Add a layer from ArcGIS

Note:

Some workflows may require specific privileges. For more information about user types, roles, and privileges, see the Accounts topic.

Adding a layer from ArcGIS is a quick way to add context to your data. See Reference layers to learn more about adding content from ArcGIS to a map.

When you are signed in to your ArcGIS account, you can add content from ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, and your organizational account and groups. If you are not signed in, only publicly available content appears in the search results.

Note:

Shared content availability depends on settings established by the item owner, your ArcGIS organizational user type and role, and organization settings. For information about shared content, see Share items in the ArcGIS Online help.

To add content from ArcGIS, complete the following steps:

1. From the map tools, click Layers to open the Layers pane.
2. If your map already contains a layer, click Add . Otherwise, proceed to step 3.
3. Click ArcGIS.
4. To search for and add a layer from ArcGIS to the map, do any of the following:
   • On the first drop-down menu, My content appears by default. Use the drop-down menu to narrow the search results by ArcGIS Online, Living Atlas, My content, My favorites, My groups, My folders, My organization, or My organization's groups.

     

     The items filter as you make selections.

     Tip:

     To learn more about searching for ArcGIS content, see Browse and search content in the ArcGIS Online help.

   • Optionally, if you selected Living Atlas, use the Filter by category check boxes to filter the search results by the following categories and related subcategories: Boundaries & Places, Demographics, Landscape, and Transportation.
   • Type one or more keywords in the search text box, such as wildlife.
   • Click the Details view button to change the tab view to a list that contains thumbnail images previewing the layer's default styling.
   • Click the List view button to change the tab view to a compact list.
   • Click the Filter button and do any of the following:
     • Turn on the Search within map area toggle button to see only results that contain data for the current extent of the map.
     • Use the check boxes to filter the search results by the following item types: Feature layers, Map image layers, Web maps, Imagery layers, Vector tile layers, or WFS.

       Note:

       ArcGIS for Excel filters out unsupported item types, including KML layers. These do not appear in the search results.

     • Choose a Date modified option from the drop-down menu to filter results by All time, Today, Yesterday, Last 7 days, or Last 30 days, or click Custom range and use the calendar to select a start date and end date.
     • Click Clear filters to remove all filters.

   • Click the Sort button to sort the results list by Relevance, Title, Owner, Date Modified, or View count.
   • Hover over a search result to activate the item's information button .
     • Click the information button to open an item details pane containing descriptive information about the selected layer, such as the item type, keywords, the author or attribution, the created date, most recently updated date, the item's terms of use, and privacy details.
     • Click the Show layer details button in the item details pane to open the item details in a browser window.
   • Hover over a feature layer search result to activate the Add attribute table to Excel and layer to map button .
     • Click the Add attribute table to Excel and layer to map button to add or edit the remote hosted feature layer in an Excel worksheet.

       The layer is added to the map and the connected attribute table is shown in Excel.

5. Check the check box next to an item in the list to select it and click Done.

   The selected layer is added to the map and is also added to the Layers list. The map view zooms to display the extent of the added layer.

   Note:

   Adding some types of data consumes ArcGIS credits.

6. To remove an ArcGIS layer from the map, click More options next to the layer in the Layers list and click Remove on the context menu.

   The layer is removed from the map and the Layers list.

   Note:

   Optionally, to remove multiple layers, press Ctrl while clicking (or Cmd while clicking on a Mac), select the layers to remove, and click Delete at the top of the list.

7. When you are finished, click Close to close the Layers pane.