Current WashU students, faculty and staff may obtain a fully functional copy of the ArcGIS Desktop software. This application is a popular Geographic Information System that enables map creation, spatial data creation and management, and spatial analysis. Most of the GIS courses taught at WashU currently use the ArcGIS Desktop platform...if you are installing this application to use for a specific class; check with your instructor to make sure you install the correct version. Check this page to see if your computer meets the minimum system requirements to run ArcGIS Desktop.  Users with active WUSTL Key credentials can follow the steps below to download and install the software:

1. To install or renew your copy of ArcGIS Desktop, access the Data Services Software Request form to enter your personal information.  Upon completion, the form will provide a link to our software distribution folder on Box; you will need to login using your WUSTL Key to gain access.  
   • If you are installing the software for the first time:
     • Open the ArcGIS Desktop folder and save all files to your local system.
   • If you are renewing an existing license:
     • Open the software folder and download the file with the (.prvc) extension
     • Right click the PRVC file and "Open with Software Administrator"
     • Proceed to Step 8 below to complete the authorization process.
2. On your local system, browse to the downloaded files, right click the 'exe' file, and choose "Run as Administrator"
   
3. The installation application will prompt you to accept the location to extract files...click Next to accept. The installation files will extract to the target directory...when the process completes, ensure that 'Launch the setup program' is checked and click Close.
    
    
4. The installation will begin, click Next...accept the Master Agreement by clicking the radio button, then click Next to continue.  
    
5. Click through the next few screens to:
       ensure the setup type is "Compete", click Next                       ...accept the default installation location, click Next.
   
   
   ...set the Python Destination folder, click Next...check (or not) the ESRI User Experience Program, then click Install.
    
6. The software will install...a progress bar indicates the system is working...click Finish when the process completes.
   
    
7. Now the Authorization wizard will open and you will authorize the software as follows...
     Click on Advanced (ArcInfo) Single Use, then click the Authorize Now button
   
    
8. Click on "I have received an authorization file..." then browse to the folder where you stored the ".prvc" file, click Next.
   Select "Authorize with ESRI now using the Internet", click Next.
   
    
9. Add your contact information, complete all required fields
   
    
10. Use the dropdown menus to answer the questions as shown below...click next. 
                                                                                         Do not change the code in the window and click next to continue.
    
     
11. Do not authorize any additional extensions, they will be activated by default...click next.
                                                                                                      Do not make changes to the evaluation screen...click Next.
    
     
12. Click Finish to authorize and you will see tje 
     
13. The installation is complete and the ArcGIS Administrator will open.  Verify the software is installed and authorized by clicking the "Availability" window.
    Cancel this window and open ArcMap to test the installation.  Contact Data Services if you experience any problems.
    

The license will expire on the same schedule as our WU ESRI Site License.  You will receive warning notices when you open ArcMap (or other ArcGIS application) beginning several weeks prior to the expiration date. Return to this page for renewal instructions.

Current WashU students, faculty and staff may obtain a fully functional copy of the ArcGIS Pro software.  This application enables map creation, spatial data creation and management, and spatial analysis. Most of the courses taught at WashU currently use the ArcGIS Desktop platform...if you are installing ArcGIS to use for a specific class; check with your instructor to make sure you install the correct version. Check this page to see if your computer meets the minimum system requirements to run ArcGIS Pro.  Users with active WUSTL Key credentials can follow the steps below to download and install the software:

1. Access the Data Services Software Request form to enter your personal information.  Upon completion, the form will provide a link to our software distribution folder on Box; you will need to login using your WUSTL Key to gain access.  
2. Open the ArcGIS Pro folder and save all file(s) to your local system.
3. On your local system, browse to the downloaded file(s), right click the 'exe' file, and choose "Run as Administrator"
                                  
    
4. Most of the subsequent windows will include the appropriate default setting...verify that your screens match those shown below and then click Next to proceed...once the files are extracted, click Done.
   
             
   
   
    

NOTE - If you get this error message:



You must install the Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime.  See this Esri Technical Support post for more information.

5. The Setup Program should launch automatically. 
   Close any running programs and click Next.                                       Accept the master Agreement, click Next.
      
    
6. The next several screens will be self-explanatory...verify they any settings and click Next.
   
         
   
   
   
   The installation will begin...                                                                    When the install completes...click Finish.
        

 The program will open...


 

7. ArcGIS Pro is licensed using a 'Named User' model and you will need to join the WashU ArcGIS Online Organization to become a named user.
• To activate the software, "Sign In" to the WUSTL ArcGIS Online Organization using the link at the top right.
• Sign in using the Enterprise Login prompt as follows:
    Enter "wustl" as your Organization's URL...
    
