Is Figma Down? How to Check Figma Status and Design Tool Issues (2026)

by API Status Check

You're presenting to stakeholders, collaborating in real-time with your design team, or rushing to meet a deadline when Figma stops responding. The canvas won't load. Your multiplayer cursors vanish. Auto-save freezes. Files that represent weeks of work become inaccessible because Figma is a cloud-first tool — and the cloud just went dark.

Unlike traditional design tools that save locally, Figma lives entirely in the cloud. When it goes down, your entire design workflow stops. No local fallback. No "work offline" mode. This guide shows you how to verify if Figma is actually down, troubleshoot common issues, understand outage patterns, and keep design work moving when it happens.

Is Figma Actually Down Right Now?

Before you restart your browser or blame your internet connection, verify if it's a Figma-wide issue:

Official & Independent Status Sources

  1. API Status Check — Figma — Independent monitoring with real-time response times and 24-hour uptime history
  2. Is Figma Down? — Quick live status check with incident timeline
  3. Figma Official Status — Figma's own status page (updated during major incidents)
  4. Downdetector — Figma — Community-reported outage heatmap
  5. Twitter/X Search — Search "Figma down" for real-time user reports

Understanding Figma's Architecture: What Can Break

Figma isn't a monolith. Different components can fail independently:

Component What It Does If It Fails...
Web Editor figma.com file viewer/editor Can't open or edit files in browser
Desktop App Native macOS/Windows app Desktop users affected (web might work)
Mobile Apps iOS/Android viewers Mobile design review broken
Real-Time Collaboration Multiplayer cursors, live sync Solo editing may work, but changes won't sync
Auto-Save Service Saves changes to cloud Risk of losing recent work
File Loading (CDN) Delivers file data Infinite loading spinners
Prototyping Viewer Prototype playback Can't share interactive prototypes
Comments & Notifications Team feedback system Communication blocked
Plugins API Third-party extensions Plugins won't load or work
Design System Library Shared components Can't access team libraries
Export Service PNG/SVG/PDF generation Can't export assets
Version History Tracks file changes Can't restore previous versions
Dev Mode Handoff Developer inspect mode Dev handoff broken

Key insight: You might experience a "degraded" state where files load but multiplayer doesn't work, or where viewing works but saving fails. These partial outages are more confusing than total blackouts because they seem to be working.

Common Figma Error Messages Decoded

Error Message What It Means Most Likely Cause
"Unable to load file" Server can't retrieve your file CDN issue, server overload, or corrupt file
"Figma is having connection issues" Client-server communication broken Network problem (yours or Figma's)
Infinite loading spinner File fetch timed out Figma servers slow or down
"Could not save" / save icon stuck Auto-save service unavailable Figma save service down — don't close tab!
Multiplayer cursors disappear Collaboration server down Real-time sync broken (your edits may not sync)
Plugins not loading Plugin API unavailable Plugin infrastructure down
"Something went wrong" Generic server error Backend service failure — usually a real outage
"Out of sync" Local cache doesn't match server Refresh browser, clear cache
"Rate limited" Too many requests You or your team hit API limits (rare for normal use)

Historical Figma Outage Patterns

Understanding Figma's outage history helps you predict impact and response time:

Major Figma Incidents (2023-2026)

February 2024: AWS Region Failure (4.5 hours)

  • Cause: AWS us-east-1 S3 outage affected Figma's file storage
  • Impact: Files wouldn't load, "unable to load file" errors globally
  • Response time: Acknowledged in 15 minutes, resolved in 4.5 hours
  • Pattern: Dependency on AWS infrastructure

September 2023: Real-Time Sync Outage (2 hours)

  • Cause: Real-time collaboration service overload
  • Impact: Multiplayer cursors disappeared, changes weren't syncing between users
  • Interesting: Files could still be opened and edited solo, but team collaboration was broken
  • Pattern: Component-level failure, not total outage

June 2023: Export Service Degradation (6 hours)

  • Cause: Export API service overwhelmed
  • Impact: Couldn't export PNG/SVG/PDF, but design work continued
  • Pattern: Non-critical service failed while core editing worked

April 2023: Authentication Issues (45 minutes)

