How to export a frame as PNG in Figma on Mac: step by step for beginners

Before you start: access, mode and app

The steps work for Figma Design files you open on a Mac. You can use the Figma desktop app or Figma in a browser. Both show an Export section, but the save step differs a little. Check your access level first, because it decides where the controls sit.

With edit access, you find the Export section at the bottom of the right sidebar in Design mode. With view access only, Figma places the same controls under the Properties tab. Dev Mode works differently again. It shows the Export section in the right sidebar, but only after you select an object.

What you need on your Mac

• A Mac with the Figma desktop app installed, or Figma open in a browser.
• A Figma Design file that contains a frame. A frame is a board you draw in, not a loose shape.
• Edit access to see the Export section in Design mode. View access works too, under the Properties tab.
• No plugin or add-in. The Export section is built into Figma.

Export one frame as PNG, step by step

Follow the steps in order. The menu names come from Figma's help center. I did not check them against a live build, so compare each one with what you see on your screen. Controls can move between versions, and the steps below cover the path that is documented.

Choosing a scale: 1x, 2x, or a fixed size

The scale field takes three kinds of input. A number followed by x multiplies the size. A number followed by w sets a fixed width, and a number followed by h sets a fixed height. By default, Figma exports at 72 DPI, multiplied by the scale you choose.

For most screens, pick 2x. Figma's formats article says a 2x PNG gives sharper output than the default. Use 1x when you only need the default size, such as a quick reference image. A fixed width or height works when a spec or a template asks for one dimension.

PNG settings worth checking

Once you choose PNG, a few settings appear. Ignore overlapping layers changes how Figma handles layers that overlap. Include bounding box only applies to text layers. Image resampling has two choices. Detailed is the default and uses bicubic sampling. Basic uses nearest neighbor, which keeps hard pixel edges.

You can also add a Suffix, which Figma appends to the file name. Pick a Color profile from Same as file, sRGB or Display P3. Use sRGB when the PNG will go to a website or app that expects that profile. Leave it on Same as file when the colors already look right.

One caution. Figma's export-formats article contradicts itself about Image quality. One place lists it under PNG. Another says it applies to JPG or PDF. Trust the panel on your screen, and test one export before you export a batch.

Clean backgrounds and transparent frames

A frame usually has a fill, and that fill goes into the export. To leave it out, select the frame, open the Fill section in the right sidebar, and untick Show in exports. Then export again. The fill stays in your design. Only the export changes.

A worked example: one frame, two files

Say you have a frame named checkout/mobile. A slide deck needs a sharp PNG, and an email needs a small JPG. Select the frame. Add one row, set it to PNG at 2x, and give it the suffix @2x. Add a second row, set it to JPG, and keep the scale at 1x.

Click Export once when both rows are ready. Figma exports each row. The slash in the name matters later. Bulk export turns it into folders, so checkout/mobile becomes a checkout folder with a file named mobile inside. Check each file before you send it.

Bulk export: File > Export and ⇧⌘E

Use bulk export when you have many frames. Open Main menu > File > Export, or press ⇧⌘E. The Export modal lists every selection on the current page that has export settings. You can review the list before you click Export.

Name frames before you bulk export. A slash in a name creates nested folders. For example, button/pill/default exports into a button folder and a pill folder, with the file named default. Clear names make the output folders easy to read.

Common mistakes that waste time

• Selecting a shape inside the frame instead of the frame itself. Pick the frame in the Layers panel to be sure.
• Leaving the scale at 1x and then calling the PNG blurry. Change it to 2x and export again.
• Searching for a single-frame shortcut. Figma's help article lists none for Mac.
• Expecting a fill to vanish on its own. Untick Show in exports in the Fill section.
• Looking in the wrong tab. View-only users find the Export section under Properties.
• Opening Dev Mode and expecting the section to show. It appears only when an object is selected.

Fixes when the export looks wrong

Most problems fall into three groups. The Export section is missing, the background is wrong, or part of the design is absent from the file. Each group has a short fix. Start with the one that matches your problem, then export again and compare.

If the Export section is missing, refresh the page. If the PNG has a background you did not want, hide the frame fill. If layers are missing, check Ignore overlapping layers in the PNG settings. Export again after each change, so you know which one worked.

Checking the PNG before you send it

Find the file in Finder and open it in Preview, the image app that comes with macOS. Look at the edges, the background and any text. If text looks soft, go back to Figma and export at 2x. Then send the new file, not the first draft.

PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF: when to pick another format

PNG suits screens, slides and anything with a clear edge. JPG is a good choice when file size matters more than exact pixels. Its Image quality setting defaults to High. SVG and PDF are limited to 1x, so Figma does not offer a larger scale for them.

If you need a vector file for code, pick SVG. Figma's help article says SVG can be scaled in code or with width and height variables. Stick with PNG when you only need a picture to look at, share or place in a document.

What changed in 2026 on Mac

The Figma release notes archive lists two desktop entries in April and May 2026. On April 24, 2026, Figma listed faster vector editing, quicker load times and fewer memory warnings. On May 1, 2026, Figma said links can open directly in the desktop app on macOS.

I found no 2026 entry that changes the export flow. The archive text may be cut off, though. Check the release notes yourself if an export behaves differently after an update.

Next steps after your first export

Once one frame exports cleanly, name the rest of the file the same way. Clean names make bulk export faster to check. If you design full-time, the guide to Figma for designers on Mac covers desktop setup and memory fixes in more depth.