diff --git a/docs/api.rst b/docs/api.rst
index bf14a42eb..2423ca714 100644
--- a/docs/api.rst
+++ b/docs/api.rst
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ Possible ways for specifying the crs for plotting are:
     There is one layer-name that has a special meaning... the ``"all"`` layer.
     Any callbacks, features or plots added to this layer will be **executed on all other layers** as well!
 
-    You can always add features and callbacks to the ``all`` layer via the shortcut ``m.all. ...``
-
+    You can add features and callbacks to the ``all`` layer via:
+    - using the shortcut ``m.all. ...``
+    - creating a dedicated ``Maps`` object via ``m_all = Maps(layer="all")`` or ``m_all = m.new_layer("all")``
+    - using the "layer" kwarg of functions e.g. ``m.plot_map(layer="all")``
 
 .. currentmodule:: eomaps
 
diff --git a/eomaps/_containers.py b/eomaps/_containers.py
index 44a26c85b..86848db71 100644
--- a/eomaps/_containers.py
+++ b/eomaps/_containers.py
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ def set_colorbar_position(self, pos=None, ratio=None, cb=None):
         """
 
         if cb is None:
-            _, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, _ = self._m._colorbar
+            _, _, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, _ = self._m._colorbar
         else:
-            _, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, _ = cb
+            _, _, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, _ = cb
 
         if orientation == "horizontal":
             pcb = ax_cb.get_position()
diff --git a/eomaps/eomaps.py b/eomaps/eomaps.py
index 04a4e58df..c66a742ee 100644
--- a/eomaps/eomaps.py
+++ b/eomaps/eomaps.py
@@ -2810,7 +2810,11 @@ def add_colorbar(
         """
         Add a colorbar to an existing figure.
 
-        (NOTE: the preferred way is to use `plot_map(colorbar=True)` instead!)
+        The colorbar always represents the data of the associated Maps-object
+        that was assigned in the last call to `m.plot_map()`.
+
+        By default, the colorbar will only be visible on the layer of the associated
+        Maps-object (you can override this by providing an explicit "layer"-name).
 
         To change the position of the colorbar, use:
 
@@ -2853,6 +2857,11 @@ def add_colorbar(
             The padding between the colorbar and the parent axes (as fraction of the
             plot-height (if "horizontal") or plot-width (if "vertical")
             The default is (0.05, 0.1, 0.1, 0.05)
+        layer : int, str or None, optional
+            The layer to put the colorbar on.
+            To make the colorbar visible on all layers, use `layer="all"`
+            If None, the layer of the associated Maps-object is used.
+            The default is None.
         log : bool, optional
             Indicator if the y-axis of the plot should be logarithmic or not.
             The default is False
@@ -3024,7 +3033,7 @@ def add_colorbar(
         )
 
         # hide the colorbar if it is not added to the currently visible layer
-        if layer != self.BM._bg_layer:
+        if layer not in [self.BM._bg_layer, "all"]:
             ax_cb.set_visible(False)
             ax_cb_plot.set_visible(False)
             m.BM._hidden_axes.add(ax_cb)
@@ -3038,7 +3047,7 @@ def add_colorbar(
         self.BM.add_bg_artist(self._ax_cb_plot, layer)
 
         # remember colorbar for later (so that we can update its position etc.)
-        self._colorbar = [cbgs, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, cb]
+        self._colorbar = [layer, cbgs, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, cb]
 
         return [cbgs, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, cb]
 
diff --git a/eomaps/helpers.py b/eomaps/helpers.py
index e07c170b2..43b9e7f05 100644
--- a/eomaps/helpers.py
+++ b/eomaps/helpers.py
@@ -824,17 +824,17 @@ def bg_layer(self, val):
         # a general callable to be called on every layer change
         self._do_on_layer_change(layer=val)
 
+        # hide all colorbars that are not no the visible layer
         for m in [self._m.parent, *self._m.parent._children]:
-            if m.layer != val:
-                if hasattr(m.figure, "ax_cb") and m.figure.ax_cb is not None:
-                    m.figure.ax_cb.set_visible(False)
-                if hasattr(m.figure, "ax_cb_plot") and m.figure.ax_cb_plot is not None:
-                    m.figure.ax_cb_plot.set_visible(False)
-            else:
-                if hasattr(m.figure, "ax_cb") and m.figure.ax_cb is not None:
-                    m.figure.ax_cb.set_visible(True)
-                if hasattr(m.figure, "ax_cb_plot") and m.figure.ax_cb_plot is not None:
-                    m.figure.ax_cb_plot.set_visible(True)
+            if getattr(m, "_colorbar", None) is not None:
+                [layer, cbgs, ax_cb, ax_cb_plot, orientation, cb] = m._colorbar
+
+                if layer != val:
+                    ax_cb.set_visible(False)
+                    ax_cb_plot.set_visible(False)
+                else:
+                    ax_cb.set_visible(True)
+                    ax_cb_plot.set_visible(True)
 
         # self.canvas.flush_events()
         self._clear_temp_artists("on_layer_change")