Layer Management Basics in Figma

Every object you add to a Figma design, such as text, shapes, images, and Frames, appears as a layer. As a design becomes more complex, managing these layers helps you find elements quickly, control their order, and keep the file organized.

Layers Panel

The Layers panel shows all layers on the current page in a hierarchy. You can expand nested layers, collapse them, and select objects directly from the panel.

• The Layers panel provides a structured view of the objects on a Figma page.
• Clear layer names make complex designs easier to manage.
• Layer order controls which objects appear in front of or behind others.
• Hide temporarily removes a layer from view without deleting it.
• Lock prevents accidental edits to a layer.
• Nested layers can be expanded and collapsed from the Layers panel.

Basic Layer Management

1. Select Layers: You can select a layer directly on the canvas or from the Layers panel. When objects are nested inside a Frame or group, clicking the object may select the parent first. You can double-click or press Enter to move one level deeper and select the nested layer.

2. Rename Layers: Giving layers clear names makes them easier to identify in the Layers panel.

To rename a layer:

1. Select the layer in the Layers panel.
2. Right-click the layer and choose Rename.
3. Enter the new name and apply it.

Figma also supports renaming multiple selected layers at once. On Windows, you can open the Rename Layers modal with Ctrl + R; on Mac, use Command + R.

3. Change Layer Order: The order of layers controls how objects overlap on the canvas. A layer higher in the Layers panel appears in front of layers below it. You can change the order by dragging a layer up or down in the panel.

For example:

• Text
• Image
• Background

Here, the text appears above the image, while the background stays behind both.

4. Hide and Show Layers: You can hide a layer when you want to temporarily remove it from view without deleting it.

To hide a layer:

1. Hover over the layer in the Layers panel.
2. Click the visibility icon.
3. Click it again to show the layer.

A hidden layer remains in the file and can still be managed from the Layers panel.

5. Lock and Unlock Layers: Locking a layer prevents accidental changes to it on the canvas. This is useful for elements that should remain in place while you work on other parts of the design.

To lock a layer:

• Hover over the layer in the Layers panel.
• Click the lock icon.
• Click the icon again to unlock the layer.

A locked layer cannot be moved or edited through normal canvas interaction, but it can still be selected from the Layers panel. On Windows, the shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + L.