# Display overlays

Last updated:

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October 18, 2026

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\| 2 minutes read

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Learn how to enable and disable map overlays to add or remove contextual information layers.

## Overview[​](#overview "Direct link to Overview")

Overlays provide enhanced, layered information on top of your base map. They offer dynamic, interactive, and customized data that adds contextual value to map elements.

## Disable overlays[​](#disable-overlays "Direct link to Disable overlays")

Disable overlays by applying a custom map style from [Magic Lane Map Studio](https://developer.magiclane.com/documentation/OnlineStudio/guide_creating_a_style.html) with certain overlays disabled, or by using the `disableOverlay` method:

```dart
GemError error = OverlayService.disableOverlay(CommonOverlayId.publicTransport.id);

```

Pass -1 (default value) as the optional `categUid` parameter to disable the entire overlay rather than a specific category.

The returned error is `success` if the overlay was disabled, or `notFound` if no overlay with the specified ID was found in the applied style.

### Disable specific overlay categories[​](#disable-specific-overlay-categories "Direct link to Disable specific overlay categories")

To disable specific overlays within a category, retrieve their unique identifiers (uid):

```dart
final Completer<GemError> completer = Completer<GemError>();
final availableOverlays = OverlayService.getAvailableOverlays(onCompleteDownload: (error) {
  completer.complete(error);
});

await completer.future;
  
final collection = availableOverlays.$1;
final overlayInfo = collection.getOverlayAt(0);
if(overlayInfo != null) {
  final uid = overlayInfo.uid;
  final err = OverlayService.disableOverlay(uid);
  showSnackbar(err.toString());
}

```

## Enable overlays[​](#enable-overlays "Direct link to Enable overlays")

In a similar way, the overlay can be enabled using the `enableOverlay` method by providing the overlay id. It also has an optional `categUid` parameter, which when left as default, it activates whole overlay rather than a specific category.

## Relevant examples demonstrating overlays related features[​](#relevant-examples-demonstrating-overlays-related-features "Direct link to Relevant examples demonstrating overlays related features")

* [Create Custom Overlay](/docs/flutter/examples/places-search/create-custom-overlay.md)