy one or more .esriAddInX files into the well-known folder in its location on disk.
9. Start ArcGIS Pro.

   Add-ins in the well-known folder are loaded and appear on the Add-Ins tab of the Add-In Manager page under Shared Add-Ins. The folder is checked for newly added or deleted add-ins each time you start ArcGIS Pro.

   

   Legacy:

   Prior to ArcGIS Pro 3.4, add-ins in well-known folders appeared under My Add-Ins.

View add-ins

You can see your available add-ins in the Add-In Manager page.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro settings page in one of the following ways:
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
   • From the start page, click the Settings tab .
2. In the list of side tabs, click Add-In Manager.
3. In the Add-In Manager, on the Add-Ins tab, click an add-in to view information about it.

   

Delete add-ins

The steps to delete an add-in that you no longer need are different depending on whether the add-in appears under My Add-Ins or Shared Add-Ins.

Delete an add-in from My Add-Ins

If you no longer need an add-in that you installed to My Add-Ins, you can delete it from the Add-In Manager page. Deleting an installed add-in uninstalls it from ArcGIS Pro and moves the .esriAddInX file to the system recycle bin.

1. Open the Add-In Manager page and select an add-in as described in the View add-ins section above.
2. Click Delete this Add-In.

   

   The add-in is marked for deletion but remains available in your current ArcGIS Pro session.

   

3. Exit and restart ArcGIS Pro.

   The add-in is uninstalled and removed from the Add-In Manager page.

Delete an add-in from Shared Add-Ins

Add-ins in the Shared Add-Ins section cannot be deleted using the Add-In Manager page. You can delete these add-ins using File Explorer, if you have write permission to do so. You should be careful not to delete an add-in that may be used by others.

If you don't want to load a shared add-in, you can use the Add-In Manager page to remove the well-known folder from the list. On the Options tab, click the folder in the list and click Remove Folder. Restart ArcGIS Pro. The add-in will not load in your projects but will continue to load for others.

Note:

If your software administrator has configured ArcGIS Pro to use a well-known folder through the system registry, you may not be able to remove the folder. See the Make administrative settings section below for more information.

Disable add-ins

If ArcGIS Pro behaves in unexpected ways or stops working after you install add-ins, you can disable add-ins by starting ArcGIS Pro from the Windows command prompt with a special parameter. If the software behaves normally when add-ins are disabled, you may need to delete one or more add-ins.

To disable add-ins, start ArcGIS Pro from the command line with the following command:

"%ProgramFiles%\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\ArcGISPro.exe" /disableaddins

No add-ins appear in the Add-In Manager page. To reenable add-ins, exit and restart ArcGIS Pro normally.

Make administrative settings

As a software administrator, you can make registry edits to block user access to add-ins, designate well-known folders, and set security levels for add-ins.

In the Windows Registry Editor, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > ESRI > ArcGISPro > Settings, create an Add-In Folders key and use string values to designate well-known folders. Add-in files placed in these folders will appear as shared add-ins in the Add-In Manager page. For more information on making these registry edits, see ArcGIS Pro Registry Keys.