Deleting a layer in Procreate takes three taps: select the layer, swipe left, and tap delete
Open your Procreate file and look at the Layers panel on the right side of your screen. Find the layer you want to remove. Press and hold on that layer until a menu appears, then tap "Delete" — or swipe left across the layer name and tap the trash icon that slides out. The layer vanishes when ready and cannot be undone after you close the file, so make sure you want it gone before you confirm.
If you are not sure whether you need a layer, you can hide it instead by tapping the eye icon next to its name. Hidden layers do not print or export, but they stay in your file so you can bring them back later. This is safer than deleting if you might change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe left on a layer name to reveal a delete button, or press and hold the layer to open a menu with a delete option.
- Deleted layers cannot be recovered after you close the file, so use the undo button (two-finger tap) when ready if you delete by mistake.
- Hiding a layer with the eye icon is safer than deleting if you might need it later — hidden layers stay in your file but do not show up in your final image.
- You can select multiple layers at once by tapping one, then holding Shift and tapping others, then delete them all together.
The difference between deleting and hiding a layer
Deleting removes the layer from your file entirely. Once you close Procreate without saving, or once you save and close, that layer is gone for good. Hiding a layer (by tapping the eye icon) keeps it in your file but makes it invisible — it will not show in your final image, but you can unhide it anytime by tapping the empty space where the eye was.
Use delete when you are certain you will never need that layer again. Use hide when you are experimenting, comparing versions, or keeping reference layers that should not appear in the final export. Many artists keep a "reference" layer hidden so they can toggle it on and off while they work.
How to delete multiple layers at once
Tap the first layer you want to delete. Then hold Shift and tap each additional layer you want to remove — they will all highlight in blue. Once all the layers you want are selected, swipe left on any of them and tap delete, or press and hold and choose delete from the menu. All selected layers will disappear together.
This is useful when you have created several test layers or sketch layers that you no longer need. Be careful not to accidentally select a layer you want to keep — if you do, tap it again while still holding Shift to deselect it.
What happens when you delete your only layer
Procreate will not let you delete your last remaining layer. If you try, nothing happens — the delete option straightforward does not appear. You must always have at least one layer in your file. If you want a completely blank canvas, create a new layer first, then delete the old one.
This safety feature prevents you from accidentally ending up with an empty file that you cannot draw on. If you find yourself stuck with a layer you do not want, create a new blank layer, make it your active layer, then delete the unwanted one.
Undoing a deletion you did not mean to make
If you delete a layer by mistake, undo it when ready by tapping two fingers on the canvas (or using the undo button in the top menu). Undo works as long as you have not closed the file. Once you close Procreate, the undo history is gone and the deletion is permanent.
If you realize too late that you deleted something important, your only option is to revert to a previous version if you have one saved. Procreate does not have a trash bin or recovery system like some other apps do. This is why many artists save versions of their work — for example, "painting-v1", "painting-v2" — so they can go back if something goes wrong.
Organizing your layers so you do not delete the wrong one
Name your layers clearly so you know what each one contains. Tap the layer name twice to edit it, and give it a name like "Sketch", "Linework", "Shadows", or "Background". Unnamed layers all look the same, and it is straightforward to delete the wrong one when you are working fast.
You can also group related layers together by swiping right on a layer and tapping "Group". This creates a folder that holds multiple layers. You can collapse the group to hide its contents and make the Layers panel less cluttered. If you delete a group, all the layers inside it are deleted too, so be careful — but grouping also makes it easier to see which layers belong together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a layer I deleted after I closed the file?
No. Once you close Procreate, the undo history is erased and deleted layers cannot be brought back. If you saved the file after deleting, there is no way to recover it. Always undo when ready if you delete by mistake, before closing the app.
What if I delete a layer that was part of a clipping mask?
If you delete a layer that other layers were clipped to, those clipped layers will no longer be masked — they will behave like normal layers. The layers themselves are not deleted, only the mask relationship is broken. You can undo to restore the mask if you did not mean to remove it.
Does deleting a layer make my file smaller?
Yes. Each layer takes up memory, so removing layers reduces your file size. If your file is running slowly or using too much RAM, deleting unnecessary layers can help Procreate run faster. You can check your file size by going to Canvas and looking at the document info.
Can I delete a locked layer?
Yes, you can still delete a locked layer. Locking a layer only prevents you from drawing on it — it does not protect it from being deleted. If you want to keep a layer safe from accidental deletion, you have to be careful when you are selecting layers to remove.
What is the difference between merging and deleting layers?
Merging combines two layers into one, keeping all the pixels from both. Deleting removes a layer entirely. Use merge when you want to flatten your work or combine similar layers. Use delete when you no longer need a layer at all.