When adding maps, layers, and other items to ArcGIS Online, you have the option of leaving them unshared or, depending on your sharing privileges and the security settings of your organization, sharing items with groups, your organization, or everyone. You can also share an item with a combination of your organization, groups, and everyone. If you choose not to share the item, only you (and organization members with privileges to view content owned by other members) can access the item until you share it. Until they are shared, your maps, apps, and other items are not available to others—for example, they do not appear in search results and aren’t part of any group.
If you make an item public (that is, share it with everyone), it is accessible by everyone, including anonymous users, even if your organization does not allow anonymous access to its website. Access to items shared only with a private group requires that you have shared the item with that group and that group members are logged in. This is enforced anytime the item is accessed.
When you initially save a map or save a copy of a map, a new map item appears on the My Content tab of the content page and is only available to you. Depending on your sharing privileges, you may be able to share your map with groups you belong to, your organization, or everyone (public).
Sharing Permission Levels
You have several options for sharing your items, depending on your sharing privileges:
Sharing Level | Description |
Private | Available only to the item creator and system administrators. |
Your organization | Sharing with your organization means only members of your organization can access your item. |
Groups you belong to | If you are a member of a group, you can share your item with that group. Sharing with specific groups restricts access to a smaller, more focused set of people. Members of the group can be from the same organization or different organizations. |
Everyone | Sharing with everyone makes your item public; anyone who has access to ArcGIS Online, including anonymous users, can find and use it, and group owners can include it in their group content. |
Everyone and a group | If you want to share thematic content with a subset of users or organize your content into a collection of items, but you also want everyone to have access to your item, you can share an item with a group and with everyone. This is especially appropriate for focused group work where all members benefit from seeing a list of specific content they can use for collaboration and exchange. For example, as a fire agency that produces burn maps, you want the general public to find and view the maps, but you also want members in the fire agency group to use the maps as templates for creating their own local versions. |
Everyone, your organization, and groups you belong to | You can share your item with a larger audience (for example, everyone and your organization) and also share it with a specific group. This allows you to categorize your item as especially relevant to a particular group while still making it available to others in your organization. |
For more information on sharing items and recommendations for setting usable sharing properties, see Best practices for sharing.
Sharing a Map
You can share any map you find on the website by sending an email with a link, posting it to your Facebook or Twitter account, embedding it in a website or blog, or creating an app that includes the map. Open the map in Map Viewer, click the Share button, and choose an option for sharing it.
Copy the short URL and paste it into an email, blog, or website. Embed the map in a website. Create an app. Click the Facebook and Twitter buttons in the Share pop-up.
- Open a map in Map Viewer.
- Click Share and use the provided short link to share the map through email, instant message, and so on. You can also use the provided buttons to post your map to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, embed your map, and make an application.
- Alternatively, you can copy the URL that appears in the web browser address bar and paste it into an email or website.
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps” (ArcGIS.com) and “Share Maps: Link to Items” (ArcGIS.com)
Sharing an Item
Share an item with your organization if you want all members of your organization to have access to it, but you do not want people outside your organization (who have access to the organization site) to have access to the item.
- Verify that you are signed in and have privileges to share content with your organization.
- Open My Content > My Content.
- Click the check box next to the title of the item you want to share.
- You can share multiple items simultaneously by checking multiple titles, or you can share all the items in a folder simultaneously by checking the box next to Title.
- Click Share and in the pop-up that appears, check the box next to your organization name.
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps: Share Items” and “Get Started: Get Started With Maps” (ArcGIS.com)
If you have the correct privileges, you can keep your item semiprivate by sharing it only with a group or groups you belong to. When you share an item with a group, you allow other members of the group to access the item. In addition to sharing your own items, you can share items owned by members of your organization that have been shared with your organization or the public.
For some groups—groups created with the item update capability enabled—other members of the group can also update the items you share. When you share an item with a group that has this capability enabled, you remain the owner of the item. Other group members can update the item, including changing the item details or updating the content.
- Verify that you are signed in and have privileges to share content with groups.
- Open My Content > My Content.
- Click the check box next to the title of the item you want to share.
- You can share multiple items simultaneously by checking multiple titles, or you can share all the items in a folder simultaneously by checking the box next to Title.
- Click Share.
- If you are a member of one or more groups with the item update capability enabled, you will see both the Access and Access and update capabilities options. If not, you will only see the Access option.
- In the pop-up that appears, check the box next to the group or groups you want to share the item with.
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps: Share Items” and “Get Started: Get Started With Maps” (ArcGIS.com)
Sharing an item with everyone makes it public. This means anyone, including anonymous users to ArcGIS Online, can access and see your item. Items shared with the organization or the public can also be added to any group by that group’s owner or manager. If you want to link or embed your map in a website, be sure it’s shared with everyone.
- Verify that you are signed in and have privileges to share content with the public.
- Open My Content > My Content.
- Click the check box next to the title of the item you want to share.
- You can share multiple items simultaneously by checking multiple titles, or you can share all the items in a folder simultaneously by checking the box next to Title.
- Click Share and in the pop-up that appears, check Everyone (public).
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps: Share Items” and “Get Started: Get Started With Maps” (ArcGIS.com)
If your organization allows sharing outside the organization and you have privileges to share with the public, the item page includes Facebook and Twitter buttons. Use the buttons to share an item page through your Facebook and Twitter accounts. You can share the item page of any item in the website, including those owned by others. It’s a good idea to share only pages for items that you know are shared with everyone; otherwise, some people may not be able to access the links. When you use the Facebook and Twitter links on an item page, you are sharing the item page, not the item. To share a map (as opposed to its item page), use the Share button on the map.
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps” (ArcGIS.com) and “Share Maps: Link to Items” (ArcGIS.com)
If you want to share an item page with others by providing a link to the page, use the Short URL button in the Details section. Clicking the Short URL button generates a short URL for the item page that you can copy and paste into emails, text messages, and other communications. You can share the item page short URL for any item in the website, including those owned by others. However, before sharing the short URL, ensure that the item has been shared with the recipients of the link; otherwise, some people may not have access to the URL. For example, if you provide the short URL to individuals inside and outside your organization but the item has only been shared with the organization, those who are outside the organization will be unable to access the item.
Content in this section was adapted from “Share Maps” (ArcGIS.com) and “Share Maps: Link to Items” (ArcGIS.com)
