ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt Frequently Asked Questions | ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt

Product and Services

ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps was previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDK. It builds on the proven architecture of ArcGIS Runtime 100.x, and is designed to leverage the latest developer framework innovations.

ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt requires developers to adopt Qt 6, which allows the SDK to take advantage of new graphics APIs, platform architectures, language features, and more.

No. Esri's product-specific Terms of Use (a supplement to the Master Agreement: Products) states that use of ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more in a service is not permitted. A general reference to the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps in note 19 states "License may not be used to develop Internet or server-based Value-Added Applications".

Local data files are geo-enabled data available in a file residing on your users' device(s), regardless of how it got there. ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more support a variety of different local file data formats. Depending upon the type of data, a specific license level may be required to use that data in an application built with Native Maps SDKs.

Lite:

View Esri-proprietary ArcGIS packagesA package is a set of items, such as a map and its referenced data, bundled into a single file on a local machine so that the items can be easily transferred from user to user or provisioned onto a device.Learn more and mobile geodatabasesA mobile geodatabase (.geodatabase) is a spatial data storage format in a single file on disk that can store, query, and manage spatial and nonspatial data. In applications built with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, mobile geodatabases can be used in offline workflows when taking maps and features offline from services or in desktop-based scenarios as standalone mobile geodatabases from ArcGIS Pro.Learn more generated from services in ArcGIS OnlineArcGIS Online is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management software as a service (SaaS) product. It includes applications, tools, APIs, and location services for users and developers. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Online account.Learn more, ArcGIS EnterpriseArcGIS Enterprise is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management product that can be hosted on-premise or in a cloud infrastructure. It includes software, applications, tools, APIs, and services for users and developers.Learn more, or ArcGIS Location PlatformArcGIS Location Platform, formerly known as ArcGIS Platform, is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) product that gives developers access to location services, APIs, and tools to build mapping and spatial analysis applications. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Location Platform account.Learn more, or exported from ArcGIS ProArcGIS Pro is a professional desktop GIS application that can explore, visualize, analyze, and manage 2D and 3D data.Learn more.

ArcGIS packages include tile packages (.tpk or .tpkx files), vector tile packages (.vtpk files), mobile map or scene packages (.mmpk or .mspk files), and scene layer packages (.slpk files).

If packages themselves contain local data formats that are not Esri-proprietary, then viewing that data may require a higher license level. For example, to read raster files contained in a mobile map packageA mobile map package (MMPK) is a standalone file that contains one or more map definitions, including the basemap layers, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles for use in offline applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.Learn more or mobile scene packageA mobile scene package (MSPK) is a standalone file that contains one or more scene definitions, including the basemap layers, elevation layers, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles for use in offline applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.Learn more you need a Standard license. Refer to the ArcGIS data layers table in the Layer types page for a list of layers and packages.
Edit data in mobile geodatabasesA mobile geodatabase (.geodatabase) is a spatial data storage format in a single file on disk that can store, query, and manage spatial and nonspatial data. In applications built with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, mobile geodatabases can be used in offline workflows when taking maps and features offline from services or in desktop-based scenarios as standalone mobile geodatabases from ArcGIS Pro.Learn more downloaded from a public ArcGIS feature service (these services are available on the Internet and are not secured).

Basic:

Edit data in mobile geodatabasesA mobile geodatabase (.geodatabase) is a spatial data storage format in a single file on disk that can store, query, and manage spatial and nonspatial data. In applications built with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, mobile geodatabases can be used in offline workflows when taking maps and features offline from services or in desktop-based scenarios as standalone mobile geodatabases from ArcGIS Pro.Learn more downloaded from a private ArcGIS feature service (these services are only accessible on a local network and/or are secured).

Standard:

View local data not in Esri-proprietary formats, including KMLKeyhole Markup Language (KML) is an XML-based format that describes geographic entities. Developed and popularized for use with Google Earth, the KML specification is now maintained by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).Learn more accessed as a file resource, shapefilesA shapefile is a vector data storage format that contains geometry and attribute data for geographic features. It can also include spatial and non-spatial indexes.Learn more, OGC GeoPackagesA geopackage is an OGC spatial data storage format that can contain multiple datasets of geographic features, non-spatial tabular data, and raster data.Learn more, electronic navigational charts (S-57, or S-63 where supported), local rasterA raster is a matrix of cells (or pixels) organized into rows and columns (or a grid) where each cell contains a value representing information, such as temperature. Rasters include digital aerial photographs, imagery from satellites, digital pictures, and scanned maps.Learn more files, and local raster elevation sources. Although this data may be generated by ArcGIS products, the data format is not owned or managed by Esri.
Edit local data not in Esri-proprietary formats, including shapefiles and GeoPackages.

ArcGIS Maps SDK for Local Server is a component that enhances the functionality of desktop-focused ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more applications:

It is available as a separate installation to supplement the functionality of the Native Maps SDKs supported on Windows and Linux desktops. It is powered by packages created in ArcGIS Pro, which can be hosted by Local Server as local map, feature, and geoprocessingGeoprocessing is a GIS operation that is used to manipulate data. A typical geoprocessing operation takes an input dataset, performs an operation on that dataset, and then returns the result of the operation as an output dataset.Learn more services. Desktop-focused Native Maps SDKs also provide a client API to access Local Server services.

