# How to install figma desktop app on Mac: step by step for beginners

> How to install figma desktop app on Mac: download Figma from figma.com, move it to Applications, and check for updates. macOS 12 or later.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/install-the-desktop-app-in-figma
Updated: 2026-11-06

To install the Figma desktop app on a Mac, download Desktop app for macOS from figma.com/downloads, run the installer, and drag Figma into Applications. Then delete the installer, open Figma, sign in, and choose Figma > Check for Updates to get the latest version.

## Quick answer

- Check that your Mac runs macOS 12 or later. Go to Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Download Desktop app for macOS from figma.com/downloads, then run the installer.
- Drag Figma from Downloads into Applications, then delete the installer.
- Open Figma, sign in, and choose Figma > Check for Updates.

Applies to: macOS 12 or later, Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Time: 10 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac running macOS 12 or later
- An Intel or Apple silicon processor
- A Figma account
- Access to figma.com/downloads

## How to Install the Figma desktop app on a Mac in Figma on a Mac

1. **Check your macOS version.** (Apple menu > About This Mac) Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose About This Mac. The Figma desktop app needs macOS 12 or later. If you are on an older version, update macOS first. Tip: The same window shows whether your Mac has an Intel or Apple silicon chip.
2. **Open the Figma download page.** Go to figma.com/downloads in your browser. Find the Desktop app for macOS link. It leads to figma.com/download/desktop/mac. Tip: Skip copies of Figma that appear on other sites.
3. **Start the download.** (Finder > Go > Downloads) Click the link and let the browser save the installer. It usually lands in your Downloads folder. If you cannot find it, open Finder and choose Go > Downloads.
4. **Run the installer.** Open the installer from Downloads and follow the window it shows. The downloads page lists one desktop installer for macOS.
5. **Move Figma to Applications.** Drag the Figma icon from the installer window or from Downloads into the Applications folder. Figma's guide lists this as moving the icon from Downloads to Applications. Tip: If you cannot see Applications, open a Finder window and choose Go > Applications.
6. **Delete the installer.** (File > Move to Trash) Shortcut: ⌘ ⌫. After Figma is in Applications, select the installer and move it to the Trash. Figma's guide says to delete it from Desktop or Downloads.
7. **Open Figma.** Shortcut: ⌘ Space. Open Figma from Applications, or press ⌘ Space, type Figma, and press Return. Sign in with the account you use in the browser so links open in the app.
8. **Check for updates.** (Figma > Check for Updates) With Figma open, click Figma in the top menu bar and choose Check for Updates. Let the update finish before you open a file.
9. **Review preferences.** (Figma > Preferences) Open Figma > Preferences to change app settings. Check Permissions and helpers if a Figma link does not open the app.
10. **Check the keyboard shortcuts.** Shortcut: ⌃ ⇧ ?. Press ⌃ ⇧ ? to open the shortcuts panel inside Figma. Figma's Help Center names the Mac keys as Command, Option, Control and Shift.

Before you download anything, check two things. The Figma desktop app needs macOS 12 or later. Figma says it is optimized for Macs with Intel processors and for Macs with Apple silicon, so you do not need to pick a chip version. If your Mac runs an older macOS, update it through Software Update first.

## Check your macOS version before you download

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen, then choose About This Mac. The window shows your macOS version and your chip type. If the version is older than macOS 12, install the latest update through Software Update, then come back to this page. Figma's Help Center describes the same check, so you do not have to guess.

| What to check | What you need | Where to look |
| --- | --- | --- |
| macOS version | macOS 12 or later | Apple menu > About This Mac |
| Processor | Intel or Apple silicon | Same About This Mac window |
| Figma account | The same login in the browser and the app | Your account at figma.com |

_Checks before you install the Figma desktop app on your Mac_

## Download Figma for macOS from the official page

Start at figma.com/downloads. The page lists a Desktop app for macOS link. That link goes to figma.com/download/desktop/mac, which is the address to bookmark if you reinstall later. The same page also lists a separate Figma Font installer for macOS. Figma says the desktop app already includes the font installer, so read that note before you download a second file.

Download only from figma.com. Search results sometimes point to copies of Figma on other sites. You do not need one, and the official link is the safer way to get the installer. Your browser saves the file to Downloads unless you changed that setting. If you cannot find it, open Finder and choose Go > Downloads.

## Run the installer and move Figma to Applications

Open the installer from Downloads and follow the window it shows. Then drag the Figma icon into the Applications folder. Figma's guide lists this order: download, run the installer, move the Figma icon from Downloads to Applications, delete the installer, then open Figma. Keep to that order, because the later steps assume the app is already in Applications.

> **Keep Figma in Applications:** Running Figma straight from Downloads is not the setup Figma describes. Move it to Applications first, then open it from there.

![Person at a desk following steps on how to install figma desktop app on mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/install-the-desktop-app-in-figma/how-to-install-figma-desktop-app-on-1-e17263.jpg)

## Delete the installer and open Figma for the first time

When Figma sits in Applications, delete the installer from Desktop or Downloads. Figma's guide asks for this step. Select the installer in Finder and choose File > Move to Trash, or press ⌘ ⌫. Empty the Trash once you are sure you do not need the file again.

