idea Calculated default value in hosted feature layer in ArcGIS Online Ideas

Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

Bud — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:55:15 GMT

It would be great if we could set up a calculated default value for a given field in a hosted feature layer, since it's hard or impossible to change existing default values.

For example:

sysyear
sysyear + 1

Re: Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

ToddW_stl — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:51:08 GMT

@Bud - I have a simple hosted feature service that I was able to change the default value of a simple Yes/No question by editing the feature template. Note I did not sync the template with the layer style and was able to save the new default value. This idea still may be valid, if the desire is to use Arcade expressions to calculate default values, but I wanted to provide a potential workaround to help people in the meantime.

Re: Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

EmilyGeo — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:33:55 GMT

Hi @Bud,

you can calculate a value for a field by setting up an arcade expression in the form. Is that what you are looking to do?

Re: Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

Bud — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:40:37 GMT

@EmilyGeo I'm looking to set the global default value in the feature layer settings in the Content tab.

Re: Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

EmilyGeo — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:12:20 GMT

Hi @Bud,

thanks for clarifying and for sharing your idea. You're right, the default value is not editable on the data tab. For now, the best workarounds are to configure templates and/or forms to set or calculate values for new features.

Re: Calculated default value in hosted feature layer

Bud — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:54:37 GMT

I noticed @KAnderson recently upvoted this idea. You might like this post:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-online-questions/add-guid-field-to-existing-agol-survey123-feature/m-p/1698341/highlight/true#M68515

Not sure what kind of default value you want to set up. But you might be able to use the Admin REST API for it.