Legacy Products and Services

ArcGIS Marketplace has been deprecated and is being retired. The public website of ArcGIS Marketplace was retired in March 2026. Active ArcGIS Marketplace subscriptions are not impacted and will continue to function until the retirement of the underlying provisioning system of ArcGIS Marketplace. See ArcGIS Marketplace Retirement for more information.

Licensing

Before you deploy an application built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more into production, you must license your app with one of the four production license levels: Lite, Basic, Standard, or Advanced. See License levels and capabilities for details.

You can license your app using user authenticationUser authentication is a type of authentication that allows users with an ArcGIS account to sign into an application and allow it to access ArcGIS content, services, and resources on their behalf. The typical authorization protocol used is OAuth2.0.Learn more (formerly known as Named user login and ArcGIS identity) or, in cases where this is not appropriate or possible, using license stringsA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more.

The ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps license level enabled for an ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more (formerly named user) is dependent upon the user type. The ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more documentation contains detailed information mapping which user type applies to each license level for all supported software in the Get a license topic.

ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more documentation contains details about license strings, including instructions to get a free Lite license string, and information about how to obtain strings for higher license levels if required by your app. Read more in the Get a license topic. Also, refer to the Native Maps SDKs product-specific Terms of Use for more information.

No. License strings for both ArcGIS Runtime SDKs versions 100.x and ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps versions 200.x are known as Runtime license strings and are not compatible with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps version 300.0 and later. To acquire a free Lite license string, see the Get a license topic. To obtain license strings for Basic, Standard, or Advanced levels, or extensions, please contact your Esri account representative to purchase the appropriate deployment packs. Customers current on maintenance for ArcGIS Runtime deployment packs at any paid license level or extension will receive corresponding ArcGIS Maps SDK for Native Apps deployment packs with 300.x license strings at no additional cost.

No. Contact your Esri account representative for more details on transitioning license strings from 10.2.x to 100.x, 200.x, or 300.x.

No. Access tokensAn access token is an authorization string that provides access to secure ArcGIS content, data, and services. Its capabilities are determined by the privileges it supports. It is obtained by implementing API key authentication, User authentication, or App authentication.Learn more grant access to secured ArcGIS OnlineArcGIS Online is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management software as a service (SaaS) product. It includes applications, tools, APIs, and location services for users and developers. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Online account.Learn more, ArcGIS EnterpriseArcGIS Enterprise is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management product that can be hosted on-premise or in a cloud infrastructure. It includes software, applications, tools, APIs, and services for users and developers.Learn more, or ArcGIS Location PlatformArcGIS Location Platform, formerly known as ArcGIS Platform, is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) product that gives developers access to location services, APIs, and tools to build mapping and spatial analysis applications. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Location Platform account.Learn more content and services, but you must also license your app for deployment using either user authenticationUser authentication is a type of authentication that allows users with an ArcGIS account to sign into an application and allow it to access ArcGIS content, services, and resources on their behalf. The typical authorization protocol used is OAuth2.0.Learn more or a license stringA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more. Refer to the License and deployment section and Esri's Terms of use for basic requirements.

Yes, you can compile applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more with a Lite license stringA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more to provide access to Lite functionality, and also offer the ability to log in through a user authenticationUser authentication is a type of authentication that allows users with an ArcGIS account to sign into an application and allow it to access ArcGIS content, services, and resources on their behalf. The typical authorization protocol used is OAuth2.0.Learn more workflow with an ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more. See the Get a license topic to determine which ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps license level is available with each user type.

Choose user authentication (formerly Named user login and ArcGIS identity) if your users sign in with an ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more and their devices or applications can connect online at least once every 30 days, which is the default timeout for user authentication workflows. A key benefit of this model is that the license is associated with the user rather than the application, allowing a single authorized user to license multiple ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more applications.

Choose license stringsA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more if your users do not have an ArcGIS OnlineArcGIS Online is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management software as a service (SaaS) product. It includes applications, tools, APIs, and location services for users and developers. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Online account.Learn more or ArcGIS EnterpriseArcGIS Enterprise is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management product that can be hosted on-premise or in a cloud infrastructure. It includes software, applications, tools, APIs, and services for users and developers.Learn moreaccountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more, or need to use your application offline for greater than 30 days. You are required to track the number of ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps license string deployments used at each level (Basic, Standard, and Advanced) and extension, as each app installation available (including multiple apps used by a single user) counts as a deployment.

Yes. Navigate to Your Lite license string for information about obtaining your free unique Native Maps SDKsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more Lite license stringA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more.

If you implement user authenticationUser authentication is a type of authentication that allows users with an ArcGIS account to sign into an application and allow it to access ArcGIS content, services, and resources on their behalf. The typical authorization protocol used is OAuth2.0.Learn more, the license is attached to the signed-in user, not the application, so one ArcGIS user account can license multiple applications on multiple devices (for their use only).

If you use a license stringA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more, the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps license is per user, per app, and per device. You are required to track the number of ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps deployments per level (Basic, Standard, and Advanced) and extension. Each app installation counts as a deployment.

ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more license strings for paid levels (Basic, Standard, and Advanced) and extensions are purchased from Esri and distributed via deployment packs. Upon purchase of a deployment pack, you are provided with a unique license stringA license string is a string of characters developers add to their application code to license their use of applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and to unlock certain capabilities on the deployment device.Learn more for the level or extension you purchased. Additional deployment packs for a level or extension you purchased previously do not include another license string; however, additional unique license strings can be provided upon request. Contact your Esri account representative.

No, there is no limit.