Add files as items

You can add supported files from your computer, a shared network location, or a cloud location. When you add a file, an item is created in My content that you can share with others so they can download and use the files.

Other reasons to add files as items include the following:

• Use the URL of a publicly shared comma-separated values (CSV) file (.csv) as a web layer—When you add a .csv file and share it with everyone (public), you and others can copy the URL that appears on the item page to use the .csv file as a web layer.
• Use the URL of a publicly shared image file—If you have an organizational account, you can add image files and share them with everyone to make a URL available for the image. This allows you and others to copy the URL from the item page and use the URL to show images in web apps and pop-ups.
• If you have the appropriate publishing privileges, you can publish hosted layers from specific types of files, such as a hosted feature layer from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or a vector tile layer from a vector tile package.

  For more information about publishing from files, see the following:

  • Publish hosted elevation layers
  • Publish hosted feature layers
  • Publish from files on a cloud drive
  • Publish hosted imagery layers
  • Publish hosted tile layers from files
  • Publish hosted vector tile layers from files
  • Publish hosted 3D layers

Note:

You must sign in with an organizational account to add specific types of files. These are noted with an asterisk in the list of supported file types in What can you add to ArcGIS Online?

Complete the following steps to add a file to ArcGIS Online:

1. Verify that you are signed in and have the privilege to create, update, and delete content.
2. On the My content tab of the content page, click New item.
3. Choose the location where the file is stored.
   • Your device—Browse to the location of the file on your local machine or a directory on a network share and click Open.

     Alternatively, drag the file into the drop zone at the top of the New item window.

   • Google Drive—Sign in to your Google Drive account.
   • Dropbox—Sign in to your Dropbox account.
   • OneDrive—Sign in to your Microsoft OneDrive account.
4. If you add a .zip file, specify the following:
   1. Choose the content type from the Item type drop-down menu.
   2. If the item type is a shapefile, file geodatabase, or photos with locations, choose the option to add the file only.
   3. If the item type is a code sample, choose the language of the sample.
   4. If the item is an ArcPad package, choose the type.
   5. Click Next.
5. If you add a PDF that contains geographic coordinates and projection information, check the box next to This is a Geospatial PDF.
6. Provide a title.
7. Choose a folder in My content where you want to save the item.

   Alternatively, you can choose Create new folder from the menu and type a folder name to save the item in a new folder.

   Folder names cannot contain 4-byte Unicode characters.

8. If your organization has set up content categories, click Assign categories and select up to 20 categories to help users find the item.

   You can also start typing a category name to narrow the list of categories.

9. Optionally, type tags that describe the item.

   Separate the terms with commas (for example, Federal land is considered one tag, and Federal, land is considered two tags).

   As you type, you can choose any of the suggested tags that appear; suggestions are generated from tags you previously added.

10. Optionally, provide a summary that describes the item.
11. Click Save.

Once you add the file, it appears in your content.

Configure item details and share the item if you have sharing privileges.