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Quick steps
Select the instance
Select the instance you want to replace. For an icon inside a button, select the nested icon instance.
Open the Instance menu
Click the component name at the top of the right sidebar to open the Instance menu.
Pick the replacement
Browse or search for the component you want and click it. The instance swaps in place.
Check text overrides
Confirm your custom text came across. Only text overrides are kept, and they carry over most reliably when text layers have unique names.
Four ways to swap an instance
- Instance menu: click the component name in the right sidebar and choose a new one.
- Right-click → Swap instance: lists only components in the same frame or hierarchy, so it's quick for sibling icons.
- Quick insert: select the instance, press ⇧I / Shift+I, and choose the replacement.
- Drag-swap: hold ⌥ (Mac) or Alt (Windows) and drag a component from Assets onto the instance. For a nested instance, hold ⌥⌘ / Alt+Ctrl. Release the mouse before the key.
Right-click → Swap instance is the most limited of the four, because it only offers components already in the same frame or hierarchy. If the icon you want isn't listed, use the Instance menu or Quick insert, which aren't limited to the same frame.
How to change an icon in a Figma component
Select the icon instance inside the button instance and swap it with any of the methods above. If you do this often, set it up properly: add an instance swap property to the main component so the icon picker sits right on the button in the sidebar. See component properties. To add a component in the first place, see how to create a component in Figma.
Shortcuts for swapping, resetting and going to main
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Quick insert (swap an instance) | Mac⇧I | WindowsShiftI |
| Go to main component | Mac⌃⌥⌘K | WindowsCtrlAltShiftK |
| Detach instance | Mac⌥⌘B | WindowsCtrlAltB |
How to reset an instance
Open More actions next to the component name in the right sidebar and choose Reset. Reset one property, or pick Reset all changes to match the main again. Resetting keeps the link, so reach for it before you detach.
How to restore a deleted main component
Deleting a main component doesn't delete its instances. In the same file, select one of them and click Restore component. If the main lived in a library file, hover the library name and use Go to main component in library, then Restore there.
Ranked listThe best Figma plugins for design systems in 2026Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to go to the main component in Figma?
⌃⌥⌘K on Mac and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K on Windows. For a library component, hover the library name and choose Go to main component in library.
Why did my overrides disappear after swapping?
Figma keeps only text overrides when you swap. Fills, effects and other changes are dropped. Give text layers unique names so the text carries over.
How do I replace a whole library's instances?
Use Swap libraries. It replaces instances in a file with the matching components from another library, so you don't have to swap each one by hand.
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