What is a .fig file?
Figma Design File · Design · Figma · 2016
A .fig file is an exported Figma design document: the offline copy of a file from the browser-based UI design tool that most product teams use. Figma normally keeps designs in the cloud; .fig is the download.
What is a .fig file used for?
Figma lives in the browser, so the .fig extension only appears when someone saves a local copy (File > Save local copy) for backup, hand-off or migration. The format is proprietary and undocumented, built for re-import rather than for other tools.
Getting a .fig back into use means dragging it into Figma, which recreates the full document with pages, components and auto-layout. Some competitors (Penpot, Sketch via plugins) import .fig with varying fidelity.
How to open a .fig file
The .fig format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .fig file.
Windows
- Figma (import)
- Figma desktop app
macOS
- Figma (import)
- Figma desktop app
Linux
- Figma in the browser (import)
How to convert a .fig file
You can convert a .fig file to pdf (export), png, svg using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.fig file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .fig file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for Figma.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | proprietary; no publicly documented fixed signature |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .fig file?
A .fig file is an exported Figma design document: the offline copy of a file from the browser-based UI design tool that most product teams use. Figma normally keeps designs in the cloud; .fig is the download.
How do I open a .fig file?
Drag it onto the Figma file browser (web or desktop app) and Figma imports it as a new document. There is no standalone viewer for the format.
Can I open a .fig file without a Figma account?
Not really: a free Figma account is the practical route. Penpot, the open-source alternative, can import many .fig files if you want to avoid Figma entirely.
Why do designers send links instead of .fig files?
Because Figma is cloud-first: a link always shows the live, current design with comments and dev mode. A .fig file is a frozen offline snapshot.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: