General
- How do I get the app?
- Why can't I sign in?
- What is the licensing of the app?
- Can mobile workers open Field Maps from emails, websites, or apps?
- How can I give feedback on the app?
- Can I install a previous version of the app?
- Is Field Maps supported on Windows?
- Can I work offline?
- Does Field Maps support indoor positioning systems (IPS)?
- Can I use basemaps copied (sideloaded) to the device?
- Why are basemap layers no longer visible after zooming in on the map?
- Can I generate routes and get directions in the app?
- Can I download all of the attachments from a feature layer at once?
- Which Map Viewer should I use when creating and editing maps for use in Field Maps?
- Does using Field Maps consume credits?
- What is planned for Field Maps?
- Where can I find additional resources for Field Maps?
Web app
- Can I use Map Viewer Classic when editing a map configured with the Field Maps Designer web app?
- Will the forms and feature templates I configure in Field Maps override the symbology, pop-up configurations, and forms that were set up in Map Viewer Classic?
- Why won't my map load?
- Why do the fields in my form no longer exist?
- How do I migrate the Field Maps Designer web app if I'm upgrading from ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 to a later version?
- Can I copy forms between maps?
- Can I delete fields from layers and tables using Field Maps Designer?
- What features are available in Field Maps Designer on ArcGIS Enterprise?
GPS accuracy and receivers
Location sharing set up
- How do I set up location sharing and authorize ArcGIS Field Maps?
- How do I deploy ArcGIS Enterprise to support location sharing in Field Maps?
- Does Esri have an API for developers to use location sharing?
- Do I need ArcGIS GeoEvent Server to use the location sharing capability in ArcGIS Field Maps with ArcGIS Enterprise?
- Can I use ArcGIS GeoAnalytics Server to analyze location tracks?
- Where can I learn more about the track layers used for location sharing?
Location sharing in the mobile app
- How does location sharing work in the Field Maps mobile app?
- Can an organization automatically start and stop location sharing on a mobile device?
- Can mobile workers see the locations of other mobile workers in the Field Maps mobile app?
- Will using location sharing in Field Maps drain my device's battery?
- Does location sharing in Field Maps work offline?
- How does location sharing work when there is no GPS signal?
- Will Field Maps record locations indoors?
- How are tracks removed from the device?
- What happens when a mobile worker signs out of the app?
- What location mode is recommended for Android devices?
- How is the value for the location track's activity attribute determined?
- Why do some locations show stationary activity with a nonzero speed?
General
ArcGIS Field Maps includes two apps—the Field Maps mobile app and the Field Maps Designer web app.
The Field Maps mobile app is available on Google Play for Android devices and the App Store for iOS and watchOS devices.
Note:
If you're using an Android device and can't access Google Play, see How do I download ArcGIS Field Maps (Android) without access to Google Play.
The Field Maps Designer web app is accessed through your portal. How you access it depends on the software you're using:
- If you're using ArcGIS Online, access Field Maps Designer through the app launcher or by going to https://www.arcgis.com/apps/fieldmaps.
- If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, access Field Maps Designer through the app launcher or by going to https://host.domain.com/webadaptor/apps/fieldmaps/ (where host, domain, and webadaptor are replaced by the information about your portal).
Note:
Field Maps Designer is installed by default in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later. To use Field Maps Designer in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1, you must install the app.
There are a couple of common issues that may occur when trying to sign in. Verify that you typed your username and password correctly. Confirm that your account is part of an ArcGIS organization (ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise). If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, verify the URL to your portal instance, for example, https://myportal.mycompany.com/arcgis.
ArcGIS Field Maps is available to members of ArcGIS organizations. This includes those with a subscription to ArcGIS Online or an account on ArcGIS Enterprise. For more information, see ArcGIS account requirements for Field Maps and Licensing Terms of Use.
