Keyboard shortcuts mastery in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Keyboard shortcuts help you work faster by using keys instead of clicking menus. They save time and make your design process smoother in Figma.

When you want to quickly zoom in or out on your design without using the mouse.

When you need to copy and paste elements repeatedly without moving your hand to the menu.

When you want to switch between tools like the move tool and the text tool instantly.

When you want to undo or redo changes quickly after a mistake.

When you want to group or ungroup layers without searching through menus.

Steps

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac)

- Anywhere in the Figma workspace

The last action you did is undone, reversing your change

💡 Use this to quickly fix mistakes without searching menus

Step 2: Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Cmd + C (Mac)

- Select an object or text in your design

The selected item is copied to the clipboard

💡 You can then paste it multiple times without reselecting

Step 3: Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac)

- Anywhere in the Figma canvas

The copied item is pasted at the cursor location

💡 Use this to duplicate elements quickly

Step 4: Press V

- Anywhere in the Figma workspace

The Move tool is activated, allowing you to drag objects

💡 Switch tools without clicking the toolbar

Step 5: Press T

- Anywhere in the Figma workspace

The Text tool is activated, ready for typing

💡 Start typing text quickly without searching the toolbar

Step 6: Press Ctrl + G (Windows) or Cmd + G (Mac)

- Select multiple layers or objects

The selected items are grouped into one layer

💡 Group related items to move or style them together

Step 7: Press Ctrl + Shift + G (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + G (Mac)

- Select a grouped layer

The group is ungrouped into individual layers

💡 Use this to edit individual items inside a group

Before vs After

Before

You click the Edit menu and select Undo to fix a mistake

After

You press Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z and the mistake is undone instantly

Settings Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts Help

📍 Help menu > Keyboard shortcuts

To learn and search for all available keyboard shortcuts

Default: Shows default Figma shortcuts

Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

📍 Not available in Figma (shortcuts are fixed)

Figma does not support custom shortcut keys

Default: N/A

Common Mistakes

Pressing Ctrl + C without selecting an object first

Nothing is copied because no item is selected

Always select the object or text before copying

Trying to customize keyboard shortcuts in Figma

Figma does not allow changing shortcuts, so no effect happens

Use the default shortcuts listed in the Help menu

Using shortcuts for the wrong operating system (Windows vs Mac)

Shortcuts differ between Windows and Mac, so they won't work if mixed

Use Ctrl for Windows and Cmd for Mac shortcuts accordingly

Summary

Keyboard shortcuts speed up your work by replacing mouse clicks with keys.

Common shortcuts include undo, copy, paste, and switching tools quickly.

Remember to select objects before copying and use the correct keys for your OS.