Overwrite Web Layer Failed - Seems to have deleted original layer

[BlakeMorrison]

I tried to overwrite a web layer using Pro. The process errored out and deleted the original web layer.

I was only trying to update the layer because online popups stopped displaying entirely - can't make them work in any way.

I'm quite sure someone will be round to tell me to contact Tech Support or tell them about it in the Pro forum. But this isn't a situation I can reproduce or explain how anyone at tech support should reproduce these problems. So they'll go unnoticed to the larger public unless I post about them here.

[D_Atkins]

Allow us to commiserate (at least, it sounds similar)!  We have a Pro Project for updating a seasonal map ... went to republish the layer, overwrite failed and now the layer is 'stuck' in Portal (we can't access the Settings .. the 'loading' icon is all we get).

We published a new layer and reconfigured the map to get us through; cleaning up the 'stuck' layer is pretty far down our list of priorities, but it is annoying!

[bbollin · Accepted solution]

Hi @BlakeMorrison! Thanks for posting. I know you mentioned you don't want to reach out to support, especially cause this is a tricky one to nail down. However, the best way for us to investigate what is going on it by have a repro case, or at least some of of error message. It sounds like it is stuck and stalling on the delete which obviously isn't good. If you can give us any more information or way to reproduce this we can take a look, but again the best way it to have a support issue!  

[BlakeMorrison]

Thanks

[Laura]

When overwriting a lot gets changed I've had scenarios where it errored out and the name was changed partly but still connected to the map. I just restarted the overwrite process and then it worked fine. 

[AlexHogan]

Hi @BlakeMorrison 

I believe this has been logged as a defect which is outlined here: https://support.esri.com/en-us/bug/overwriting-a-hosted-feature-service-from-arcgis-pro-fa-bug-00018...

The issue is due to the change tracking, to avoid this until the defect is resolved, if you disable change tracking on the feature layer you will be able to overwrite,

Thanks,

Alex

[D_Atkins]

We're still encountering this error with Map Image Layers without editing/change tracking when publishing with Referenced data (Portal & MSSQL EGDB).  The overwrite fails during the Publishing Tools step, without any meaningful error messages.

1. The existing Web Layer becomes inaccessible (with varying states: we've been able to Delete the existing Item on occasion, though we've had it lock up so bad that nothing in the "Settings" tab is accessible and Delete in Portal just errors).

2. We cannot attempt to republish or overwrite the existing service in Pro, as the item is inaccessible (likely same as in webmaps).

3. The interesting part: a new Item is created using the overwritten layer's name + the date (i.e., "MyOverwrittenService_20251126".  This new item also fails to load in any web map.

  

I'm not too concerned that a process encounters an error -- that is to be expected; I am however, bothered about the observed failure mode.  Our workaround is to republish a new service, with a new content id, which is okay for newer projects, but absolutely unacceptable for services driving legacy applications.

[AlexHogan]

Hi @D_Atkins 

I recommend logging a support case for this issue, so it can be further investigated. It sounds different to the defect that has been logged already, which relates to a hosted layer in ArcGIS Online.

Regards,

Alex