# How to share figma file view only on mac: invites, link roles and copy limits

> Learn how to share figma file view only on Mac: set Can view, copy the link, and block copying on paid plans. Steps for the desktop app.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/share-a-file-with-view-access-in-figma
Updated: 2026-11-06

Open the Figma file on your Mac, click Share in the top-right corner, and set the person's access to Can view. Then send an email invite or copy the link, and check that the link also says Can view before you send it.

## Quick answer

- Open the file, click Share in the top-right corner, and set access to Can view.
- Use an email invite for named people. Use Copy link for a wider group, and check its role first.
- Can view lets people look at the file and comment. They cannot edit it.
- Blocking copying, sharing, and export needs edit access and a plan that supports the setting.
- Test the link with a second account before you send it to a client or a team.

Applies to: Figma desktop app for Mac, Intel and Apple silicon, macOS 12 or later. Time: 5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Figma account with edit access to the file, or the Owner role, to change sharing
- Figma desktop app on macOS 12 Monterey or later, on Intel or Apple silicon
- A Professional or higher plan only if you want to block copying, sharing, and export
- The reviewer's email address, or permission to send a shared link

## How to Share a Figma file with view access on Mac in Figma on a Mac

1. **Open the file in the Figma desktop app.** Open the file in the Figma desktop app for Mac. The browser works too, because Figma's help article describes the same Share button. Confirm the file appears in your own list, not only through a link. Tip: If you cannot find the file, it may sit in a folder your account cannot see.
2. **Click Share in the top-right corner.** Look at the top-right corner of the file window and click Share. Figma's help article places the button there. Figma's desktop guide does not list a Mac menu item for sharing, so use the button. Tip: If Share is missing or greyed out, you probably have view access only. Ask the owner.
3. **Set Who has access to the right audience.** In the Share dialog, find Who has access. Choose Only invited people, Organization, or Anyone. Workspace also appears on Enterprise plans. Use Only invited people for anything sensitive. Tip: Anyone lets anyone with the link open the file. Check this setting before you copy a link.
4. **Invite by email and choose Can view.** Type the person's email in the invite field. Click the permission dropdown beside the field and choose Can view. Read the menu on your screen, since help articles use slightly different labels. Tip: Add one email at a time when you want a clear list of who has access.
5. **Send the invite.** Click Send invite. The person gets an email with a link. They must sign in with the account you invited, then accept the invite under that account. Tip: A work email and a personal email are two different accounts to Figma.
6. **Or copy a link for a wider group.** To share with a group, skip the email and click Copy link instead. Before you copy, check the role for people who open the link. It should read Can view. Then paste the link into your message. Tip: Check the link role every time. If it is set to edit, everyone with the link gets edit access.
7. **Confirm every name shows Can view.** Look at the list of people with access. Each row should say Can view. To fix a row, click the dropdown beside the name and choose Can view again. Tip: Fix this before you send the link. A quick check now prevents a surprise edit later.
8. **Optional: block copying, sharing, and export.** On a Professional, Education, Organization, Government, or Enterprise plan, you can stop viewers from copying. Click the current sharing permission in the right sidebar Share area. Open Share settings, then Advanced. Uncheck Viewers can copy, share, and export from this file. Tip: You need edit access to change this. The setting applies to this file only, so repeat it for each file.
9. **Test the link with a second account.** Open the link from an account that is not on your team, or ask a colleague to open it. Confirm the file opens, comments work, and editing tools are not available to them. Then send it. Tip: Test from a private window if you can. It shows what a stranger sees.

## What view access means in Figma

Figma gives each person one of three roles on a file. Can view lets people look at the file and leave comments, but not edit it. Can edit gives full editing. Owner is the role that controls the file.

View-only sharing means giving someone Can view. Your reviewers can open the file, follow along, and add comments. They cannot move layers, edit text, or change the file in any other way.

The labels are not identical everywhere. One Figma help article says view or edit, while the permissions article says Can view and Can edit. Trust the menu on your screen, and pick the entry that says Can view.

![Designer on a Mac learning how to share figma file view only on mac before sending a link to a teammate](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/share-a-file-with-view-access-in-figma/how-to-share-figma-file-view-only-1-6c1c69.jpg)

## Before you share: access and macOS version

You need edit access or ownership before you can change who sees a file. Figma's docs say that changing or removing access requires edit access to the file or folder. If you only have view access, you can see the file but you cannot manage its sharing.

