How to Create a View-Only Layer in ArcGIS Online

When sharing data in ArcGIS Online (AGOL), there are times when you want users to see the data—but not edit, export, or download it. Whether you're protecting sensitive information or just keeping your source data safe, creating a view-only layer is an easy and essential skill.

This article will show you how to publish and configure a view-only feature layer step by step.

Disclaimer: The dataset included in this article is entirely fictional and created solely for training and demonstration purposes. While it references real geographic locations and commonly known invasive aquatic species in Minnesota, the data does not represent actual survey results nor reflect the status of wild rice beds. Please do not use this dataset for scientific, regulatory, or decision-making purposes.

Step 1: Sign in to ArcGIS Online

Go to https://www.arcgis.com

Click Sign In
Use your credentials or given credentials to access your organization's portal

Step 2: Locate Your Hosted Feature Layer

Click on the Content tab in the top navigation bar

Find the hosted feature layer you want to make view-only

Mine is named "Invasive Species in Wild Rice Beds_Minnesota_Training_Dataset"

Click the Layer’s Title to open its item details page

Step 3: Create a View Layer

On the right side of the item details page, Click Create View Layer and select View layer

Make sure that your Layer is selected and at the bottom of the left panel click Next

You can define a different view if you need your users to focus on a specific area of interest (AOI).

Mine will include all the wild rice bed's locations in Minnesota
Click Next when you are done setting your view/AOI

Create your view

Add a Title, Tags, and a Summary
Select the folder where you would like to save your View layer (root folder, specific group...). I chose my root folder.
Click Create (bottom left) when you finished

You should see a similar message

The layer’s item details page opens, and you should now see "view" added at the end of your initial hosted layer name

If it does not open. Go to https://www.arcgis.com, sign in into your account and go to your contents.

Your View Only layer should display Feature layer (hosted, view) next to the title, and the word "view" should have been added to it.

Step 4: Configure View Layer as Read-Only

Open the view layer’s item details page (if necessary)
Click the Settings tab

In the General tab

Make sure that "Prevent this item from being accidentally deleted" is checked
Click Save
Scroll down

In the Feature layer (hosted, view) tab

To ensure this layer is truly view-only, confirm that Enable editing is unchecked
You should also see a message stating, "Setting must be configured on the hosted feature layer that this feature layer view was created from, [Layer Name]" above the Editing options. This confirm that editing is disabled at the source layer level.

Although the Enable editing checkbox may still be visible, the three advanced editing options:

Keep track of changes to the data (add, update, delete feature)
Keep track of who edited the data (editor name, date and time)
Enable sync (required for offline use and collaboration)

will not be available. This is expected and helps verify that the layer is read-only.

Go back to the Overview (item's details)

Step 5: Share the View-Only Layer

On the view layer’s item page, click the Share button

Choose who can access the layer

I'll keep mine private (Owner)
You could share it with:

Everyone (public)
Your organization
Specific groups

Click Save

You now have a secure, read-only view layer that you can safely share with the public or collaborators - while keeping your source data protected and private.

We hope that this article has been helpful! If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to send us an email or connect with us for a chat. The NTGISC team is here to assist you further!