Yes. When you use Field Maps links in your app, website, or email, your users can open Field Maps. You can specify a particular portal that should be used or map that should open, as well as the location the map should center on or a feature to search for. If you want to start capturing an asset or observation, specify the layer you want to add a feature to, any attributes you want to set, the value to assign to each attribute, and whether there is an application to return to when the capture is completed. See Open your map from a link for more information.
The ArcGIS Field Maps team wants to hear from you about the app. If you have feedback or inquiries, send an email to ArcGISFieldMaps@esri.com. You can also provide feedback on the ArcGIS Field Maps Esri Community page. If you're experiencing issues with the app, contact Esri Technical Support. If you have ideas for the app, share them through ArcGIS Ideas.
No, reverting to a previous version of the app is not supported. For details, see the Product Life Cycle for ArcGIS Field Maps.
Caution:
ArcGIS Field Maps on Windows 11 has been deprecated and will be retired on March 5, 2025. For more information, see the deprecation notice.
Yes, Field Maps is supported on Windows 11 devices with Windows Subsystem for Android. To learn how to install Field Maps on a Windows 11 device, see How to install Field Maps on Windows.
Note:
The Android help topics on the Field Maps documentation site also apply to Field Maps on Windows.
The Field Maps mobile app on Windows currently has the following limitations:
- Bluetooth and serial connections are not supported on Windows Subsystem for Android, meaning there are additional steps for connecting Field Maps to a GPS receiver for high-accuracy data collection. For more information, see How to connect Field Maps (Windows) to an external GPS receiver.
- Navigating folder structures is not supported, meaning you cannot sideload (copy) basemaps or .mmpk files to the Windows device.
- Integration with navigation apps, including ArcGIS Navigator, is not supported.
Yes, Field Maps supports working offline with web maps and mobile map packages (MMPKs). To learn more about working offline with MMPKs and web maps, see Download maps.
For details on making web maps and MMPKs for offline use, see Prepare maps for download.
Yes, Field Maps supports indoor positioning systems with ArcGIS IPS. If you open a map in the Field Maps mobile app that's configured for IPS, Field Maps will automatically detect IPS beacons within a building and use them to generate your location in the app. To learn how to set up indoor positioning, see Get started with ArcGIS IPS.
Yes, you can copy a map tile package (.tpk or .tpkx) or vector tile package (.vtpk) directly to the device or SD card. Copied basemaps are available for use when working online or offline. To use the basemap on the device as the default basemap when downloading a map area, the map must reference it. If working offline, the copied basemap must overlap the extent of the map area and must have the same spatial reference as the default basemap. See Copy a basemap for more information.
Field Maps honors the maximum scale range set for basemap layers. If you zoom in beyond this range, the basemap layers will no longer be visible on the map. To work around this constraint, see the following support article: Basemap layers are no longer visible after zooming into the map using ArcGIS Field Maps.
While Field Maps doesn't generate routes or provide directions in the app, it does pass locations to routing apps including ArcGIS Navigator, Apple Maps, and Google Maps. When you select a location of interest (including features, search results, and dropped pins), a Directions action becomes available.
Field Maps also includes a compass that directs you to a point of interest. Use the Compass action on a feature, search result, or pin to see what direction to head and how far to go to get to the item.
Note:
See What is planned for Field Maps to learn more about the navigation and routing capabilities coming to Field Maps in future releases.
Yes, you can download all attachments from a feature layer using ArcGIS API for Python and the download_attachments Python script.
If you're using ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 or later, you can use the new Map Viewer or Map Viewer Classic. However, there are certain features in Map Viewer Classic that aren't currently available in the new Map Viewer, so the version you use depends on what your map requires. See the Field Maps and Map Viewer blog post for more information.
If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 or 10.9, you can use Map Viewer Classic or Map Viewer . However, if you use the Field Maps Designer web app to configure the form, you must use Map Viewer when editing the map. If you use Map Viewer Classic to edit or save the map, the form you configured in Field Maps Designer will be lost.