Open Figma from Applications. You can also press ⌘ Space, type Figma, and press Return. Sign in with the account you use in the browser. Mismatched accounts cause one of the link errors that Figma documents, so check which email address you use before you open a file from a link.

## Open Figma and check for updates

With Figma open, click Figma in the top menu bar and choose Check for Updates. Figma says the app prompts you when an update is available, and it recommends staying on the latest version. If your Mac is company-managed, ask your administrator to handle updates instead of installing them yourself.

Treat the version file as a reference point, not a rule. On 2026-11-07, Figma's version file listed 126.11.8 for the macOS desktop app. A newer release may already be out when you read this. Compare your copy with that number, then update if yours is older.

- **macOS 12** Oldest macOS version the Figma desktop app supports ([source](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app))
- **126.11.8** Desktop version listed in Figma's macOS version file on 2026-11-07 ([source](https://desktop.figma.com/mac/version.txt))

## How long Figma supports older desktop versions

Figma's Help Center says support for previous versions is removed six months after release. The Deploy on macOS article gives a shorter window. It says Figma supports desktop app versions for up to two months, in its section on installs that cannot update themselves. The two pages do not match, so do not plan around either number alone. Update when Figma prompts you, and do it soon after each release.

## Install Figma Beta or the font installer

Figma Beta installs as its own app. The Help Center says it can run next to the regular app, with icons labeled Figma and Figma Beta. It does not need the same login in both. Use it to try new features while you keep the regular app for daily work.

The Figma Font installer for macOS is a separate download on the Downloads page. Figma states that the desktop app includes the font installer, so you may not need the separate file. Read the note on the page before you install both.

## Install Figma on managed Macs

Organization admins on Education (K-12), Government and Enterprise plans can deploy Figma with the macOS Enterprise installer. The admin opens the Admin area, selects the Settings tab, goes to the Other section, picks the macOS Enterprise installer, and clicks Download. Figma also provides an RSS feed for update notices, which admins can subscribe to.

| Install type | Where it lives | Updates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Single-user install | ~/Applications | Auto updates without special permissions |
| System-wide install | /Applications | Updates need write access to the folder |
| Universal stub installer | Figma.app placed in Applications | Downloads the latest version on first launch |

_Install locations from Figma's Deploy on macOS article_

If the app folder is not writable, the app does not auto update. Admins must push new versions by hand, and on time. The Deploy on macOS article says desktop app versions are supported only for up to two months, so a missed update can leave a fleet of Macs behind.

![Mac laptop on a desk, the kind of machine that runs the Figma desktop app](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/install-the-desktop-app-in-figma/how-to-install-figma-desktop-app-on-2-59e58b.jpg)

## Fix the Figma desktop app that won't open on Mac

Figma documents several fixes for link errors. If the browser says the Desktop app can't open this link, the app and the browser use different accounts. Sign in to the same account in both. Then open Figma > Preferences > Permissions and helpers. If Local network access reads Blocked or Not connected, follow the prompts to allow access and connect.

Browsers can block the connection too. In Chrome 142 or newer, set Local network access to Allow for figma.com in Site settings. Brave needs a figma.com exception in Shields. Microsoft Edge needs a figma.com exception to Strict mode. Add only the exception that matches the browser you use.

The damaged error is a different problem. A Jamf community thread about macOS Ventura describes it, and the poster traced it to the quarantine attribute that macOS adds to downloaded files. One workaround clears that attribute with the xattr command. The poster warned it can be a security risk, and Figma has not confirmed it. Reinstall from the official download first.

A Figma community thread from December 2, 2025, described the app not opening on macOS Tahoe 26.1. A community staff member suggested moving the app to Applications, then deleting and reinstalling it. That is the same order as the steps above, so start there before you try anything more involved.

## Mistakes to avoid when you install Figma on Mac

- Downloading from a copy site. Use figma.com/downloads, which links to the official desktop installer.
- Running Figma from Downloads. Move it to Applications first, as Figma's guide describes.
- Leaving the installer behind. Delete it once Figma is in Applications, so you do not reopen the wrong file later.
- Mixing accounts. A personal login in the app and a work login in the browser causes the link error.
- Ignoring update prompts. Figma recommends staying on the latest version.
- Installing on a managed Mac without checking. Company-managed computers should ask the administrator to update.

## Keyboard shortcuts to learn after the install

Figma's Help Center writes Mac keys as Command, Option, Control and Shift. Those names match the symbols ⌘, ⌥, ⌃ and ⇧. The table covers the shortcuts that the keyboard article documents for Mac, so you can check each one against the app.

| Action | Shortcut on Mac | How to use it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zoom in or out | ⌘ + or ⌘ - | Hold Command, then press + or - |
| Box selection | ⌥ Space | Hold Option, then press Space |
| Move focus to the toolbar | F6 | Press F6 |
| Open the shortcuts panel | ⌃ ⇧ ? | Shows the full list inside Figma |

_Shortcuts from Figma's keyboard article, Mac keys_

Third-party lists do not always agree with Figma. One list gives a different key for the layout grid toggle than another does. When sources disagree, trust the shortcuts panel inside the app. Figma's keyboard article also says keyboard controls cannot be turned off, so it pays to learn the common ones early.