  
   Click on Washington University and...
       
  
  ...enter your WUSTL Key credentials
  
  ​
8. Now you will see your login name in the upper right corner and you may begin using the software.
   Contact Olin Data Services if you have any problems.

ArcGIS Online is a cloud based suite of GIS tools that run in your browser and facilitate web map creation and publishing.  Washington University students, faculty, and staff may use their active WUSTL Key credentials to open an account in the WU AGOL Organization in order to create and share interactive online maps; the account will also give you access to many ESRI training resources.  Keep in mind, certain functions on the AGOL platform consume 'credits' and your account will initially be assigned a limited credit budget.  If you attempt an operation that requires more credits than you currently have, you will receive an error.  Contact Data Services to describe your needs and discuss options to resolve the issue.

To set up your account

1. Open a browser window to wustl.maps.arcgis.com

2. At the Enterprise Login prompt, click on Washington University
     
    If you are prompted for the URL, enter "wustl" and click Continue  
    

3. Enter your WUSTL Key Credentials in the familiar prompt
                                           
    

4. You now have an account in the WashU ArcGIS AGOL Organization and should now see the AGOL Home screen (see below).  Please take a moment to open your profile (click the 'person' icon at the upper right) and fill in:

   • First Name

   • Last Name

   • Please use the "Bio" section to add:

     • Your Status: Student, Faculty, Staff, other

     • WU department or affiliation

     • WU Course number (if you are creating this account as part of a formal class)

             ​

To get started with ArcGIS Online

See this page for tutorials and links to online training content.  To work with Storymaps, use the App Launcher icon (grid pattern of squares in the upper right of the AGOL window) to access that application or visit storymaps.arcgis.com and "Sign In" with your WUSTL Key if prompted.

GIS software can be installed at no cost in WashU computing labs and on any other university computers.  Labs that are open to general student usage, should install both the ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Pro applications since users may have different needs.  For lab-based systems, teaching labs, or other desktop systems that will always be connected to the WU network license authentication will be handled by our License Server. Laptops or desktop systems that will be 'offline', (i.e. away from the WU network) will need to authenticate using a 'single-use' license (see this page for those instructions).  The following steps will guide you through the process of installing both ArcGIS Desktop (step 2) and ArcGIS Pro (step 3) applications on a WU networked computer.  Contact Data Services if you experience any problems.  

1. Access the Data Services Software Request form to enter your personal information.  Upon completion, the form will provide a link to our software distribution folder on Box; you will need to login using your WSUTL Key to gain access.  Save the ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Pro folders to the target systems.
2. To install ArcGIS Desktop:
   • Browse to the downloaded ArcGIS Desktop folder, right click the 'exe' file, and choose "Run as Administrator"
     
   • The installation application will prompt you to accept the location to extract files...click Next to accept. The installation files will extract to the target directory...when the process completes, ensure that 'Launch the setup program' is checked and click Close.
      
      
   • The installation will begin, click Next...accept the Master Agreement by clicking the radio button, then click Next to continue.  
      
   • Click through the next few screens to:
      ensure the setup type is "Compete", click Next                       ...accept the default installation location, click Next.
     
      
   • ...set the Python Destination folder, click Next...check (or not) the ESRI User Experience Program, then click Install.
      
   • The software will install...a progress bar indicates the system is working...click Finish when the process completes.
     
      
   • Now the Authorization wizard will open and you will authorize the software as follows...
     Click on Advanced (ArcInfo) Concurrent Use, then fill in the name of the License Manager server "gis_license.wustl.edu" as shown below...click OK to continue.
                           
      
   • The installation is complete and the ArcGIS Administrator will open.  Verify the software is installed and authorized by clicking the "Availability" window.  Ensure that a mid-August expiration date of the appropriate year appears.
      
   • Cancel this window and open ArcMap to test the installation.  The application will automatically authenticate when a user starts the program.  Our license server is usually updated with a renewed license in mid-August.  Your system should not require any attention to update the license.
     ​
3. To install ArcGIS Pro:

• On your local system, browse to the downloaded file(s), right click the 'exe' file, and choose "Run as Administrator"
  
                       \
   
• Most of the subsequent windows will include the appropriate default setting...verify that your screens match those shown below and then click Next to proceed...once the files are extracted, click Done.

               

     
 

• The Setup Program should launch automatically. 
  Close any running programs and click Next.                                       Accept the master Agreement, click Next.

           
 

• The next several screens will be self-explanatory...verify they any settings and click Next.

