How to Extract Data from ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online (AGOL) is home to millions of public datasets. While it provides a built-in "Export Data" button, it is often limited to 1,000 features and requires you to be signed in. This guide shows you how to extract the full dataset using the underlying REST endpoints.

Finding the Service URL

To extract data, you first need to find the URL of the underlying Feature Service.

1. Open the ArcGIS Online item page.
2. Scroll down to the "URL" section.
3. If the URL ends in `FeatureServer` or `MapServer`, you are in luck — you can copy that URL directly.
4. If the URL ends in `MapServer` and you need vector data, check the layers within the service to see if any are Feature Layers.

The Limitations of the AGOL Export Button

ArcGIS Online has a built-in export function (found in the Map Viewer or item details page). However, it comes with limitations:

• Limited to 1,000 features by default.
• Only exports as a Shapefile or CSV.
• Requires an AGOL account and sign-in.

The Better Way: Using a Browser-Based Downloader

To download the complete dataset, use a browser-based tool that interacts directly with the REST API.

1. Copy the URL from the AGOL item page.
2. Open Geo Server Data Downloader.
3. Paste the URL into the input field and click Add Layer.
4. The tool fetches the metadata and loads the layer on the map.
5. Click the green Export button or use Bulk Export to download the complete dataset as Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, or GeoPackage.

Extracting Data from Web Maps

If you found the data inside an AGOL Web Map, you cannot download the whole map directly. You must extract the individual layers.

1. Click "Open in Map Viewer" on the Web Map.
2. Click the "Layers" pane.
3. Click on the layer you want to extract.
4. Look for the "URL" or "Data Source" link in the layer properties to find the FeatureServer URL.
5. Paste that URL into your downloader tool.

Summary

Extracting the full dataset from ArcGIS Online requires using the REST API instead of the default export button. By using a specialized downloader, you can bypass feature limits, avoid sign-in requirements, and export data into any format you need.