Adding and Ordering Layers in a Project
Included in this tutorial
Adding a data layer to a map project
Layer Order & Visibility
Software version in examples: QGIS-LTR 3.34.14-Prizren (MacOS)
Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with sample data available here.
Credits: Ruju Joshi & L. Meisterlin (2025)
Adding a Data Layer to a Map Project
Your project file can access datasets and other files within folders that you have “connected” to the project or directly from the source folder through the browser panel.
Option 1: Adding data using the Browser Panel
To add a data layer, navigate through the Browser Panel, find the desired Folder, drag and drop the files to the layers panel.
The demonstration below shows the process of adding multiple layers from the Standard Data package to the current project (as well as changing the map project’s displayed coordinate reference system based on that of the newly added layers.)
adding data through the Browser Panel
TIP: You can also connect a folder by right-clicking on “Favorites” in the browser panel.
Option 2: Adding data using the Data Source Manager
Alternatively, you can add data using the Data Source Manager. In the Browser section of the Data Source Manager, navigate to the desired folder and simply drag and drop the data into the Layers Panel to add it to your project.
adding data using the Data Source Manager
Layer Order & Visibility
reordering layers
To reorder layers in QGIS, simply click and drag a layer in the Layers Panel to move it up or down in the list. The layer order determines which layers are displayed on top in the map canvas.
Unchecking the checkbox next to the layer name in the Layers Panel will hide the layer, while checking it will make the layer visible in the map canvas.