topic Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug. in ArcGIS StoryMaps Questions

The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

ShawnaLReid — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:58:10 GMT

I am creating a side car section within a larger story map. I've created multiple maps in the context column in order to show specific layers in each map. When switching back and forth between the maps, the legends do not update correctly. Maps are keeping the legend attributes and symbology from a previously viewed map. How can I correct this? Is this a bug that hasn't been fixed yet?

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the

Anonymous User — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:07:10 GMT

This is an bug they've known about since July. I suggest following this thread as well for updates, https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-storymaps-questions/map-action-beta-potential-labeling-bug/m-p/416008.

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the

OwenGeo — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:57:29 GMT

A fix for this issue was deployed in the Oct 26 release.

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the

Anonymous User — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:28:09 GMT

Hey Owen!

I think the bug that was solved last year is back. I am facing a similar issue wherein I don't see the layer name updating in my storymap's legend. (Please refer to bug1.jpg)

I had renamed the layer as shown in images (bug2,jpg and bug3.jpg)

Can you please help me out in understanding if it is the same bug or am I doing something differently than I'm supposed to in order to update the names in the legend.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks, Ari

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the

Curt_H — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 21:18:45 GMT

Hi Ari - were you able to get any more info on this issue? I am having the same problem. I am making the updates in web map classic viewer, but changes to the layer name are not reflected in the web map embedded in the StoryMap.

Thanks!

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the

Joe_Brickley — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:54:49 GMT

Hi Curt_H,

I'm having the same issue, if you find a solution please can you post it!

The legend in the Storymaps side car maps just uses the underlying feature layer name and will not update to the layer name used in the web map used to create the sidecar map!

Thanks

Joe

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

OwenGeo — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:01:44 GMT

@Anonymous User @Curt_H @Joe_Brickley --We'll look into this issue, but please know that you can edit the layer names in the story builder if you need to update them.

Just click on the layer name in the side panel of the map designer and enter your changes. Changes made in the story builder only apply in the story; the layer names in the web map are not affected.

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

Curt_H — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:41:03 GMT

@OwenGeo - thanks for the heads up on being able to change the layer name within SM builder (had no idea) something I just discovered however is if a map action was created before an update to a layer name, the map action still shows the legend with the old layer name and cannot be changed. So unfortunately it appears we'd be required to re-create any/all map actions if we update a layer name in a web map.

Thanks see screen caps below..

Above Map action maintains old layer name.

Below is the updated layer name in the embedded web map settings.

Thanks for your time and help!

Curt

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

Anonymous User — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:36:46 GMT

Was a fix found for this, please @OwenGeo? Having the same issue now with multiple storymaps that have many map actions within. They each have the same layer in their embedded map that needs the name updating and it doesn't update with the map.

I can update in the storymap map, but then the conequent legends for any map actions don't update!

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

OwenGeo — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:35:20 GMT

@Anonymous User -- This isn't something that we have addressed yet, but it is on our list.

For now, you could disable the legend on the map and add it as a screenshot in the narrative panel of the sidecar. Or I'd also encourage you to see if you can eliminate the legend through some other creative storytelling by using colored text or other descriptive information in the sidecar, as described in this story.

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

KiraEvers1 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:11:12 GMT

I'm still noticing a similar issue. When I change the layer name in map viewer, the change is not reflected in the map legend used in my storymap. The only solution I've found so far is to delete the map from the storymap slide and then readd the map. Wondering if this bug is still on the list to be fixed?

Thanks!

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

VickiGazzo — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:11:11 GMT

I have also run into this problem when creating my latest story map. Has a solution been found?

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

OwenGeo — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:55:28 GMT

@VickiGazzo - I'm sorry you have encountered an issue. This is a very old thread, and there were several different situations mentioned. Could you please provide more detail about what you are seeing that is unexpected so we can best assist you?

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

VickiGazzo — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:15:20 GMT

Yesterday, I noticed that the legends in the story map I am currently building are not consistently staying open, even though the "Keep legend open" option is selected. Additionally, I observed that the legend labels I changed sometimes revert back to the default text. When I scroll back and forth, the labels often toggle between the default and the customized text.
I also checked some story maps I created earlier this year and last year, which also had the "Keep legend open" option selected. However, those legends are now collapsed, though that’s not a major issue since I can easily open them.
The main concern is the legend labels reverting to default, which could cause confusion or inconsistency. The collapsing issue is less critical, but the label reverting is more problematic.

Re: The layer legends are not updating correctly when switching maps within my story map, using the side car. I think this is a bug.

OwenGeo — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:21:59 GMT

Thank you for the additional information. We are aware of the issue where the legend does not stay open and plan to address that soon in an upcoming release. We'll look into the other issue you mentioned and let you know when we have an update.