Custom Icons for StoyMaps

[AstridF]

It would be great if there were an option to add our own custom icons instead of the generic ones — especially for the Map Tour layout (when starting from an existing feature layer). We often need more detailed or complex icons than what’s currently available.

[grey_cat]

Yeah, custom icon is very much needed.

[OwenGeo]

At this time, you can select a flat, single color icon that is added within a colored circle, and that serves as the map marker (see examples, below).

Is this request asking for the ability to 1) upload similar flat-style icons beyond what is currently available in the picker, or 2) upload new map marker image files that completely replace the colored circle+icon markers that are available today?

  

[AstridF]

Hi, yes, the second option. We have image files that we want to use instead of the default circle + icon markers. A designer created custom icons for us, and I assumed that updating them through the Visualisation tab in Map Viewer would automatically apply the new icons to the features, but it doesn’t seem to. It would be great if StoryMaps allowed us to upload our own custom icons.

[JanetBrewster1]

I would add to this the ability to use any icon, whether custom or out of the box, WITHOUT the giant circle around it, as well as the ability to resize the icon. Right now, the symbology takes up a lot of real estate and covers important info.

[OwenGeo]

We are working on a way for you to show your own feature layer point styling in a map tour. Stay tuned!

[OwenGeo]

You can now use the layer style saved with a feature layer to symbolize the points in an explorer tour. This can be used with the ability to upload your own symbols in the ArcGIS map viewer.

For more information, see What's new in ArcGIS StoryMaps (February 2026).

[JanetBrewster1]

Thanks @OwenGeo! Any chance we can get this level of symbol customization with the Categorized Tour? Or should I put in an idea specifically for that?

[AstridF]

Hi! This is a really great update. It would be wonderful to have the same for the Categorized tour as well! Thanks you!

[OwenGeo]

@AstridF @JanetBrewster1 - We are looking into it, but there are some additional considerations related to the interactions with the category panel that we need to think through. We can leave this idea open to track this for categorized tour since the idea has only been partially implemented.

[AstridF]

Thank you! I can't wait for this great update. 😊