Check your Mac too. Figma's desktop app guide says macOS 12 Monterey or newer is required. The app runs on both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. A search snippet claimed macOS 14, but I could not confirm that on Figma's own page, so treat 12 as the documented minimum.

Keep the app current. Figma's guide says support for a previous desktop version ends six months after each release. An old build may not match the steps you read, so update before you share.

## Email invite or shared link: which one to use

Use an email invite when you know exactly who needs the file. Each invited person gets a row in the Share dialog. You can see who has access and change it later from the same place.

Use Copy link when one address has to reach a group, such as a client's review team. Figma lists Only invited people, Organization, and Anyone as audience options. Workspace appears on Enterprise plans.

The Who has access setting matters more than the link itself. If it is set to Anyone, a forwarded link can reach people you never met. For sensitive work, choose Only invited people and invite each reviewer by email.

Starter teams have one quirk. A file in Drafts set to Anyone gives link recipients view-only access. If you want people to edit, move the file into a folder first.

![Person working on a Mac laptop and reviewing a design file shared with view access](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/share-a-file-with-view-access-in-figma/how-to-share-figma-file-view-only-2-f32b24.jpg)

## Who needs view-only sharing

Most people who receive view-only files do not design. Figma's FY2025 annual report says that in the three months ended December 31, 2025, about two-thirds of monthly active users were non-designers. That group includes product managers, researchers, marketers, and writers.

That mix explains why view access matters. A product manager reviewing a flow needs to comment, not move a button. A marketer checking copy needs to read it, not rewrite it. View-only keeps those reviews from changing the source file by accident.

Give view access to anyone who needs a read-through. Give edit access only to the person who will change the file. Keep the list short, because a long list is harder to check later.

- **Two-thirds** of monthly active users were non-designers in the three months ended Dec 31, 2025 ([source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579878/000162828026009228/fig-20251231.htm))
- **macOS 12** Minimum macOS version for the Figma desktop app, per Figma's desktop app guide ([source](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app))

## Stop viewers from copying, sharing, or exporting

View access does not stop a viewer from copying. To block that, turn off one setting for each file. Figma's restriction article gives the path: click the current sharing permission in the right sidebar Share area, open Share settings, and find Advanced.

Uncheck Viewers can copy, share, and export from this file. When that box is off, viewers cannot copy frames, layers, or text. They also cannot duplicate the file to their account, export assets, or save a local copy.

The plan rule matters. Figma lists this restriction on Professional, Education, Organization, Government, and Enterprise plans. You also need edit access to the file to change the setting, so a viewer cannot switch it on or off.

The setting covers everyone with view access. That includes people you invited by email and people who open the link. Figma's pages I checked do not state the default, so open Share settings and check the box yourself every time.

Figma's pricing page lists Professional at $16 per month. The page does not make clear whether that price assumes monthly or annual billing, so confirm the billing period before you buy.

## Change or remove access after you share

Open the file, click Share, and find the person in the list. Click the dropdown beside their name. From there you can switch them between Can view and Can edit, or remove them.

Removing direct access may not remove inherited access. If a team or parent folder grants access, that person keeps it until you change the folder. Check the folder permissions, not only the file.

You need edit access to the file or folder to change anyone's role. If the dropdown does nothing when you click it, your account probably lacks that access. Ask the owner to make the change.

## Test the link before you send it

Open the link from a second account before you send it. Check that you cannot edit anything, and that the role shown for that account is Can view. Your own account is an editor or owner, so it tells you very little about what viewers see.

If you cannot test with another account, ask a teammate to open the link. Ask them to describe exactly what they see. A missing comment button or a blank frame is easy to miss from your own login.

Test the copy restriction as well. Try to copy a layer from the file as a viewer. If the copy goes through, the box is probably still checked, or the file is not covered by a supported plan.

## Common mistakes that expose more than you meant

- Leaving Who has access on Anyone when the file holds unreleased work.
- Copying a link before you check that its role says Can view.
- Assuming Can view blocks copying. It does not, unless you turn off the Advanced setting.
- Removing a person from the file but forgetting team or folder access.
- Following a shortcut list that names a Mac key for Share. Figma's help pages do not document one.
- Testing only from your own account, which is always an editor or owner.

## Troubleshoot a viewer who cannot open the file

The most common error is 'You don't have permissions' or a 404 page. Figma's help says this usually means the person lacks access, or the file was deleted. It is rarely a problem with the app itself.

