topic Re: Labeling Changes Color Without Prompting in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Labeling Changes Color Without Prompting

Katherine_Rudzki — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:04:33 GMT

Hello - I've run into something weird. When adding a Callout line, some text turns bright red. Is this a new way to show an issue with placement? I'm ultimately fine with where the labels end up for the most part, but I'd like the text to remain the same color.

I have one label Class for the map, so it's not an issue with conflicting classes.

No Callout:

Adding Callouts:

Re: Labeling Changes Color Without Prompting

Robert_LeClair — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:24:04 GMT

Bright red label text in ArcGIS Pro is typically an indicator that the label is unplaced (it can’t find a valid position based on your placement/conflict rules), not a “normal” symbol color. Callouts/leaders can make this show up more because they add additional placement constraints.

Here are some steps you can try to keep the text the intended color (by getting the labels to place normally):

Allow overlaps so labels don’t become unplaced
- Open Label Class pane > Conflict resolution tab
- Under Unplaced labels, enable Never remove (place overlapping)
  (This forces placement rather than leaving labels unplaced.)
Loosen fitting rules so labels can be placed
- Label Class pane > Fitting strategy tab
- Allow options like Reduce font size, Compress, and/or a bit more overrun (depending on geometry type)
Relax placement restrictions
- Label Class pane > Position tab
- Broaden the allowed positions (more candidate placements usually resolves “unplaced” labels)

Re: Labeling Changes Color Without Prompting

Katherine_Rudzki — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:02:00 GMT

Thank you! The Place Overlapping was able to solve the conflict.

Re: Labeling Changes Color Without Prompting

Robert_LeClair — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:03:53 GMT

I'm glad it worked out! All the best!