Batch operations and selection in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Batch operations and selection let you pick many items at once in your design and change them together. This saves time when you want to move, resize, or style many objects without doing each one separately.

When you want to move several shapes or text boxes to a new spot on the canvas at the same time

When you need to change the color or font of multiple text layers all at once

When you want to delete many unused objects quickly without clicking each one

When you want to group several elements to keep them organized and move them together

When you want to align or distribute multiple objects evenly across your design

Steps

Step 1: Click and drag

- canvas area

A selection box appears and all objects inside it become selected

💡 Hold Shift to add or remove objects from your selection

Step 2: Hold Shift and click

- individual objects on the canvas

Each clicked object is added to or removed from the current selection

💡 Use this to select objects that are not next to each other

Step 3: Press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac)

- anywhere in the canvas

All objects on the current frame or page are selected

💡 Use this to quickly select everything if you want to move or style all items

Step 4: Right-click

- on any selected object

Context menu opens with batch operation options like Group, Align, or Delete

💡 Grouping helps keep your selection organized for future edits

Step 5: Click the desired batch operation

- context menu or top toolbar

The operation applies to all selected objects at once

💡 For example, clicking Align Center will center all selected objects horizontally

Before vs After

Before

Five separate text boxes scattered randomly on the canvas

After

All five text boxes selected together and moved as one group to a new position

Settings Reference

Selection tool

📍 Toolbar on the left side

Allows you to select and manipulate objects on the canvas

Default: Select tool

Group selection

📍 Right-click context menu or Object menu

Groups selected objects so they move and resize together

Default: Ungrouped

Align tools

📍 Top toolbar when objects are selected

Aligns multiple selected objects relative to each other or the frame

Default: No alignment

Distribute tools

📍 Top toolbar when multiple objects are selected

Evenly spaces selected objects horizontally or vertically

Default: No distribution

Common Mistakes

Clicking objects without holding Shift to select multiple items

This deselects previous selections and only selects one object at a time

Hold Shift while clicking to add or remove objects from your selection

Trying to move objects without selecting them first

Objects will not move unless they are selected

Use the selection tool to select objects before moving or editing

Grouping objects unintentionally and then not knowing how to edit individual items

Grouped objects act as one unit until ungrouped

Right-click and choose Ungroup to edit individual objects inside a group

Summary

Batch operations let you select many objects and change them all at once.

Use Shift-click or drag selection box to pick multiple items.

Remember to group objects to keep them organized and move them together.