The default file geodatabase is empty in ArcGIS Pro

Description

In ArcGIS Pro, an existing default file geodatabase is empty even though it is supposed to contain datasets. The image below displays an empty current geodatabase with features missing in the Catalog pane.

Cause

• The file geodatabase has been moved from the project folder.
• The file geodatabase has been renamed in File Explorer.

In either scenario, ArcGIS Pro autogenerates a new, empty default file geodatabase, as is required in every ArcGIS Pro project.

Solution or Workaround

Relocate the original file geodatabase into the project home folder

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project. In the Catalog pane, right-click the file geodatabase and click Show In File Explorer.
2. Close ArcGIS Pro.
3. In the File Explorer window, locate, copy, and paste the original file geodatabase into the project home folder.
4. In the Replace or Skip Files window, click Replace the files in the destination.
5. Reopen the project in ArcGIS Pro.

Rename the file geodatabase to the default name

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project. In the Catalog pane, right-click the file geodatabase folder and click Show In File Explorer.

2. Close ArcGIS Pro.
3. Delete the autogenerated file geodatabase folder in File Explorer.

4. Rename the file geodatabase to the default name. In this example, the original file geodatabase name has been changed from 'Change_test5_default gdb.gdb' to 'test5_default gdb.gdb'.

The image below shows the dataset as expected under the default file geodatabase in the Catalog pane.