Field Maps does not consume credits; however, certain functions from ArcGIS Online that can be used in Field Maps do. For example, in hosted feature layers, adding features consumes Feature Storage credits, and adding photo attachments to features consumes File Storage credits. For details about credit consumption for these and other ArcGIS Online functions, see Credits in the ArcGIS Online View status topic. For more information about how credits are used in ArcGIS Online, see Understand credits.
In future releases, Field Maps will integrate the capabilities of ArcGIS Workforce and ArcGIS Navigator—bringing in assignment management and navigation. For more information on the Field Maps road plan, see What's new in ArcGIS Field Maps.
There are a variety of resources available for Field Maps, including the following:
- The ArcGIS Field Maps channel on Esri Video and the ArcGIS Field Maps playlist on YouTube
- Articles on ArcGIS Blog
- Tutorials on Learn ArcGIS
- Blog posts on Esri Community
- Implementation guides on the Field Maps Resources page
Web app
If you're using ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 or later to configure the map with Field Maps Designer, you can use either Map Viewer Classic or the new Map Viewer when editing the map.
If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 or 10.9 to configure the map with Field Maps Designer, you must use Map Viewer when editing the map. If you use Map Viewer Classic to edit the map, the changes you make in Field Maps Designer will be lost.
How do I migrate the Field Maps Designer web app if I'm upgrading from ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 to a later version?
If you're upgrading from ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 to a later version, first uninstall the Field Maps Designer web app in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1. The web app is installed by default in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later.
Note:
Uninstalling Field Maps Designer in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 does not affect the maps or data you were using in the app.
Yes, you can copy forms between maps using ArcGIS API for Python and the copy_form_between_maps Python script or ArcGIS Online Assistant. For step-by-step instructions, see the Duplicate maps and forms blog post.
Yes, you can delete fields from layers and tables while configuring the form in Field Maps Designer if there are no pending edits to the form. To delete fields, you must either own the layer or be an administrator for your organization. While configuring the form, select the fields you want to delete from the Fields list and click Delete. Once a field is deleted, it's removed from the Fields list, the underlying feature layer, all types and templates, and any pop-up configuration it's used in.
Caution:
Deleting fields is permanent and cannot be undone.
The following types of fields cannot be deleted:
- typeIDField
- subtypeField
- GUID fields, including those used as key fields in a relationship class
- Time fields
- displayField used for labels
Note:
Deleting fields using Field Maps Designer is supported in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 and later.
The features available in Field Maps Designer depend on the version of ArcGIS Enterprise that you're using. For more information, see Support for Field Maps Designer on ArcGIS Enterprise (PDF).
GPS accuracy and receivers
Field Maps supports internal GPS receivers and external GPS receivers that output NMEA sentences. See Choose a receiver for a list of NMEA sentences that Field Maps can read and a list of GPS receivers that can be used with Field Maps.
- To use a receiver with an Android device, it must be supported on Android and output NMEA0183 sentences. Choose a receiver includes a list of receivers that the Field Maps development team has used with Field Maps.
- To use a receiver with an iOS device, it must be listed in Choose a receiver as supported.
The best way to determine the accuracy level to expect from a particular external GPS receiver is to check the website of the receiver's vendor for GPS specs. If you are looking for the accuracy level of an integrated GPS receiver or if you want to compare accuracy levels of various external GPS receivers, you may find the NTDP GPS Receiver Horizontal Accuracy Reports and Tested Accuracies published by the USDA Forest Service helpful. This organization has been testing GPS receivers of various grades to determine their horizontal accuracy in different canopy cover conditions, and in some cases, different GPS settings. While Esri does not endorse the Forest Service's results, they may be a useful guide to determine which receiver best suits your organization's needs. Esri does not officially recommend any specific receiver for use with Field Maps.
Location sharing set up
To use the location sharing capability in ArcGIS Field Maps, location sharing must be enabled for your organization.
