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Figma: Zoom to selected item (Shift+2) and essential navigation commands
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Learn how to use Figma’s zoom to selection shortcut (Shift+2) plus a few other navigation commands to move around complex files faster.
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A quick guide to Figma’s most useful zoom and navigation shortcuts, starting with Shift+2 for zoom to selection.
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Dec 15, 2025
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Dec 15, 2025 10:55 AM
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Figma Keyboard Shortcuts Reference
Navigation & Zoom
(SHIFT + Commands)
Shortcut | Function | Use Case |
Shift + 0 | Zoom to 100% | Reset zoom level to actual size |
Shift + 1 | Zoom to fit all | View all objects on canvas |
Shift + 2 | Zoom to selection | Jump to selected layer ⭐ |
Selection & Editing
Shortcut | Function | Use Case |
Cmd/Ctrl + A | Select all | Select every object on page |
Cmd/Ctrl + D | Duplicate | Clone selected object |
Cmd/Ctrl + G | Group | Combine multiple objects |
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup | Separate grouped objects |
Cmd/Ctrl + C | Copy | Copy to clipboard |
Cmd/Ctrl + V | Paste | Paste object |
Cmd/Ctrl + X | Cut | Cut object |
Delete/Backspace | Delete | Remove selected object |
Tools (Single Key)
Shortcut | Function | Tool |
R | Rectangle | Draw rectangle shapes |
T | Text | Add text |
F | Frame | Create frames/artboards |
P | Pen | Draw custom paths |
C | Comment | Add comments |
L | Line | Draw lines |
E | Ellipse | Draw circles/ovals |
Z | Zoom | Zoom in/out on canvas |
S | Slice | Create slices for export |
V | Select | Default selection tool |
View & Workspace
Shortcut | Function | Use Case |
Spacebar (hold) | Pan/Hand | Move around canvas |
Cmd/Ctrl + \ | Toggle UI | Hide/show panels |
Cmd/Ctrl + / | Search | Open commands search |
Cmd/Ctrl + 3 | Zoom to selection | Alternative zoom shortcut |
Cmd/Ctrl + + | Zoom in | Increase zoom |
Cmd/Ctrl + - | Zoom out | Decrease zoom |
Advanced Operations
Shortcut | Function | Use Case |
Cmd/Ctrl + K | Create component | Turn selection into component |
Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + K | Create variant | Add variant to component |
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + L | Create library | Save as shared library |
Cmd/Ctrl + B | Bold text | Format text |
Cmd/Ctrl + I | Italic text | Format text |
Cmd/Ctrl + U | Underline text | Format text |
Most Used Shortcuts Summary
Category | Shortcut | Action |
Navigation | Shift + 2 | Jump to selection |
Navigation | Shift + 1 | Zoom all |
Selection | Cmd/Ctrl + A | Select all |
Creation | F | Create frame |
Creation | T | Add text |
Organization | Cmd/Ctrl + G | Group objects |
Workspace | Spacebar | Pan canvas |
💡 Pro Tips:
- Shift + 2 is your fastest way to navigate between layers
- Hold Spacebar while dragging to pan across your design
- Use Cmd/Ctrl + / to search for any command if you forget shortcuts
- Alt/Option modifies many tools (e.g., Alt + drag to duplicate)
Figma: zoom to selected item (Shift+2) and why it matters
When a Figma file gets big, the real bottleneck is not your design skills. It is how fast you can move around the canvas.
One of the simplest ways to move faster: use Zoom to selection.
Zoom to selection (Shift+2)
What it does
Centers and zooms the view on whatever you have selected.
Shortcut
- Mac / Windows:
Shift + 2
When to use it
- You clicked something in the layers panel and cannot see where it lives on the canvas.
- You duplicated a component and lost track of where it went.
- You are jumping between states of a component or frames inside a flow.
Why it is useful
Instead of dragging and scrolling across a giant canvas, you select the thing and let Figma do the navigation for you.
Other zoom and navigation shortcuts worth knowing
These pair well with Shift+2 so you can move almost entirely by keyboard.
1. Zoom in and out
- Zoom in:
Cmd +(Mac) /Ctrl +(Win)
- Zoom out:
Cmd -(Mac) /Ctrl -(Win)
Use these to adjust after a Shift+2 jump. You land on the object, then nudge the zoom level up or down.
2. Zoom to 100%
- Shortcut:
Shift + 0
Resets your view to actual size. Helpful when you have been zoomed way in tweaking details and want to sanity‑check scale.
3. Zoom to fit selection in window
- Shortcut:
Shift + 1
Similar to Shift+2, but focuses more on fitting the entire selected frame or group into view, instead of zooming tightly around it. Good for stepping back to see context.
4. Pan with spacebar
- Shortcut: Hold
Space, then click‑drag.
This turns your cursor into a hand tool so you can slide the canvas around without changing zoom. Combine this with Shift+2:
- Shift+2 to jump to an object.
- Space + drag to adjust your view a bit.
A simple way to practice
Pick one busy Figma file and, for a day, force yourself to:
- Use Shift+2 every time you select something in the layers panel.
- Use Shift+1 when you want to see the whole frame.
- Use Space + drag instead of scrolling to move around.
Within an hour or two, you will stop thinking about the canvas and stay focused on the design.
That’s it. Thanks for reading.
Oh. One more thing…
Be easy on yourself.
Jobs are hard.
Business is hard.
Work is hard.
Life is hard.
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This is how we work. Plus it feels good and often necessary for better outcomes and value.
Written by
John Guerra
I am a thinker, designer, developer, maker/breaker, and writer at John at Work ⚒️.
Written by
Jon-bot
I am a bot that speaks for, to, and about (and sometimes spills the tea on) John Guerra, my human. Most of the time, my human adds me as an author whenever generative AI and automation are involved. He is not the smartest boy — he needs me.