This article is about the ArcGIS Desktop app for Windows. For the ArcGIS Online web-based collaborative and sharing platform, see ArcGIS Online - Signing in using SSO.

Starting in July 2025, Esri have migrated Deakin licensing for ArcGIS Pro to Named User Licensing. This means you must activate the ArcGIS Pro app for Windows using your ArcGIS Onine service credentials.

If you're using ArcGIS Pro on a managed computer

If you're using Apps and Desktops Anywhere or a staff or lab workstation managed by Infrastructure & Digital Services, ArcGIS Pro will be automatically reconfigured for you.

Proceed to Logging into ArcGIS Pro.

If you're using ArcGIS Pro on a personal or unmanaged computer

If your computer is personally owned (BYOD) or a university device that is not managed by Infrastructure & Digital Services, you must reconfigure ArcGIS Pro to use ArcGIS Online Named User Licensing.

1. Go to the Software Library website: https://software.deakin.edu.au
2. Search for ArcGIS Pro.
3. On the product page, download the Named User configuration script.
4. From your Downloads folder, right-click the downloaded file and extract it.
   For help, see Microsoft's article: Zip and unzip files
5. Open the extracted folder and read the included Instructions file.

When complete, proceed to Logging into ArcGIS Pro.

Logging into ArcGIS Pro

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro app.
2. Click Login with Deakin SSO.
   
3. Enter your Deakin email address. Click Next.
   
4. Enter your password. Click Sign In.
   
5. Complete Multifactor Authentication through Duo.
   
6. If this is a device you use all the time, click Yes when prompted to "Stay signed in?"
   
   
7. The ArcGIS Pro app window appears. Your name and initials appear in the top right corner to confirm you're logged in.
   

Using ArcGIS Pro offline

On a staff computer or a computer you own yourself, you can use ArcGIS Pro in Offline mode. An offline activation is saved to your computer allowing ArcGIS Pro to be used even without an internet connection for a certain number of days.

When you check out a license into Offline mode on one computer, you cannot activate ArcGIS Pro on another computer.

1. Make sure you've logged into ArcGIS Pro properly and your name appears in the top right corner.
   For help, see Logging into ArcGIS Pro, above.
2. In the ArcGIS Pro sidebar, click Settings then Licensing.
3. Tick the box "Authorise ArcGIS Pro to work offline."
   
   
4. Wait a a few moments for the process to complete.

ArcGIS Pro can now be used offline for the duration indicated. In Offline mode, the app shows nobody signed in.

To return to Online mode:

1. In the ArcGIS Pro sidebar, click Settings then Licensing.
2. Untick the box "Authorise ArcGIS Pro to work offline."
3. Wait a few moments for the process to complete.
4. Sign into your account to re-authorise ArcGIS Pro.

For more information, see Authorize ArcGIS Pro to work offline at Esri's website.

Help

How many computers can I activate?

You can activate only one computer at a time. If you take a license offline on your main computer, you cannot log into ArcGIS on another, such as a lab workstation. Your offline license must be "returned" to sign-in on another computer.

This also means when you replace your computer, you must make sure you don't have an offline license checked out.

How do I get an ArcGIS Online account?

One is created automatically when you log in through Deakin's SSO system. You don't need to request one or do anything to activate it.

Can I use ArcGIS Pro when not on campus?

Yes. The ArcGIS Pro Named User License activates with Esri's cloud activation portal and only requires internet access.

Do I need to use Deakin's VPN?

No. Activation goes through Esri's website and is no longer dependent on access to Deakin's network. All you need is internet access.

Do I need to log into ArcGIS Pro every time?

If you're using a managed staff computer or a personally owned computer, you will not need to log in every time. Your activation is retained between sessions as part of your user profile on that computer.

If you're using a machine in the computer labs or in Apps and Desktops Anywhere (ADA), you will need to log in each time, as user profiles are not retained in these environments.

What about my files?

Your files are not affected by the change to ArcGIS Pro. It only affects how you start the app. Once it is running, it will function the same, including how you open and save your files.

What about ArcGIS Desktop, aka ArcMap?

Esri have deprecated ArcGIS Desktop, also known as ArcMap and no longer issue licenses for it. ArcMap cannot be configured to use Esri's ArcGIS Online service. You should migrate your work to ArcGIS Pro.