To access the location sharing capability in Field Maps, you must purchase and assign an ArcGIS Location Sharing license to each ArcGIS account that will be tracked. This license is included in the Mobile Worker user type and is available as an add-on for all other user types (including the Viewer user type). For more information, see user types in ArcGIS Online or user types in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Note:
The ArcGIS Location Sharing license is included in the Mobile Worker user type in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 and later. ArcGIS Tracker licenses assigned previously in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise are still supported.
The Track Viewer web app has its own set of requirements for viewing location tracks and creating and sharing track views. For more information, see Create track views.
The Track Viewer web app can be used to view tracks collected from Field Maps. The Track Viewer web app is accessed through your portal. How you access it depends on the software you're using:
- If you're using ArcGIS Online, access Track Viewer through the app launcher or by going to https://www.arcgis.com/apps/trackviewer.
- If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, access Track Viewer through the app launcher or by going to https://host.domain.com/webadaptor/apps/trackviewer/ (where host, domain, and webadaptor are replaced by the information about your portal).
To use the Track Viewer web app to create track views, you must be an administrator. To use the Track Viewer web app to view tracks, the view location tracks privilege is required, and the user must have track views shared with them. For more information, see privileges in ArcGIS Online or privileges in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Note:
If using ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8 or later, Track Viewer is installed by default. If using an earlier version of ArcGIS Enterprise, you must install Track Viewer. See ArcGIS Enterprise configuration of Track Viewer for additional information about the requirements for specific versions of ArcGIS Enterprise.
The location sharing capability is included with ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7 or later and requires the spatiotemporal big data store. To learn about the various deployment patterns and recommended specs, see ArcGIS Tracker Deployment Guide for ArcGIS Enterprise.
Do I need ArcGIS GeoEvent Server to use the location sharing capability in ArcGIS Field Maps with ArcGIS Enterprise?
No. Although both ArcGIS GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Field Maps use the spatiotemporal big data store, GeoEvent Server is not required to use location sharing in ArcGIS Field Maps with ArcGIS Enterprise.
However, you can complement location sharing with ArcGIS GeoEvent Server. By pairing the location sharing capabilities of ArcGIS Field Maps with the geofencing capabilities of ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, you can gain new insight into business processes. For example, you can be notified when a mobile worker has arrived at or left a work location. This insight may help you more effectively manage your field workforce.
Yes. ArcGIS GeoAnalytics Server includes many tools that can be used to provide meaningful analysis, and it is a good addition to the base deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise to learn more from your location tracks. A few examples include the following:
- Reconstruct Tracks—Create lines from track points, showing direction and generating a new line network. The line network can then be turned into a transportation network.
- Aggregate Points—Analyze coverage over an area, such as the area searched during a rescue operation, or the percentage of a utility corridor covered when performing an inspection.
- Detect Incidents—Identify rapid changes in speed.
- Find Point Clusters—Identify frequently visited locations by using a density-based clustering method on the movement of your mobile workers.
See Track layers for more information.
Location sharing in the mobile app
Mobile workers turn location sharing on and off in the Field Maps mobile app. While it's on, their location is recorded whether they are using the app or it's running in the background. On Android, a background service tracks the mobile worker even when the app is closed. On iOS, if the app is closed, location sharing can be automatically restarted in the background without user interaction if a significant location change occurs (generally a Wi-Fi or cellular network change).
Field Maps relies on fused location providers that determine location through available on-device hardware, including (but not limited to) Wi-Fi, GPS, and cellular networks. These locations are stored locally on the device until they're uploaded to the location sharing layer. The minimum distance required between points is set based on the mobile worker's activity. A minimum of 5 meters between points is required when walking, 30 meters when driving, and 10 meters for other activity types.
Note:
If battery optimization is turned off, the minimum distance required between points for all activity types is set to 1 meter.
