idea Create a method to swap user license type between two named users in ArcGIS Online Ideas

Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

RTPL_AU — Mon, 20 May 2024 01:17:54 GMT

Currently, if you want to swap the user license type between two users, you need a third unallocated license to play musical chairs with, or to delete>recreate one of the users.

In a small organisation where they typically do not have spare licenses, we have come across situations where due to staff job description changes, they need to swap the user license type between two people. The only way to do that without a spare license, is to delete one user, allocate their old license to the other person and then recreate the user and add them to various groups etc. This seems very inefficient.

Esri should create a way to select two users and swap their user license type.
I am ware that in some cases, primarily where a Creator type is involved, it is a non-trivial task, but Esri should be able to work out how to transfer ownership of assets in the process. DM me if you want me to help the dev team work it out.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

henry8653jDawid — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:06:16 GMT

To implement a method for swapping the license type between two named users, you can create a function that takes the usernames and their current license types as input parameters. The method should first validate that both users exist and are eligible for the swap. It should then check if the license types are swappable Chairs, ensuring that any specific conditions or restrictions related to each license type are respected.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

ChelseaRozek — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:30:24 GMT

I'm worried about the many administrative hassles that moving to named user licenses from concurrent licensing will create, this being one of them. We won't be able to afford having unused licenses sitting around for this sort of situation. I can picture this happening to someone who needs to bump up to a Pro Advanced license with Professional Plus for one project, but there are no more Professional/Standard licenses available for the existing Professional Plus to be bumped down to. Like you said, it would be nice if they could just swap in place.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

Koen — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:54:24 GMT

Hi All,

ENH-000168099: Request for method of swapping user type license between two users without the requirement of an additional unallocated license or deleting an existing user.

Latest update: "This is fixed and will be available with the next ArcGIS Online update - administrators will be able to run the "Transfer member" workflow to transfer licenses, user types and roles between existing users in the organization."

Feel free to create a ticket with Technical Support if you'd like to be attached to the enhancement: Contact Esri Technical Support

Thanks again for writing up this idea!

-Koen

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users - Status changed to: In Product Plan

NairiSevajian — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:00:04 GMT

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users - Status changed to: Implemented

NairiSevajian — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:33:35 GMT

This Idea was implemented at the October 2025 release of ArcGIS Online. Administrators can now use a single workflow to transfer a member’s user type, role, content, groups, add-on licenses, settings, and member categories to another existing member.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

RTPL_AU — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:39:53 GMT

@NairiSevajian

I've not had a reason to test this yet but have a question.

If you don't have a free user type can you still do this workflow? Say you want to swap a Field Worker and Viewer.

From what I see you can transfer the Field Worker user role etc to the other user but does Esri allow you to complete the workflow then downgrade the source user to the lower license type, or do you still need an extra license floating around to be able to do this?

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

FlorianSteiner — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:20:04 GMT

@NairiSevajian @RTPL_AU The implemented solution seems to be a different workflow compared to the original idea. There still needs to be a "spare" user type to be able to swap the roles between two users.

Here in my example, you can see that there are no free user types left and therefore the list of user types is empty for the left user, meaning I cannot use this workflow, to swap the user types between two users.

By the way: Another solution for this problem would be:

allow users to have no user type
free up user types of disabled users, there are already ideas for this one:
- Disabled member accounts still consume a User Type entitlement! Please change this.
- AGOL Disabled Account returns Licences

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

ChelseaRozek — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:16:42 GMT

@FlorianSteiner Thanks for the explanation, I didn't understand the nuance of the new functionality. It looks like a simple one-way transfer vs. we wanted a two-way transfer, a true swap. If only it realized the right's user type was about to be freed up...

I've upvoted both ideas about disabled users freeing up a license. That would solve so many issues...

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

DavidWitt — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:40:57 GMT

@FlorianSteiner @ChelseaRozek @NairiSevajian The two way transfer/swap is exactly what I'm looking to do. Hopefully ESRI will be able to implement this.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

NairiSevajian — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:32:03 GMT

@FlorianSteiner @ChelseaRozek @DavidWitt

Hello everyone,

The intent of this feature is to allow you to swap licenses even when no spare user type is available. Thanks for your feedback-- we have logged it as a bug to be fixed. Please see the information here, and you may contact Technical Support to be attached to the defect.

Best,

Nairi

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

SebHerrmann — Sun, 03 May 2026 23:24:09 GMT

This is still a stupid limitation on my account - and does not allow me to switch users between a creator and a contributor - ie: tells me I have no licences left. Such a simple, yet critical thing in a organisation when people change roles across projects and teams.

ESRI just wants you to sit with spare licences to make more money...

the usual message : "Transfer member not possible". The recipients licence must match "NAME" "Contributor" licence. However, your organisation does not have any matching "contributor" licences available.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

mili91 — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:24:10 GMT

Hello @NairiSevajian

Why are we forced to also transfer the content.
If we want to switch user type between a creator and a Professional Plus, we do not want all the content and groups beeing transfered aswell, why are there no option to opt out on that?

Do we need to log another enhancement for that?

Best regards,

Mira

Distributor tech support specialist

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users - Status changed to: In Product Plan

NairiSevajian — Mon, 04 May 2026 13:54:37 GMT

Reopening this idea as the functionality will be fixed in the Q2 2026 release of ArcGIS Online. Please refer to this record for more details.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

NairiSevajian — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:01:37 GMT

@SebHerrmann I'm sorry you are still experiencing this limitation. Rest assured, it will be available in the next release of ArcGIS Online. Will you update me in this thread when the functionality becomes available?

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

NairiSevajian — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:51:59 GMT

@mili91 Hi Mira, could you tell me more about the use case so we can explore an enhancement or another idea? Feel free to private message or email me.

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

ambrogim — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:01:26 GMT

Agree that the "transfer member" workflow does not solve the original issue if no free licenses are available. Strongly support the suggested solutions provided by @FlorianSteiner (to allow users to have no user type, and to return the license of disabled users).

@NairiSevajian: the link you provided to BUG-000182265 returns a 404 error. Can you provided a corrected link? Thanks!

Re: Create a method to swap user license type between two named users

NairiSevajian — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:27:19 GMT

Hi @ambrogim, the same link should be working now.

https://support.esri.com/en-us/bug/BUG-000182265