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Quick steps
Open the file
Open the Figma file you want to save in the browser or the desktop app.
Open the main menu
Open the main menu at the top left of the file and go to File.
Choose Save local copy
Click Save local copy. Figma downloads the file with a .fig extension.
Store the .fig file
Move the .fig file to wherever you keep backups. Opening it in Figma later creates a new, unlinked file.
What a .fig file keeps and what it drops
- Keeps: the design itself, the pages and layers in the file.
- Drops: version history and comments.
- On reopening: Figma treats it as a brand-new file. It has no link back to the original, so changes in one never reach the other.
If you need the file's history, keep the original in Figma and use version history instead. A .fig file is a snapshot, not a sync.
When a local copy is useful
- Archiving a finished project before you clean up a team.
- Keeping a snapshot before you transfer ownership, which can't be undone.
- Handing a file to another Figma user outside your organization.
Why is Save local copy greyed out or missing?
If you only have view access, the owner may have turned off Allow viewers to copy, share, and export in the Share settings. That paid-plan setting blocks viewers from copying, duplicating, exporting and saving a local copy. Ask the owner for edit access or for the setting to be turned back on. How to change edit access in Figma explains the options.
Saving a Figma file vs downloading your design
A .fig file only opens in Figma. To send a design to someone who doesn't use Figma, export it as PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF from the Export section in the right sidebar, or export everything at once with ⇧⌘E / Ctrl+Shift+E. How to export from Figma covers formats and sizes.
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Mac⇧⌘E | WindowsCtrlShiftE |
Can you use Figma offline?
Saving a local copy gives you a backup, not an offline version of Figma. Figma's help center doesn't document offline editing, so don't count on working on a .fig file without a connection. Open it in Figma when you're back online.
Ranked listThe best Figma plugins for importing and exporting files in 2026Frequently asked questions
How do I download a Figma file as .fig?
Open the file and choose Main menu → File → Save local copy. Figma downloads a .fig file you can open in Figma later.
Does a .fig file include comments and version history?
No. A local copy leaves out version history and comments. When you open it in Figma, it becomes a new file with no link to the original.
Why can't I save a local copy of a Figma file?
The owner has probably turned off Allow viewers to copy, share, and export, which blocks Save local copy for anyone with view access. Ask the owner for edit access or to change the setting.
Can I make a Figma file available offline?
Figma doesn't document offline editing. Save local copy gives you a .fig backup, but you still open and edit it in Figma.
More in Exporting
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