Start with the account. The viewer must sign in to the invited account and accept the invite under it. A personal email and a work email are the most common mix-up, because Figma treats them as different accounts.

If the file is gone, ask the owner to restore it or check the deleted files. If access is missing, ask the owner to send a fresh invite. If none of that works, Figma's help article suggests a bug report with the file link.

![Team reviewing design work on a shared screen during a meeting about a view-only file](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/share-a-file-with-view-access-in-figma/how-to-share-figma-file-view-only-3-9806ee.jpg)

## Where to go next

If your reviewer needs an image rather than the file, export the frame as a PNG. Viewers may not be able to export when the restriction is on, so check the setting first. See [how to export a frame as PNG in Figma on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/export-a-frame-as-png-in-figma).

If your developer needs vector files, export as SVG instead. The steps differ for single layers, frames, and bulk exports. See [how to export as SVG in Figma on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/export-as-svg-in-figma).

## If it does not work

- **Share button is missing or greyed out** You probably have view access only. Changing sharing needs edit access to the file or folder. Ask the owner to share it with edit access, or to make the change for you.
- **Viewer sees 'You don't have permissions' or a 404** Figma's help says this usually means no access or a deleted file. Have the viewer sign in to the invited account and accept the invite under that account. Check the file still exists, and ask the owner for a fresh invite if needed.
- **Viewers can still copy or export the file** Check the Advanced box in Share settings, and confirm the file is on a plan that supports the setting. Forum reports, which Figma's docs do not confirm, say copying to drafts can still happen. Test with a second account.
- **A removed person can still open the file** Their access may come from a team or a parent folder. Removing direct access may not remove inherited access. Check the folder permissions and change them there.
- **The Mac app will not install or open the file** The documented minimum is macOS 12 Monterey. Update the app, because support for a previous desktop version ends six months after each release.

## 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's the Share button?”: Lazur circles the Share button at the top right and labels it. You still click it yourself, and Lazur does not change any sharing setting. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Can I share a Figma file view only from the Mac desktop app?

Yes. Figma's help article describes the Share button in the top-right corner of the file. The desktop guide does not list a separate Mac menu for sharing, so the same button is the route. Check the dialog on your screen, because help pages can lag behind app updates.

### Does Can view stop people from copying my design?

No, not by itself. Can view lets people look at the file and comment. To stop copying, exporting, and duplicating, turn off Viewers can copy, share, and export from this file in Share settings, on a plan that supports it.

### Do I need a paid plan to share a file view only?

No. Figma's permissions article says file and folder permissions are available on all plans. The copy restriction is different. It needs a Professional, Education, Organization, Government, or Enterprise plan.

### What is the difference between Can view and Can edit?

Can view lets someone see the file and leave comments. Can edit gives full editing rights. Owner controls the file. Pick Can view for reviewers who only need to read.

### Can someone outside my company see a view-only file?

Yes, if you allow it. Figma's audience options include Anyone, Organization, and only invited people. Invite outsiders by email, and keep Who has access on Only invited people for sensitive files.

### How do I stop someone from viewing a file I shared?

Open the file, click Share, click the dropdown beside their name, and choose Remove. If their access also comes from a team or a parent folder, check the folder too, because removing direct access may not remove that.

### Why does a viewer see 'You don't have permissions'?

Figma's help says this usually means the person has no access, or the file was deleted. Have them sign in to the invited account and accept the invite under that account. Then confirm the file still exists.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to share a file on Mac?

Not one that Figma's help pages document. Some third-party lists name a shortcut, and those lists disagree with each other. Use the Share button in the top-right corner instead.

### How much does Figma Professional cost?

Figma's pricing page lists Professional at $16 per month. The page does not make clear whether that price assumes monthly or annual billing, so confirm the billing period on the pricing page before you buy.

## Sources

1. [Figma Help: Share files and prototypes](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040531773-Share-files-and-prototypes), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Figma Help: File and folder permissions](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/35361119554711-File-and-folder-permissions), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Figma Help: Restrict copying and sharing on files](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040045574-Restrict-copying-and-sharing-on-files), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Figma Help: Remove or adjust access](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040530793-Remove-or-adjust-access), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Figma Help: Guide to the Figma desktop app](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Figma Help: My files are not opening](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040528973-My-files-are-not-opening), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
7. [Figma Pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing/), Figma, checked 2026-11-07
8. [Figma, Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal 2025](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579878/000162828026009228/fig-20251231.htm), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), checked 2026-11-07