Figma has dozens of design features, each accompanied by very useful shortcuts. In this article, we compile 10 keyboard shortcuts that are incredibly useful for designers looking to work more efficiently.
For each of the following keyboard shortcuts, replace the Cmd key (on Mac) with the Ctrl key if you are using Windows.
1. Duplicate elements: Cmd + D
The shortcut Cmd (on Mac) or Ctrl (on PC) + D replaces Cmd + C / Cmd + V. Two keyboard shortcuts in one! This shortcut also remembers the distances at which you've positioned your new element for future duplications.
2. Stretch while maintaining proportions: K
By pressing K, you can stretch any element in your Figma file while preserving its height, width, and size proportions.
3. Stretch a Frame without moving the elements: Cmd + stretch
In Figma, the graphical elements contained within frames have certain constraints. When you stretch your frame up and down or side to side, the contained elements will behave according to the defined constraints. To stretch your frame without altering the position of the contained elements, you need to "disable" these constraints. Hold down Cmd or Ctrl, then stretch the frame.
4. Rectangle, line, arrow, and ellipse: R, L, Shift + L, O
Access Figma's vector shapes with a single click!
- Square: R
- Line: L
- Arrow: Shift + L
- Ellipse: O
5. Show or hide layout grids: Shift + G
Most designers use layout grids to standardize spacing, margins, section sizes, etc. Figma allows you to quickly show or hide all layout grids in your design with Shift + G.
6. Move with horizontal or vertical alignment: Shift + move
When you move elements in Figma, hold down the Shift key and choose an axis. This keyboard shortcut lets you maintain that axis while repositioning.
7. Keep elements within a frame: Space
Sometimes, you may want to move a visual near the edges of a Frame without it going outside. As soon as your cursor leaves the frame, the graphic element you are holding will exit as well. However, if you hold down Space, this won't happen!
This keyboard shortcut also works conversely if you want to overlay visual elements on a frame without them actually entering it.
8. Create a Frame: F or Cmd + Opt + G
There are two keyboard shortcut options for creating a frame in Figma, which you can use based on your needs.
- If you wish to create a new frame from scratch, simply press the F key to access the feature.
- If you want to group elements within a frame, select those elements and press: Cmd + Opt + G
As a bonus, the shortcut Cmd + G allows you to group elements together instead of creating a Frame.
9. Rename: Cmd + R
Rename any element in your Figma by selecting it and using the keyboard shortcut Cmd + R.
10. Access Figma plugins: Cmd + Opt + P
Since the June 2022 update, Figma has revamped its plugin interface to make it much more accessible. However, some plugins still close after each use, which can be a bit inconvenient when trying to use them repeatedly. To solve this issue, you can use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Opt + P to reopen the last-used plugin.
Did this article help you design faster? If so, accelerate your workflow with Webflow keyboard shortcuts!
