Fix for persistence on page reload

public/app/features/explore-map/hooks/useCanvasPersistence.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ export function useCanvasPersistence() {
 
   // Save state to storage whenever it changes, including Explore state
   useEffect(() => {
+    // Don't persist an empty canvas; this avoids removing a previously saved
+    // non-empty canvas when the in-memory state is still at its initial value.
+    if (!exploreMapState || Object.keys(exploreMapState.panels || {}).length === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     try {
       // Enrich exploreMapState with current Explore state for each panel
       const enrichedState: ExploreMapState = {

public/app/features/explore-map/state/exploreMapSlice.ts

@@ -201,9 +201,16 @@ const exploreMapSlice = createSlice({
 
     loadCanvas: (state, action: PayloadAction<ExploreMapState>) => {
       const loadedState = action.payload;
-      // Clear any selection state from loaded data
-      loadedState.selectedPanelIds = [];
-      return loadedState;
+
+      // Merge with initial state to ensure we always have required defaults
+      // and to avoid persisting ephemeral state like selection and cursors.
+      return {
+        ...initialExploreMapState,
+        ...loadedState,
+        panels: loadedState.panels || {},
+        selectedPanelIds: [],
+        cursors: {},
+      };
     },
 
     updateCursor: (state, action: PayloadAction<UserCursor>) => {