In June 2023, we shared a post with ArcMap users on Esri Community that we feel is important to revive and amplify as we approach the mature support phase of ArcGIS Desktop’s product life cycle.
This blog provides information to help guide your transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro. We’ll cover what mature support means, ways we’ve been creating awareness around the life cycle, important dates regarding the discontinuation of ArcGIS Desktop sales, and resources to help users migrate ArcMap workflows to ArcGIS Pro.
Key points about the Mature Support milestone:
- ArcGIS Desktop perpetual licenses will continue to work. You will not be cut off from the software. ArcGIS Desktop subscription licenses will be quoted as user types that include ArcGIS Pro beginning with renewals on July 1. User types do not include ArcGIS Desktop.
- You should understand that you will only have access to technical support for ArcGIS Desktop and that software updates, hotfixes, and functionality-based patches will cease. The ArcMap Product Life Cycle is an important resource to study and share with stakeholders across your organization.
- There will be no sales of additional ArcGIS Desktop licenses beginning July 1, 2024. If you require additional licenses, you need to request a quote before July 1. After that date, you can purchase access to ArcGIS Pro either through a user type or with an ArcGIS Pro standalone license.
What Does Mature Support Mean?
Mature Support is the last phase of the life cycle before ArcGIS Desktop is retired. During mature support, there will continue to be technical support available, but there will no longer be software updates, functionality-based patches, or hotfixes.
Creating Awareness
We have been messaging this since 2020, when the ArcMap Continued Support page was originally posted. That page provides great resources that are available to help you make the move from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro and we compiled those resources into a web page last year. More on that below…
If you frequent the ArcGIS Desktop help pages, you may have noticed that in February of 2023 we started including an informational banner guiding ArcMap users to the product life cycle and ArcGIS Pro migration resources. These banners will be updated in March to reflect ArcGIS Desktop’s mature support status.
Last year, two emails were sent to primary maintenance contacts of ArcGIS Desktop customers with subscription licenses to inform them that renewal quotes will be for the user type that includes ArcGIS Pro at a level corresponding to their ArcGIS Desktop license (Basic, Standard, or Advanced).
An email is being sent to primary maintenance contacts of ArcGIS Desktop customers with perpetual licenses current on maintenance, including the information below about the discontinuation of ArcGIS Desktop sales.
Discontinuation of ArcGIS Desktop Sales
As noted in the Key Points above, because of the move into mature support, and the fact that there will be no further releases of ArcGIS Desktop, quotes for additional ArcGIS Desktop licenses will be discontinued on July 1, 2024.
ArcGIS Pro was first released nine years ago and has developed into the most capable desktop GIS application on the market. We’ve already seen many ArcGIS Desktop users move their workflows into ArcGIS Pro, with many of those users also incorporating ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise into their work.
Maintaining your ArcGIS Desktop licenses gives you continued access to ArcGIS Pro and either ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise through the entitlement Creator user type that you get as part of your desktop maintenance. As we get closer to the retirement of ArcGIS Desktop, you’ll be able to choose to move forward with user types that include ArcGIS Pro (and access to the complete ArcGIS system including ArcGIS Online/ArcGIS Enterprise, a suite of apps and other ArcGIS applications), or a standalone perpetual license for ArcGIS Pro (does not include a Creator entitlement).
Supporting Your Transition
We understand that this change may raise questions. Please know that we are here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Esri Sales (1-800-447-9778) or your dedicated Esri account manager.
Resources
The Migrate from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro page is part of the ArcGIS Pro help and acts as the go-to resource hub to guide your transition.
We understand that many users will have a period of overlap where they are working in both ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro. If you are one of these users, make sure to check out the Learning Resources available directly within the application.
In summary, Mature Support is a key milestone in the long life of ArcMap and it is important to understand how this may (or may not) affect your desktop GIS business. If you have questions about licensing and sales as we approach mature support, please use the information provided in the Supporting Your Transition section above.
We value your continued partnership and appreciate your trust in Esri products. We look forward to serving you in the coming year and beyond.
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