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Quick steps
Select the layer you want to pin
Pick the header, tab bar or button that should stay put while the rest of the screen scrolls.
Turn on Ignore auto layout
With the layer selected, click Ignore auto layout in the right sidebar. The layer now has absolute position and stops taking part in the auto layout flow.
Open the Prototype tab
Press Shift+E to switch to the Prototype tab. In the Scroll behavior section, set Position to Fixed (the other options are Scroll with parent and Sticky). Figma labels the layer "Fixed" and moves it above the other layers.
Check the frame scrolls
Set the parent frame's Overflow to Vertical, Horizontal or Both, and make sure the content is taller or wider than the frame. Press Shift+Space to preview.
Why is Fixed disabled in Figma?
Figma doesn't allow a fixed scroll position on a layer that auto layout is still placing. The "Fixed stay in place is disabled" thread on the Figma forum has around 50k views, and the accepted fix is the same one the help centre gives: remove auto layout from the parent, or give the child absolute position.
Absolute position is called Ignore auto layout in the UI. You can click it in the right sidebar, or hold Control on Mac while dragging an object into an auto layout frame. There is no keyboard shortcut for it. The absolute position guide covers what happens to spacing when you use it.
Fixed still greyed out after Ignore auto layout?
Check how deep the layer is nested. Figma forum users report that Fixed only works on direct children of a top-level frame, so a header buried inside a section frame may stay locked. Help.figma.com doesn't state this rule, but moving the layer up to the screen frame is a quick test.
- The layer is inside a group or a nested frame that itself uses auto layout.
- The whole screen is one auto layout frame, and you pinned a child of a child.
- The frame doesn't scroll at all. Fixed has nothing to do until the content overflows. See how to add scroll in a Figma prototype.
Fixed vs Sticky: why sticky isn't working
Fixed pins a layer to the viewport the whole time. Sticky scrolls with the content, then sticks at the top of its parent and stays within its direct parent's bounds. Sticky only works inside a frame with vertical scrolling, so a horizontal-only frame won't trigger it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is fixed position disabled in Figma?
The layer is inside a frame with auto layout. Figma doesn't allow a fixed scroll position there unless the layer has absolute position, which the UI calls Ignore auto layout.
How do I make a header stay in place in a Figma prototype?
Select the header, turn on Ignore auto layout if its parent uses auto layout, then set Position to Fixed in the Prototype tab. The frame also needs content that extends past its bounds so it can scroll.
Why is sticky not working in Figma?
Sticky only works inside a frame with vertical scrolling. The layer scrolls first, then sticks at the top of its parent, and it can't leave its direct parent's bounds. If the parent is short, the layer unsticks quickly.
Does Fixed work on nested layers?
Figma's help centre doesn't say. Forum users report it only works on direct children of a top-level frame, so if Fixed stays greyed out, try moving the layer up one level.
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