Changing the Portal for ArcGIS account

If you want to change the account that is running the Portal for ArcGIS (Windows) service, you can do so by using Windows' operating system tools. To learn how to change the account, see the sections below.

Changing to a local or domain account

To change the account from running as Local System to a local or domain user, you must do the following as described in the sections below:

• Specify permissions for the local or domain account on the portal directories.
• Explicitly change the account used to run Portal for ArcGIS.

Specifying permissions to portal directories

Before you can change the account, you'll need to grant the new account Full control permissions on portal's installation and content directories:

• Installation directory—When you install Portal for ArcGIS, you specify an installation directory. The default location is C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Portal. You must grant the new account Full control permissions to this directory.
• Content directory—When you install Portal for ArcGIS, you specify a directory that stores content installed with the portal as well as user-generated content. By default, this is a local directory and is located at C:\arcgisportal. However, this can be switched to a shared network location after installation. In either scenario, you must grant the new account Full control permissions to the content directory.

Changing the account

To change the Portal for ArcGIS account to a local or domain account, follow the steps below. Keep in mind that your portal will be offline while changing the account.

Steps:

1. In Windows, go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools and open Services.
2. In the services list, right-click Portal for ArcGIS and select Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Stop.
4. Click the Log On tab and select This account: from the log on as options.
5. Enter the account name and password that you want to use. Optionally, you can click Browse to specify the account that you want to use from the Select User dialog box. Once you have specified the account name and password, click Apply.
6. Click the General tab and then click Start. The Portal for ArcGIS service is started and is now running as the account you specified.
7. Click OK.

Changing to the LocalSystem account

When you install Portal for ArcGIS, the account that runs the Portal for ArcGIS service is configured to run under Windows' native LocalSystem account by default. If you've switched the account to a local or domain user and want to switch it back to LocalSystem, follow the steps below. Your portal will be offline while changing the account.

Keep in mind that the LocalSystem account is not intended for accessing network locations. Therefore, if your content directory is on a network share, you'll need to move it to a local directory before proceeding. To learn more, see Changing the portal content directory.

Steps:

1. In Windows, go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools and open Services.
2. In the services list, right-click Portal for ArcGIS and select Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Stop.
4. Click the Log On tab and select Local System account from the log on as options.
5. Click the General tab and then click Start. The Portal for ArcGIS service is started and is now running as the Local System account.
6. Click OK.