diff --git a/src/layer/index.spec.ts b/src/layer/index.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0541e273ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/layer/index.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google Inc.
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import type { LayerListSpecification, UserLayer } from "#src/layer/index.js";
+import { LayerManager, ManagedUserLayer } from "#src/layer/index.js";
+import { NullarySignal } from "#src/util/signal.js";
+
+// The sweep that removes unreferenced layers is debounced with a zero delay, so
+// it runs on the next macrotask.
+function flushRemoveLayers() {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1));
+}
+
+// `ManagedUserLayer` needs only a display to drive playback, and the set of
+// layer group subsets to move itself out of when it is archived.
+function makeFixture() {
+  const layerManager = new LayerManager();
+  const rootLayers = {
+    layersChanged: new NullarySignal(),
+    specificationChanged: new NullarySignal(),
+  };
+  const manager = {
+    root: {
+      display: { updateStarted: new NullarySignal(), scheduleRedraw() {} },
+      subsets: new Set(),
+    },
+    rootLayers,
+  } as unknown as LayerListSpecification;
+  return { layerManager, manager };
+}
+
+// A layer whose user layer has been loaded.  Only the signals the setter binds
+// to, plus disposal, are exercised here.
+function makeUserLayer(): UserLayer {
+  return {
+    layersChanged: new NullarySignal(),
+    readyStateChanged: new NullarySignal(),
+    specificationChanged: new NullarySignal(),
+    dispose() {},
+  } as unknown as UserLayer;
+}
+
+function addLayer(
+  layerManager: LayerManager,
+  manager: LayerListSpecification,
+  name: string,
+  { loaded = true } = {},
+) {
+  const layer = new ManagedUserLayer(name, manager);
+  if (loaded) {
+    layer.layer = makeUserLayer();
+  }
+  layerManager.addManagedLayer(layer);
+  return layer;
+}
+
+describe("LayerManager", () => {
+  it("archives a layer that no layer group references", async () => {
+    // A state may define a layer while using a custom layout that does not
+    // display it.  The layer ends up referenced only by the root layer manager,
+    // and must be archived rather than silently dropped.
+    const { layerManager, manager } = makeFixture();
+    const layer = addLayer(layerManager, manager, "image");
+
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layerManager.managedLayers).toContain(layer);
+    expect(layer.archived).toBe(true);
+    expect(layer.visible).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("archives a layer when its last layer group reference is released", async () => {
+    // A displayed layer is referenced by the root layer manager and by a layer
+    // group, and must be left alone; once the group's reference is released,
+    // the sweep archives it rather than deleting it.
+    const { layerManager, manager } = makeFixture();
+    const layer = addLayer(layerManager, manager, "image");
+    const groupRef = layer.addRef();
+
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layer.archived).toBe(false);
+    expect(layer.visible).toBe(true);
+
+    groupRef.dispose();
+    // Releasing a layer notifies the root layer manager, as
+    // `unbindManagedLayer` does in production.
+    layerManager.layersChanged.dispatch();
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layerManager.managedLayers).toContain(layer);
+    expect(layer.archived).toBe(true);
+    expect(layer.visible).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves an already archived layer alone", async () => {
+    const { layerManager, manager } = makeFixture();
+    const layer = addLayer(layerManager, manager, "image");
+    layer.setArchived(true);
+
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layerManager.managedLayers).toContain(layer);
+    expect(layer.archived).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("removes a transient drag target rather than archiving it", async () => {
+    // A layer with no user layer is a drag target, not something the user asked
+    // for, so it must still be discarded.
+    const { layerManager, manager } = makeFixture();
+    const dragTarget = addLayer(layerManager, manager, "drag", {
+      loaded: false,
+    });
+
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layerManager.managedLayers).not.toContain(dragTarget);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves layers alone while the manager is in direct use", async () => {
+    // A layer group viewer pins its own layer manager, and layers displayed
+    // there must keep their visibility.
+    const { layerManager, manager } = makeFixture();
+    const release = layerManager.useDirectly();
+    const layer = addLayer(layerManager, manager, "image");
+
+    await flushRemoveLayers();
+
+    expect(layerManager.managedLayers).toContain(layer);
+    expect(layer.archived).toBe(false);
+    expect(layer.visible).toBe(true);
+    release();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/layer/index.ts b/src/layer/index.ts
index fad0e1400e..0f4fc29431 100644
--- a/src/layer/index.ts
+++ b/src/layer/index.ts
@@ -942,6 +942,18 @@ export class LayerManager extends RefCounted {
     if (this.numDirectUsers > 0) {
       return;
     }
+    // A layer that is no longer part of any layer group is archived rather than
+    // discarded, so that a state which defines a layer without displaying it —
+    // a custom layout whose viewers do not list it, for instance — keeps the
+    // layer instead of silently dropping it.  Archiving clears `visible` and
+    // removes the layer from every subset, so the layer settles after one pass.
+    // Layers with no user layer are transient drag targets rather than
+    // something the user asked for, and are still removed below.
+    for (const layer of Array.from(this.managedLayers)) {
+      if (layer.refCount === 1 && !layer.archived && layer.layer !== null) {
+        layer.setArchived(true);
+      }
+    }
     this.filter((layer) => layer.refCount !== 1 || layer.archived);
   }