HOW TO

Change the default ArcGIS Pro project folder location without using the ArcGIS Pro user interface

Last Published: November 10, 2021

Summary

In ArcGIS Pro, it is possible to change the default location of new projects. It is sometimes necessary to change the default location of new projects without accessing ArcGIS Pro, such as when deploying separate instances of ArcGIS Pro on several machines.

Procedure

Use the steps below to change the default location of new ArcGIS Pro projects in the ArcGIS Pro's user.config file.

Note:
The workaround below may only be performed if the default folder location has been changed using the ArcGIS Pro UI.
  1. On the machine, locate the ArcGIS Pro's user.config file. In this example, the file is located in the folder path indicated below.
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Esri\ArcGISPro.exe_StrongName_<STRONGNAME>\<VERSIONNUMBER>
The folder path with the user.config file.
  1. Double-click the file to open it.
Note:
The file can be opened with a text editor such as Notepad or Notepad++.
  1. Click Edit, and click Find....
  2. In the Find dialog box, type DefaultFolder into the Find what: search box, and set Direction to Down
  3. Click Find Next to search for the following parameter:
The Find dialog box with the search box and  Find Next.
<setting name="DefaultFolder" serializeAs="String">
<value><folder path></value>
</setting>
  1. In the Find dialog box, click Close Close.
  2. In the text editor, type the desired folder location to replace the current default folder path.
The folder location path replaced with a new folder location path.
  1. Click File, and click Save.
  2. Click Close Close.

Article ID: 000026617

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 8 x
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 7 x
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 x

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