## Next steps after the install

Make a test file, then try one small task. A good first task is building a component, which mixes the Mac menus with right-click steps. Export one frame when you feel comfortable. These guides cover those tasks on Mac: [create a component in Figma](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-component-in-figma), [export a frame as PNG](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/export-a-frame-as-png-in-figma), and [share a file with view access](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/share-a-file-with-view-access-in-figma).

If Figma still does not open, check the macOS version first. Then reinstall from the official link on figma.com/downloads. Work through the troubleshooting list before you change any system settings, since most fixes sit inside Figma's own menus.

## Shortcuts

- Zoom in or out: ⌘ + or ⌘ -
- Box selection: ⌥ Space
- Move focus to the toolbar: F6
- Open the shortcuts panel: ⌃ ⇧ ?
- Delete a file in Finder: ⌘ ⌫
- Open Spotlight search: ⌘ Space

## If it does not work

- **The browser says Figma's Desktop app can't open this link** Your browser and the app use different accounts. Sign in to the same Figma account in both, then try the link again.
- **Local network access says Blocked or Not connected** Open Figma > Preferences > Permissions and helpers. Follow the dialog prompts to allow access and connect.
- **Links do not open in Chrome, Brave or Edge** Chrome 142 or newer: set Local network access to Allow for figma.com in Site settings. Brave: add a figma.com exception in Shields. Edge: add a figma.com exception to Strict mode.
- **macOS says Figma is damaged** Reinstall from figma.com/download/desktop/mac first. Figma has not documented an official fix. Community workarounds clear the quarantine attribute and bypass Gatekeeper, so use one only for a copy you trust.
- **Figma will not open after a macOS upgrade** A community staff member suggested moving the app to Applications, then deleting and reinstalling it, per a Figma forum thread from December 2, 2025.
- **Updates do not install on a managed Mac** Company-managed computers should contact the administrator. If the app folder is not writable, the app does not auto update.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where do I check for Figma updates on my Mac?”: Lazur circles Check for Updates under the Figma menu in the top bar. It does not click for you, so you make the click yourself. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Does the Figma desktop app work on Intel and Apple silicon Macs?

Yes. Figma's Help Center says the desktop app is optimized for Macs with Intel processors and for Macs with Apple silicon. Figma's downloads page lists one Desktop app for macOS link, so you do not pick a chip version.

### What macOS version do I need for the Figma desktop app?

You need macOS 12 or later. Check it from the Apple menu by choosing About This Mac. If your Mac runs an older version, update macOS before you install Figma.

### Do I need to delete the installer after installing Figma?

Figma's install steps include deleting the installer from Desktop or Downloads once the app is in Applications. Deleting it stops an old file from confusing you later. The app itself stays in Applications.

### Can I run Figma Beta next to the regular Figma app?

Yes. Figma Beta installs as its own app and can run alongside the regular app. The two icons are labeled Figma and Figma Beta, and the Help Center says you do not need the same login in both.

### Why does macOS say the Figma app is damaged?

Community reports describe a damaged error caused by the quarantine attribute that macOS adds to downloads. Figma has not documented an official fix. Reinstall from figma.com/download/desktop/mac first, and read the troubleshooting section before you try an unofficial workaround.

### How do I update the Figma desktop app on Mac?

Click Figma in the top menu bar and choose Check for Updates. If your Mac is managed by a company, ask your administrator to handle the update instead.

### Is Figma on the Mac App Store?

I could not confirm that from Figma's own pages, so I left it out. Download the desktop app from figma.com/downloads, which is the official page.

### Why does my browser say the Figma desktop app can't open a link?

The most likely cause is that the browser and the desktop app use different Figma accounts. Sign in to the same account in both. Brave and Edge can also block the redirect until you add a figma.com exception.

## Sources

1. [Figma Downloads](https://www.figma.com/downloads/), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Guide to the Figma desktop app](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Figma macOS desktop version.txt](https://desktop.figma.com/mac/version.txt), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Deploy Figma on macOS](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500012289622-Deploy-Figma-on-macOS), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Deploy Figma via the macOS Enterprise installer](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/17686512113175), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Troubleshoot opening links in the Desktop app](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/22850791655831-Troubleshoot-opening-links-in-the-Desktop-app), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
7. [Use Figma products with a keyboard](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040328653-Use-Figma-products-with-a-keyboard), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
8. [Figma desktop app not opening](https://forum.figma.com/report-a-problem-6/figma-desktop-app-not-opening-48107), Figma Community Forum, checked 2026-11-07
9. [Figma desktop app is not running after upgrade Ventura](https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/figma-desktop-app-is-not-running-after-upgrade-ventura/m-p/283737), Jamf Community, checked 2026-11-07