***Please note that the Aurora update has been paused. For more information, see our message: Changes to the Aurora Update.
This FAQ will be updated over time to provide answers to common or widely applicable questions regarding Esri Community’s Aurora upgrade.
What is the Aurora upgrade?
Aurora is the name given to the next generation version of the Khoros Community platform, on which Esri Community is already built. Aurora reflects evolving best practices for online communities and incorporates capabilities that keep pace with the state of technology.
Is this a vendor migration?
No. Unlike the migration from JiveX to Khoros in 2020 (when GeoNet was rebranded as Esri Community), Aurora is a Khoros community platform that Esri Community will upgrade to from its current version, now referred to as Community Classic. Members will continue to use their existing accounts and credentials, and much of the Aurora-hosted Esri Community experience will remain familiar.
Is the Esri Community name changing?
No. Aurora is the name given to the platform Esri Community will be hosted on, which is a next generation version of the same Khoros Community platform Esri Community is currently hosted on (now known as Community Classic). Esri’s online community platform will continue to be known as Esri Community.
When is this update happening?
Fundamental elements required to proceed with the update are steadily advancing and support a 2025 launch. Additionally, our Esri Community team has been actively working with our platform vendor to prepare other necessary components, such as navigation, page templates, design, etc. Barring unexpected circumstances, we anticipate upgrading to the Aurora version of Khoros’ Community offering near the end of Q3 this year. User testing, in addition to updating Esri Community user guides and documentation, will take place in the lead up to launch.
What changes can we expect with this upgrade?
With new capabilities available both on the front and backend, some aspects of Esri Community will be refreshed to embrace a better overall user experience. This includes updates to navigation, available features, interaction styles, and more. In addition to functional updates, Esri Community will also see a modest design refresh that balances familiarity of current Esri Community pages with clean, appealing aesthetics attuned to Esri’s brand. Our Esri Community team will release more specific change details in advance of the upgrade launch date in 2025.
Can I ask about specific features to expect?
We request that users be patient regarding confirmation of specific features. Among other pre-launch communications, we will publish lists that cover feature and terminology differences. Users can expect to benefit from some new and improved features, and we also anticipate a modest selection of currently available features will not carry over to Aurora. This said, our team’s review of anticipated changes leaves us confident that users will experience net positive gains from this transition without significant adaptation required.
Will my Esri Community account stay the same?
Users will retain their existing Esri Community account throughout this process and beyond, including their history of account activity, badges, ranks, and roles. Users will also continue to use their same credentials and there is no significant change to the login process so that members can continue to access Esri Community via the same methods they have in the past.
For Esri staff and distributors, this means continuing to access Esri Community via the corresponding chiclet in Entra (found in the Esri Quick Links category).
Will the Aurora update affect ArcGIS Online, My Esri, or organizational accounts?
No. Both on Community Classic (the current platform version) and Aurora, Esri Community is its own separate system apart from ArcGIS Online and My Esri. Customer members frequently access Esri Community via an ArcGIS public account username that may be tied to an ArcGIS Online, My Esri, or organizational account; however, aside from being connected by that username, updates to Esri Community do not automatically change a user’s account in other systems nor do changes to an ArcGIS Online or My Esri account automatically lead to updates in Esri Community. If a user ever has trouble logging into their Esri Community account, they’re encouraged to contact our team at esricommunity@esri.com for help.
