topic Button Widget within Widget Controller not opening linked window in ArcGIS Experience Builder Questions

Button Widget within Widget Controller not opening linked window

Bec — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:25:42 GMT

Hi!

I am working on an existing Experience Builder application and was playing around with the Widget Controller. I added a Button Widget to the Widget Controller and used Set Link to link it to a window called, Map Tips. Whenever I test this button out within the Widget Controller, it doesn't open my linked window. Is there something I am missing in the settings? I know there is a bug issue that has to do with the Hover settings, but I don't have my button set to change at all if you hover over it. I have a similar Button Widget that is not within a Widget Controller, and it works as expected when it is linked to open a window. Below is a screenshot of my current settings for the button within the Widget Controller. And another screenshot showing what should open if the linked window was working on the button located within my Widget Controller. Instead, all I get is the red pop-up window. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Bec

Button settings for Button Widget witin Widget Controller

Linked Window that should open, but doesn't.

Re: Button Widget within Widget Controller not opening linked window

JeffreyThompson2 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:42:53 GMT

You are not doing anything wrong. It's a design oversight in Experience Builder. A Button in a Widget Controller doesn't just work like a button. It opens a window with a Button inside of it. To get around this, you can just put a Button directly on the Page. Or if you want to go a little further, you can build a fake Widget Controller that includes your link Button. https://community.esri.com/t5/experience-builder-tips-and-tricks/the-diy-widget-controller-part-ii-the-secret/ba-p/1622453

Re: Button Widget within Widget Controller not opening linked window

Bec — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:03:04 GMT

@JeffreyThompson2 Whew! Thanks for letting me know it was something I was doing wrong. My expectations of how it should have worked clearly got the best of me. I have both that button and one other button on the page, within a fixed panel. I guess I was just hoping they would work the same within a Widget Controller and I would get a little more control over how my buttons worked since Widget Controller allows a button to change background color when selected which is not an option within the Button Widget itself. Maybe someday ESRI will add that under the Advanced settings for the Button Widget. Thanks again for responding and answering my question!

Bec

Re: Button Widget within Widget Controller not opening linked window

JeffreyThompson2 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:09:03 GMT

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-experience-builder-ideas/direct-button-click-execution-for-button-in-widget/idi-p/1374804

And here's the Idea for fixing this issue.