Tracks are uploaded regularly when the mobile worker has a data connection. While the device is plugged in and either charged or charging with at least 20 percent of the battery available, tracks are uploaded every 60 seconds. Otherwise, they're uploaded every 10 minutes. This is done automatically: the mobile worker doesn't need to initiate the upload. When tracks are uploaded, those older than 72 hours are removed from the device.
Separately, the last known location of the mobile device is updated every 60 seconds (independent of the device charging and battery state).
No. Field Maps displays the current and previous locations of the signed-in worker. It is not a viewer for the locations of others.
While mobile workers can only see their tracks, other users who are not administrators—such as supervisors and field crew chiefs—must view the tracks of others. A track view contains the last known locations and tracks of a set of mobile workers. Anyone with the privilege to view location tracks and access to a track view can view the tracks of the specified mobile workers. For more information, see View tracks.
Yes, any running app uses the battery. However, the impact of location sharing in Field Maps is minimal. To improve battery life by optimally using the GPS while location sharing, the motion of the device is monitored. While the device is moving, high-accuracy locations are requested by and passed to the app. While the device is stationary, low-accuracy locations are requested on iOS (generally not requiring the GPS), and location requests are stopped on Android.
Note:
If you want high-accuracy locations captured regardless of activity status, you can turn off battery optimization.
Battery life is also improved by how tracks are uploaded. Field Maps minimizes network traffic by uploading tracks in batches, reducing the time it needs to keep the network chipset active. Additionally, the app alters the upload frequency based on the state of the device battery. When unplugged, Field Maps attempts to upload tracks every 10 minutes. While your device is plugged in and either charged or charging with at least 20 percent of the battery available, tracks are uploaded every 60 seconds.
To learn more, see Optimize battery life.
Although location sharing in Field Maps works when there is no data connection, meaning no internet access is required, it does rely on multiple hardware components to determine the mobile worker's location. The most important is the GPS receiver. Field Maps records all positions that it receives, independent of GPS accuracy. Both horizontal and vertical accuracy of positions are recorded and can be used to filter the tracks later.
In some cases, Field Maps may not receive a GPS signal and may not have enough other auxiliary information to determine a location. In those scenarios, tracks won't be recorded. One example of when this may occur is when the device is underground (for example, the mobile worker is on the subway, in a basement, or in a tunnel). In many instances, GPS positions can be acquired when the device is in airplane mode.
Yes. If indoor positioning systems (IPS) are configured for the map, Field Maps will use IPS to record indoor locations while the map is open.
Android devices support four location modes: high accuracy, battery saving, device/sensor only, and off. It's recommended that mobile workers on Android use high accuracy mode. This generally provides the best location accuracy by using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile networks. Since Field Maps efficiently requests locations and minimizes its impact on battery life, you can use high accuracy mode and get the most accurate locations.
Each track point has an associated activity, which is an integer value representing one of the following:
| Integer | Activity |
|---|---|
0 | Unknown |
1 | Stationary |
2 | Walking |
3 | Running |
4 | Cycling |
5 | Automotive |
The activity is determined by Core Motion on iOS and ActivityRecognitionClient on Android, with ArcGIS Field Maps honoring the activities common between the two systems. Each of these APIs relies on sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes, the pedometer, the magnetometer, and the barometer of your device. If you constantly see a value of Unknown, it's possible your device has limited sensors available.
The activity and speed values are determined by different sensors on the device. The activity value is determined from native APIs, and the speed value is determined from the location services APIs (the device’s GPS). In some cases, the change in the activity value may be delayed.
Some steps have been taken to mitigate this. For example, on the Android platform, the Field Maps app monitors the change in acceleration to determine when to start and stop requesting locations from the GPS sensor. This results in some scenarios in which the last known activity is stationary, but a new location with a new speed value is recorded. The two data sources combine to create and upload a track point that has a stationary activity with a speed greater than zero.