Units will not display as metric even though device language is UK English

Question

Hi all - as far as I'm aware the units shown in Survey123 when you are drawing e.g. a GeoTrace feature are set by your device locale/language. I'm in the UK, but my app is using imperial units. I have double checked that my device language is set to UK English in my settings, but can't get Survey123 to show metric units. Currently using a OnePlus 1, but colleagues are having the same issue (though haven't checked the language on their devices isn't US English)

Any suggestions?

ClaudetteMilillo1 · Answer

Got the same problem. I want metres not feet to show in map in Survey123 when collecting line data that measures the distance of the line in feet.

Portal Map default units are set to metric and under General --> Organizational defaults Language is set to Australia. Why does it display in feet on Survey123 map?? Very frustrating!

hsummers_scf · Answer

Hello! I'm having a similar (but opposite) issue in the US. I am hoping to use US standard units in my mapping, but the metric units are the default, even though all of the geoshapes are drawn in the US.

I was told that this has to do with the organization's settings (Content -> Organization -> Settings -> Map and Scene -> Default Units), but the "US Standard" was already the default for my organization.

I'd love any advice if someone finds a solution!

Screenshot 2025-05-19 173449.png

Screenshot 2025-05-19 173419.png

BenCapell_NWTF10 · Answer

Hello @DataOfficer and @IsmaelChivite,

I'm connecting some threads i've found on the issue of setting geoshape drawing units. I wasn't able to find the enhancement request by number referenced above and I haven't been able to resolve the issue of a USA-based user seeing metric units while drawing. My users are using the Survey123 survey on a Web browser, not the mobile app. The work around is to display the area in acres in a note following the drawing map, but this isn't exactly a desirable user experience. Below is the link to Ismael's response on the issue and source of the work around I mentioned above.

What do we need to do to move this forward so Connect XLS can define the geoshape drawing units?

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-survey123-blog/survey123-tricks-of-the-trade-lines-and-polygons/bc-p/1096356/highlight/true#M4649