Figma is a cornerstone of modern UI/UX design, empowering creators to build stunning interfaces and interactive prototypes. But what if you could supercharge your design process without writing a single line of code? The answer lies in mastering Figma shortcuts.
For non-coders, learning these simple key combinations can dramatically improve your workflow, making you a faster, more efficient designer. This guide will introduce you to the world of Figma shortcuts and show you how to leverage them for unparalleled productivity in UI design, prototyping, and vector editing.
What Are Figma Shortcuts?
Figma’s intuitive design environment is a major reason for its popularity. According to a 2024 UXness survey, 72% of UX professionals prefer Figma for wireframing and prototyping. This is, in part, due to its user-friendly interface that streamlines the design process.
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that trigger specific actions within the application, eliminating the need to navigate through menus with a mouse. By using these shortcuts, you can perform common tasks in a fraction of the time, keeping you in the creative flow.
Top 15 Figma Shortcuts
Here are the top 15 essential Figma shortcuts that every designer should know:
Create Frame (F): Quickly create a new frame, the foundation of any design in Figma.
Create Slice (S): Isolate and export specific parts of your design with the Slice tool.
Fit to Screen (Shift + 1): Get a full view of your entire canvas with a single key combination.
Zoom to Selection (Shift + 2): Instantly zoom in on a selected object to see the finer details.
Group Selection (Ctrl + G): Organize your layers by grouping selected elements together.
Ungroup (Ctrl + Shift + G): Quickly ungroup elements to edit them individually.
Rename Layer (Ctrl + R): Keep your project organized by renaming layers and objects.
Outline Mode (Ctrl + Y): View your designs as outlines, which is useful for checking alignment and structure.
Zoom In (Ctrl + +): Magnify your view to get a closer look at your design.
Zoom Out (Ctrl + -): Reduce the magnification to see more of your canvas.
Reset Zoom (Ctrl + 0): Instantly return to 100% zoom.
Hand Tool (H): Pan around your canvas without accidentally selecting or moving objects.
Select All (Ctrl + A): Select every element on your canvas at once.
Deselect (Shift + Ctrl + A): Clear your current selection.
Create Component (Ctrl + Alt + K): Turn a selection into a reusable component, a fundamental practice for efficient design systems.
How to Use Figma Shortcuts for Your Workflow
Customize Shortcuts
One of the powerful features of Figma is the ability to customize keyboard shortcuts to fit your personal workflow. By tailoring these shortcuts to your needs, you can further accelerate your design tasks. To change a shortcut, navigate to the "Keyboard Shortcuts" panel from the main menu and simply type in your preferred key combination for any given action. This level of personalization is key to making the tool work for you.
Use Shortcut panel
Figma also features a dynamic shortcut panel (accessible via Ctrl + Shift + ?) that displays all available shortcuts, helping you learn as you work. The design community is always a great source of practical advice. A Reddit user on the r/FigmaDesign subreddit shared their experience:
This highlights how different users find their own "must-have" Figma shortcuts that become integral to their process. For a complete list, you can always refer to Figma’s official documentation.
Conclusion
Mastering the top Figma shortcuts can have a significant impact on your design efficiency. By integrating these key combinations into your daily routine, you can streamline your workflow and focus more on the creative aspects of design. We encourage you to experiment with these shortcuts and discover how they can transform your process. As a final tip: "Learning Figma shortcuts will make you a faster, more efficient designer—without writing a single line of code.”
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1) What are the shortcut keys in Figma?
The most important and commonly used Figma shortcuts include F for Frame, T for Text, Ctrl + G for Group, and Ctrl + Alt + K for Create Component.
2) What does Ctrl+Alt+K do in Figma?
This shortcut creates a component from your selection, which is essential for building scalable and consistent design systems.
3) What does Shift+R do in Figma?
This shortcut toggles the rulers on and off in the design interface, helping you with alignment and measurement.
4) Why doesn't Ctrl+Z work in Figma?
While Ctrl + Z (undo) generally works, it might not function as expected if you’re in a specific editing mode (like editing a vector path) or if there's a conflict with a browser extension. Ensure you've exited any specific editing mode, and try disabling browser extensions if the problem persists.
