A shared web map or web app is not accessible to the public

Description

ArcGIS Online allows sharing a web map or web app with the public for map and information sharing. The shared map or app is accessible to the public if the map and all underlying data (for example, layers and tables) are shared publicly. In some instances, attempting to open the publicly shared web map or web app fails and prompts for log-in credentials.

Cause

This issue may occur due to one of the following causes:

• A layer or a table in the map is not shared with the public.
• The map or app contains subscriber content (for example, the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World).
• A widget in the app uses a premium service that requires an ArcGIS Online organization subscription. For example, the Direction widget in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder uses ArcGIS World Route Service, which requires ArcGIS organizational credentials.
• The map contains a copy of a hosted feature layer that is not shared with the public. The copied layer inherits the sharing settings of the original layer and prompts for log in although it is shared with the public.

Solution or Workaround

Depending on the cause, use one of the following workarounds:

Share the data with everyone
Ensure all data (for example, layers and tables) in the web map or web app are shared with everyone to make it accessible to the public. Refer to Share items with everyone.

Allow access to the subscriber content
To share an app containing subscriber content publicly, configure the app to allow access to the content through an organizational subscription. Refer to Share apps publicly that contain subscriber content for more information.

Allow limited but anonymous or public access to the service
In some scenarios, it is possible to allow limited but anonymous or public access to a premium service. For example, a grocery vendor can provide only driving directions for users to reach a specific store location, or finding the nearest store location to the user (ArcGIS World Route Service). Refer to Problem: Using the Directions widget for a public web map prompts for ArcGIS Online credentials for more information.

Create a layer view instead of copying a feature layer
A copied hosted feature layer honors the sharing settings of the original hosted feature layer because it references the same feature service as the original layer. As a workaround, create a hosted feature layer view of the hosted feature layer, and share the layer view with the public. Unlike a feature layer, a layer view is a separate item with different sharing settings than the original feature layer. Refer to Create hosted feature layer views for steps to create a layer view in ArcGIS Online.