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Add layers to maps (Map Viewer)

Layers are the contents of a map. They include a wide range of information about people, the earth, life, and so on, and are composed of imagery, tiles, features, and more. To add layers to a map, sign in to your organization and open Map Viewer. You can search for layers in your content or organization, or public layers in ArcGIS Online. You can also add layers from a URL.

When you save a map, the layers you added are saved with it, and the map appears on the My Content tab of the Content page.

The following table shows the layers you can add to a map and the method to use to add them. When you save the map, any items you've added are saved with the map and the map appears on the My Content tab on the content page.

Layer typeHow you add it

ArcGIS Server service

Service types include feature, map, imagery, and tile services.

Add a layer from a URL.

Comma-separated values (CSV) file from a third-party data provider (.csv)

Add a layer from a URL.

Esri layers from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World

Browse ArcGIS Living Atlas layers or search for layers from ArcGIS Living Atlas.

GeoJSON file (.json or .geojson)

Add a layer from a URL.

GeoRSS web feed

Add a layer from a URL.

Keyhole markup language (KML) document

Add a layer from a URL.

Sketch layer

Create a sketch layer.

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) API - Features layer

Add a layer from a URL.

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Feature Service (WFS) layer

Add a layer from a URL or search for layers from an ArcGIS Server site.

OGC Web Map Service (WMS) layer

Add a layer from a URL or search for layers from an ArcGIS Server site.

OGC Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) layer

Add a layer from a URL or search for layers from an ArcGIS Server site.

Public layers on ArcGIS Online

Search for layers from ArcGIS Online.

Route

Create a route layer or search for layers available to you in your organization.

Tile layer from a third-party data provider

Add a layer from a URL or search for layers from an ArcGIS Server site.

Web layers hosted in your organization

Layer types include feature layer, map image layer, imagery layer, tile layer, group layer, and media layer.

Search for layers available to you in your organization.