The Best Figma Shortcuts for Beginners

A short list of Figma shortcut to speed up your workflow and output time.

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Why Learn Figma Shortcuts?

Figma is a powerful design tool, and learning keyboard shortcuts can help speed up your workflow, reduce repetitive actions, and improve efficiency. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your process, these shortcuts will help you navigate the canvas, manage layers, and edit designs like a pro.

Essential Navigation & Selection Shortcuts

Move efficiently through your canvas and layers with these shortcuts:

  • Move Through Layers: Double Click
  • Zoom In: Command + Plus (+) / Scroll
  • Zoom Out: Command + Minus (-) / Scroll
  • Zoom to Fit: Shift + 1
  • Zoom to Section: Shift + 2
  • Pan Canvas: Hold Spacebar + Drag

Menu Bar Shortcuts for Quick Tool Access

Switch between tools quickly to speed up your design process:

  • Move Tool: V
  • Scale Tool: K
  • Frame Tool: F
  • Section Tool: Shift + S
  • Slice Tool: S
  • Rectangle Tool: R
  • Line Tool: L
  • Arrow Tool: Shift + L
  • Ellipse Tool: O
  • Pen Tool: P
  • Pencil Tool: Shift + P
  • Text Tool: T
  • Resources / Plugins Panel: Shift + I
  • Hand Tool (Pan): H / Hold Spacebar
  • Comment Tool: C
  • Layout Grid: Shift + ‘
  • Pixel Grid: Shift + G
  • Ruler: Shift + R
  • Place Image: Command + Shift + K

Canvas & Layer Management Shortcuts

Keep your workspace organized with these layer control shortcuts:

  • Duplicate Layer: Option + Drag / Command + D
  • Rename Layer: Command + R
  • Lock/Unlock Selection: Shift + Command + L
  • Hide/Unhide Selection: Shift + Command + H
  • Collapse All Layers: Option + L
  • Remove Fill: Option + /
  • Flatten Selection: Command + E

Layout & Grouping Shortcuts

Easily group, ungroup, and structure your designs:

  • Add Auto Layout: Shift + A
  • Frame Selection: Option + Command + G
  • Group Selection: Command + G
  • Ungroup Selection: Command + Shift + G
  • Delete Grouping: Command + Delete

Moving & Transforming Layers

Control your elements precisely with these layer movement shortcuts:

  • Bring Backward: Command + ]
  • Bring Forward: ]
  • Send Backward: Command + [
  • Send Forward: [
  • Flip Horizontal: Shift + H
  • Flip Vertical: Shift + V

Text Editing & Formatting Shortcuts

Quickly modify text styles, alignment, and spacing:

  • Bold: Command + B
  • Italic: Command + I
  • Underline: Command + U
  • Strikethrough: Shift + Command + X
  • Bullet List: Shift + Command + 7
  • Numbered List: Shift + Command + 8
  • Copy: Command + C
  • Cut: Command + X
  • Paste: Command + V
  • Paste Over Section: Command + Shift + V
  • Paste to Replace: Command + Shift + R

Text Alignment:

  • Align Left: Option + Command + L
  • Align Right: Option + Command + R
  • Align Center: Option + Command + T
  • Align Justified: Option + Command + J

Text Sizing:

  • Increase Font Size: Shift + Command + >
  • Decrease Font Size: Shift + Command + <
  • Increase Font Weight: Option + Command + >
  • Decrease Font Weight: Option + Command + <
  • Increase Line Height: Option + Shift + >
  • Decrease Line Height: Option + Shift + <
  • Increase Letter Spacing: Option + >
  • Decrease Letter Spacing: Option + <

Component & Layout Styles Shortcuts

Work efficiently with Figma components and design styles:

  • Create Component: Option + Command + K
  • Swap Component Instance: Command + Option + Double Click
  • Edit Text Style: Double Click on Text Style name in Design panel

Viewing, Help & UI Shortcuts

Customize your workspace and find resources quickly:

  • Show Outline: Shift + Command + O
  • Hide Left Side Layer Pane: Option + Shift + \
  • Hide Entire UI: Command + \
  • Quick Actions Menu: Command + / or Command + P
  • Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet: Command + Shift + ?
  • Help & Resources: ? icon in the bottom right corner

Alignment & Distribution Shortcuts

Ensure perfectly aligned elements with these shortcuts:

  • Align Left: Option + A
  • Align Right: Option + D
  • Align Top: Option + W
  • Align Bottom: Option + S
  • Distribute Horizontal Spacing: Control + Option + H
  • Distribute Vertical Spacing: Control + Option + V

Bonus Shortcuts for Power Users

These shortcuts make workflow even faster!

  • Quick Search: Command + /
  • Find on Canvas: Command + F
  • Export Designs: Shift + Command + E
  • Save to Version History: Shift + Command + S
  • Resize Proportionally While Dragging: Shift
  • Move While Resizing: Space

Advanced Text Editing: Cropping Letters in Figma

Want to modify text in a unique way? Follow these steps:

  1. Select the text and press Command + E to convert it into a vector.
  2. Press Enter, then use the Pen Tool (P) to create sections within the letters.
  3. Use the Half Full Diamond (Paint Bucket) to make selections transparent or invisible.

Conclusion: Master Figma Like a Pro

By learning and using these shortcuts, beginners can dramatically improve their workflow, save time, and work more efficiently in Figma. With consistent practice, these commands will become second nature, making designing in Figma faster and more intuitive.

Want to skip these shortcuts and let someone else handle it? Let our team at MKTG DESK take your design to the next level - whether it be for social media posts, social media ads, print media & ads, website design, brand creation and more.