Move, rotate, or resize annotation features

The Annotation tool allows you to select and move, rotate, or resize annotation features by dragging them. The commands appear as cursor commands when you hover near specific areas of the selection bounding box. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

For steps to edit text or change formatting, see Edit annotation text or change formatting.

Note:

To edit annotation features created in ArcMap, upgrade them using the Upgrade Dataset tool. Similarly, if you have annotation feature classes created in previous versions of ArcGIS Pro, you may need to upgrade them to have full editing access.

To learn more, see Manage annotation feature classes.

To move, rotate, or resize annotation features, complete the following steps:

1. Open the map containing the features to be edited or add the layer to the map.

   To learn more about adding layers, see Add layers to a map or scene.

   Tip:

   Before editing, confirm the layers you are editing are editable, snap settings add efficiency and accuracy to your workflow, and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.

   For a basic checklist of settings, see Configure settings for editing.

2. Click the ribbon Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Annotation tool .

   To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Anno in the Search text box.

   Alternatively, click the tool on the ribbon Edit tab in the Tools group.

   The tool opens and the Select an annotation feature tool automatically runs.

4. Select the annotation features to be edited.

   The selection tool selects only annotation features and excludes other feature types from the selection. If a feature is currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

   To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect or Only Select This .

   The selected annotation features appear in the selection view and a selection bounding box appears around the features in the map.

5. Check or uncheck the Enable rotate and resize check box.

   The Move command is always enabled.

   Checked	Enable the Rotate and Resize commands.
   Unchecked	Disable the Rotate and Resize commands. Tip: This setting prevents unintended rotation or scaling.

6. Hover inside or near the selection bounding box or near a control point and drag the features when the pointer changes to one of the following cursor commands:

   Move	Hover inside the selection bounding box and drag the features. Optionally, move the selection anchor and use it to snap to other features. Press S to turn the selection anchor on or off. By default, it appears near the pointer. To move the anchor, press Ctrl, hover over the anchor, and drag it when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor . Note: The selection anchor is only available with the Move command.
   Rotate	Hover near a control point outside the selection bounding box and drag the features.
   Resize	Hover near a control point inside the selection bounding box and drag it.

   The selected features move, rotate, or resize.

   Note:

   Annotation leader anchor points remain fixed to their original location. To move annotation leader anchor points with their respective annotation features, use the Move tool .

   To learn more, see Move, rotate, or scale features.

7. Click Finish or press F2 to finish the edits.