Create apps from maps

You can create a web app with a map using a variety of app builders. You can choose an app template with minimal to no configuration required, use one of the available builders to customize an app before publishing, or use ArcGIS Hub to create a website. Each of these options offers various functionality, such as query and edit tools, social media feeds, side-by-side map viewers, and layouts and color schemes.

Note:

Your organization may have specified brand colors or a logo to apply to apps created by members of your organization. When you create an app that supports these Shared theme settings, the specified settings will be applied instead of the default theme of the app.

When a published web app is based on a map, any changes made to the map, including its extent, layers, description, and so on, are reflected in the web app. If a map that was available to everyone in the organization is made private (or deleted), the map no longer appears in the app.

Tip:

To share an app publicly that contains subscriber content, you can configure it to allow access to the content through your organizational subscription. Your subscription will incur any credit costs. To determine how a specific app builder handles subscriber content, refer to the respective app documentation.

To create a web app from a map, use one of the following methods:

  • On the content page, click the Create app button.
  • On the web map item page, click the Create Web App button.
  • In Map Viewer, open the web map and click the Create app button on the Contents (dark) toolbar.
  • In Map Viewer Classic, open the web map and click the Share button.

The following table lists which app builder is available for each method:

App builderMap ViewerMap Viewer ClassicItem pageContent page

ArcGIS Configurable Apps

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

ArcGIS Dashboards

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

ArcGIS Experience Builder

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

ArcGIS Hub

No

No

No

Yes

ArcGIS Instant Apps

Yes

Yes*

Yes

Yes

ArcGIS StoryMaps

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

ArcGIS Web AppBuilder

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

*You can access the Instant Apps templates using the Configurable Apps workflow; however, this method takes you directly to the configuration window instead of opening the Instant Apps template gallery. To take full advantage of Instant Apps, create your app using one of the other methods.

Note:

Web AppBuilder, Dashboards, Experience Builder, and ArcGIS Hub require an organizational account.

Create an app from the content page

Complete the following steps to create an app from the content page:

  1. If necessary, verify that you are signed in with the privileges to create content, and have access to the app builder you are using.
  2. At the top of the site, click Content and click the My Content tab.
  3. Click Create app and choose an app builder.
  4. Depending on your choice of app builder, do the following:
    • For the app builders listed below, you are taken directly to the app builder and can begin creating your app.
    • For Configurable Apps, choose an app template (using the filters to narrow your search), and click Create Web App.
      Tip:

      You can also access the Instant Apps templates from this window. For the best experience with Instant Apps, create your app from the Instant Apps page, which validates if your map meets each app’s requirements. You can preview your map as an app with the standard settings and publish it as is, or open the configuration window to make changes.

    • For Web AppBuilder, choose 2D.
  5. Type a title, tags, and a summary.
  6. If your organization has set up content categories, click Assign Category and select up to 20 categories to help people find your app. You can also use the Filter categories box to narrow the list of categories.
  7. Optionally, select a different folder in My Content in which to save your app.
  8. Depending on your app, do one of the following:
    • For Web AppBuilder, click OK and continue creating your app. Refer to the app documentation for details.
    • For Configurable Apps, click Done. In the window that opens, choose a map to use in the app and configure other components in the app, such as the theme, widgets, interactivity, and more.
  9. If you chose an Instant Apps template (with the express or full setup experience), click Publish to save and publish your changes (or you can return to the configuration from your app's item page to make changes to the draft and publish later). Otherwise, click Save and click Close when you're finished.

Your app will be added as an unshared item in My Content. To make your app accessible to others, share it.