# Archive and restore a layer

Archive a layer that you no longer need in the rail and restore it later.

Archiving removes a layer from the active rail while keeping its worktree available to restore. MAO protects active or unsaved work before it archives a layer.

## Archive or restore

1. Open the layer’s row menu in the navigator.
2. Choose **Archive**.
3. If MAO reports an active terminal or unsaved changes, save the changes before continuing.
4. To bring the layer back, open the archived layers list and choose **Restore** on its row.

> **Note:** An Orchestrator can use `mao layer archive "<name>"` or `mao layer restore "<name>"`.

> **Limit:** Archiving is reversible; there is no layer delete command.

Source: https://trymao.dev/docs/layers-git-worktrees/archive-restore-layer