What is a .LYR file?
LYR is an Esri ArcMap layer file, storing how a map layer looks.
- Did you know
- A LYR remembers a layer’s symbols and styling so it can be reused.
- A LYR file holds only the symbology and a path to the data, not the features themselves, so it shows nothing if the source dataset is missing.
- Esri layer files let cartographers save and share a styled look that can be reapplied to other datasets in ArcMap.
- What Analyser reads
- Identify and read more GIS and mapping files: OpenStreetMap o5m/o5c binaries, Esri layer files (.lyrx ArcGIS Pro CIM JSON, .lyr ArcMap), QGIS projects (.qgs/.qgz - version, CRS, layer list), shapefile spatial indexes (.sbn/.sbx), GMT/GDAL colour palettes (.cpt) and ENVI band-interleaved rasters (.bil/.bip/.bsq).
- Depth of analysis
- .LYR is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .LYR file
- Drag a .LYR file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.