Tips to open LYR file
Can't open the LYR file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open LYR files as well as a list of programs that support LYR files.
LYR file extension
| File Name |
ArcView Layer Format |
| File Developer |
ESRI |
| File Category |
Misc Files |
The LYR file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the LYR files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the LYR file on each system platform.
What is LYR file?
The file with the extension LYR is the Misc Files file type. The creator of this file is ESRI. Misc Files consists of 6033 similar files. ArcView Layer Format is supported by 1 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. It is recommended to use ArcGIS Desktop to handle this file. This is a program created by Esri.
How to open LYR file?
The most common problem when using ArcView Layer Format is that a specific LYR is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open LYR, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the LYR file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install ArcGIS Desktop
In this case, you should first verify that the ArcGIS Desktop application is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing ArcGIS Desktop into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below you will find a list of applications that support LYR files.
Programs to open LYR file
Remember to download programs supporting LYR files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of ArcGIS Desktop with LYR files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the LYR file to open in the ArcGIS Desktop application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the LYR file with the ArcGIS Desktop application.
Step 3. Update ArcGIS Desktop to the latest version
If, however, after binding ArcGIS Desktop with ArcView Layer Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Esri website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the LYR file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the LYR file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the LYR file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected LYR files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the LYR file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair LYR file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting ESRI, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted LYR files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move LYR to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.
Was this page helpful? YesNo