               

         
 

• The installation will begin...                                                                    When the install completes...click Finish.

             
 

• The program will open...

                             
 

Some common errors encountered during installation include:

• Could not connect to an ArcGIS License Manager running on host "Not_Set"

• Tool Not Licensed - Unable to execute the selected tool

ArcGIS License Manager Error ...host "Not_Set"

You've just downloaded and installed ArcGIS and now when you try to open the program you see this error...

Could not connect to an ArcGIS license manager running on host "Not_Set"

This error will occur if ArcGIS Desktop is not able to connect to a valid authentication server.  If you are installing the ArcGIS Student Evaluation Edition, you may have selected the wrong product during setup.  Open the ArcGIS Administrator program (Start > ArcGIS > ArcGIS Administrator), the window below will appear...

In the ArcGIS Administrator tool, follow these steps:

• Click on "Desktop" in the left pane.
• Click the Advanced (ArcInfo) Single Use radio button
• Click "Authorize Now"
• Fill in the required information
• When prompted, enter the EVA code you received
• Complete the process and do not specify any other products for evaluation, you will have access to the extensions.
• Once this is complete, the software should function properly.

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ArcGIS Extension Error "Tool Not Licensed" / Enabling ArcGIS Extensions

You are attempting to use a tool that requires an extension such as 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst or Network Analyst.  The window below appears:

Tool Not Licensed

If you have the ArcGIS Student Evaluation Edition, you have access to all of the extension, but they must be enabled.  To enable extensions in ArcMap, click the Customize > Extensions option in the main menu bar:

Check the checkbox next to the extension you wish to enable:

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ArcGIS software is not released in a version compatible with the MacOS.  However, many users successfully run ArcGIS on their Macs using either BootCamp or a virtual machine environment such as the open source application Virtual Box, or commercial VM systems such as Parallels, or VMware. In all of these cases, the user will need to obtain a copy of Windows 7 (or higher) to install on their Mac.  These pages include more details on this issue:

• Best Practices_ArcGIS_on_Macv5.pdf (Tufts)
• Best practices for running ESRI GIS apps in Parallels (ESRI Geonet forum)
• Issues to be aware of (gisstackexchange)
• Why doesn't ESRI produce a Mac version? (ESRI Geonet forum)

Installing on Windows

For Windows, you will have the option of using the OSGeo4W network installer or downloading the QGIS standalone installer. Most versions of Windows are 64-bit, so it is recommended to install the 64-bit installer. You can check your version of Windows by typing "system information" in the Windows search box and clicking on the system information icon or by opening File Explorer and right-clicking on This PC > Properties. Under System Type, you will see the version of Windows.
 

Using the OSGeo4W Network Installer

OSGeo4W is a binary distribution of open source GIS software. Using the OSGeo4W Network Installer allows you to install either the binary or source code version of QGIS along with other open source tools and their dependencies.  Using this is recommended if you want to install older versions of QGIS on Windows 8 or 10.

Desktop Express Install

If you want to install the latest release of QGIS, then choose Desktop Express Install. 

You will then be prompted to choose a download site. Choose any site based on your preference.

At the next window, keep everything checked. You will want to install QGIS, GDAL, and GRASS GIS. After that, QGIS will begin to download. You will be prompted to agree with the terms of Non-Open Source License Agreements several times for the packages you are installing. Read the license agreement and click "I agreed with above license terms".

Click Next. QGIS and related packages will begin to download. it might take some time to install QGIS and its associated packages this way.

You will get a prompt that installation was successful after installation is completed.

Using the QGIS Standalone Installer

Note: These installation instructions are for QGIS 3.12. Some of the prompts you see might be different for later versions.

1. In your Downloads folder, click on the QGIS Installer. You will be prompted if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device. Click Yes.

2. This will prompt the Setup Wizard. Click Next.

3. Read the License Agreement and if you agree, click I Agree.

4. Choose an Install location. It is recommended that you keep the default location.

5. Choose the components you want to install and click Install. This might take a while.

6. Chose whether you want to reboot now or manually reboot later and then click Finish.

Installing on Mac

For Mac, you will need to download the QGIS macOS Installer then click on the installer in Downloads folder on your dock. The filename should be qgis-macos-pr.dmg or something similar. You will be prompted to move QGIS to your Applications folder.

Drag the QGIS icon to your Applications folder and QGIS will be copied to the Applications folder. Click on QGIS either from the Launchpad or go to Finder > Applications. You might not be able to start QGIS due to security reasons and might get this message:             

Please refer to this article on how to safely open apps on your Mac.