Figma retires UI2, moves fully to UI3

Figma will retire its previous interface, UI2, on April 30 as the company completes its transition to UI3, the redesigned interface introduced last year. Going forward, new features will be built exclusively for UI3, making the switch a requirement rather than an option. The company says it has addressed community feedback before the cutoff, including replacing the redundant "Reset others" icon, simplifying boolean operation strings, deduplicating overflow menu actions, updating the mask icon, and reverting to a tidy-up experience closer to UI2. Post-transition work will focus on the Properties panel.

For those still on the fence, the adjustment period appears short. Product Designer Lilit Bala noted on Twitter that UI3 "felt really natural to slide into," while Digital Product Designer Joshua Guo said the change took "about one week" before muscle memory caught up. Below are the workflow improvements that make the new interface worth the switch.

Smarter eyedropper selection

The eyedropper tool (I) works as before but now detects styles and variables. Select an element, grab the eyedropper, and hover over any instance of a color—Figma shows the underlying style or variable rather than just the hex value. You can also tab between color models such as Hex, HSB, and RGB while inspecting. If a color isn't yet tied to a variable, a shortcut (shift+cmd) creates and applies one directly from the canvas, eliminating a trip to the design panel.

Logical layout controls

The design panel has been reorganized so auto layout controls live together: width and height sit alongside resizing behavior, layout direction, alignment, and spacing. In UI2, these were split across panels, forcing constant jumping. Component details now also appear at the top of the design panel when selected, making variant and property management more consistent.

Minimize UI that stays out of the way

UI3's Minimize UI feature hides panels without losing access to tools. The toolbar remains available, and the design panel appears on selection, then disappears on deselect—useful when editing components or variants where the layer hierarchy isn't needed. Keyboard shortcuts keep things moving:

  • Minimize UI panels: Shift \
  • Hide all UI: ⌘ \ or Ctrl \
  • Rename (while UI is minimized or hidden): ⌘ R or Ctrl R

This is particularly valuable on smaller displays where canvas space is at a premium.

Actions menu for everything

The Actions menu replaces quick actions from UI2 and launches with the same familiar shortcuts. It centralizes access to library assets, plugins, widgets, and AI features in one searchable interface. Beyond traditional shortcuts, Actions covers operations that never had them—boolean operations, aspect ratio lock, property labels, and more. Instead of hunting through menus, users can type what they need and discover features they didn't know existed.

AI features built into the workflow

UI3 ships with AI tools designed to handle repetitive tasks without interrupting the creative process:

  • Visual search: Upload a screenshot or select a canvas area to find existing designs and components across files.
  • Make image: Generate contextual placeholder images instead of searching stock photo sites.
  • Rename layers: Select layers and let AI suggest contextual names, replacing generic titles like "Frame 14353411."

Search also accepts rough pencil sketches, not just images.

Additional improvements worth exploring

  • Smarter frame handling: Frames auto-position at (0,0), remember the last used size, and make duplication and addition effortless.
  • Better branch reviews: Changes to variable fields are shown clearly in branch reviews, with potential conflicts flagged early.
  • Flexible panels and modals: Panels are resizable, horizontal scrolling helps navigate complex files, and the libraries modal has been refreshed for faster browsing.
  • Optional property labels: Toggle them on via the dropdown next to the zoom percentage in the properties panel while learning the UI, then turn them off when ready.
  • Bottom toolbar: Moving tools to the bottom frees canvas space and standardizes placement across Figma products. Keyboard shortcuts remain fully functional.

Practical steps for switching to UI3

UI3 brings a number of small but meaningful changes that can take some getting used to. A few practical habits can make the transition much smoother:

  • Turn on property labels first. Open the Actions menu and search for "Property labels." They help you locate familiar controls while you're still getting oriented.
  • Prioritize your core workflows. Spend time on your most common tasks before exploring new or advanced features.
  • Pause shortcuts for a day or two. Navigate the interface manually to understand where everything lives before you rely on keyboard shortcuts again.
  • Keep the documentation open. The Figma Learn article on Navigating UI3 is a useful reference for finding moved controls.
  • Be patient. Habits take time to break, but the new workflows become natural quickly.

The best approach is to start using UI3 now and give the new features a real chance. The more you dive in, the more the improvements become evident in your daily work.

Under the hood of the redesign

UI3's design language is open for exploration. The team has shared a Figma Community file containing the styles, components, and variables used to build Figma's own products. It serves as a resource for experimenting with ideas, developing plugins or widgets, or building your own UI kits.

For those interested in the rationale behind the new interface, Figma's deep dive into the redesign process explains how the company balanced user feedback with its product vision while reshaping everything from docked panels to the labeling system.