  • Cause: SSO provider integration broke
  • Impact: Couldn't log in via Google/Microsoft SSO, but email login worked
  • Pattern: Auth provider dependency

What These Patterns Reveal

  1. Figma outages are relatively rare — average 3-4 significant incidents per year
  2. Most are resolved within 2-4 hours — very rarely exceed 6 hours
  3. AWS dependency — many outages trace back to AWS services (S3, CloudFront)
  4. Partial failures common — one feature breaks while others work (collaboration vs. viewing)
  5. Peak hours matter — more strain during US business hours (9 AM - 6 PM PT)

Outage Severity Scale

🟢 Minor (Degraded Performance):

  • Slower loading times
  • Occasional errors (refresh works)
  • Some features laggy
  • Impact: Annoying but workable
  • Typical duration: 30-60 minutes

🟡 Moderate (Component Failure):

  • One major feature broken (e.g., multiplayer, export, plugins)
  • Files load but some actions fail
  • Impact: Workflow interrupted but not blocked
  • Typical duration: 1-3 hours

🔴 Major (Service Down):

  • Files won't load
  • Can't access dashboard
  • "Something went wrong" errors
  • Impact: Complete work stoppage
  • Typical duration: 2-6 hours

Immediate Response: Protect Your Work Right Now

If Figma is showing signs of instability, act fast to protect your work:

Critical: Save What You Can (Emergency Export)

If Figma is slow but still responding:

  1. Export your current file as .fig backup:

    File → Save as .fig

    Save to local disk (not cloud drive — might also be slow)

  2. Export critical frames as images:

    Select frames → File → Export → PNG (2x resolution)

    Or use keyboard shortcut: Cmd+Shift+E (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows)

  3. Take screenshots as last resort:

    • macOS: Cmd+Shift+4 (select area)
    • Windows: Windows+Shift+S (Snipping Tool)

If auto-save is stuck:

⚠️ DO NOT CLOSE THE TAB ⚠️

Figma buffers unsaved changes locally. If you close the tab or refresh, you lose those changes. As long as the tab stays open, changes should sync when the service recovers.

Check save status:

  • Look at top of Figma window
  • "☁️ Saved" → You're safe
  • "☁️ Saving..." (stuck) → Recent changes at risk
  • "⚠️ Connection issue" → Changes queued locally, will sync when connection returns

Verify What's Actually Broken

Not all Figma problems are outages. Test specific features:

Feature Quick Test If It Fails
File loading Open a file CDN or backend issue
Editing Try to move an object Canvas/editor issue
Multiplayer See teammate cursors Collaboration service down
Auto-save Make a change, watch save indicator Save service down — don't close tab
Plugins Try loading a plugin Plugin API down
Export Export a frame as PNG Export service down
Commenting Add a comment Comments service down
Libraries Check if team library loads Library service down

Pro tip: If only one feature is broken, you can often work around it. For example, if export is down but editing works, keep designing and export later.

Troubleshooting: Fix It If It's Not Really Down

Fix 1: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies (Solves 60% of Issues)

Chrome:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
2. Time range: "All time"
3. Check: ✅ Cookies and site data
4. Check: ✅ Cached images and files
5. Click "Clear data"
6. Restart Chrome

Firefox:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete or Cmd+Shift+Delete
2. Time range: "Everything"
3. Check: ✅ Cookies
4. Check: ✅ Cache
5. Click "Clear Now"

Safari:

1. Safari → Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
2. Search "figma.com"
3. Remove all Figma entries
4. Or click "Remove All" (clears all sites)

Fix 2: Disable Browser Extensions

Known problematic extensions:

  • Ad blockers (uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus)
  • Privacy tools (Privacy Badger, Ghostery)
  • VPN extensions
  • Dark mode extensions (can break Figma UI)
  • Screen recording tools

Test in incognito mode:

1. Open Chrome incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N)
2. Try loading Figma
3. If it works → extension is the culprit

Disable extensions one by one:

Chrome: chrome://extensions
Firefox: about:addons
Safari: Safari → Preferences → Extensions

Fix 3: Switch DNS Servers

Sometimes DNS resolution fails. Try Google/Cloudflare DNS:

macOS:

System Preferences → Network → Advanced → DNS
Add: 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8

Windows:

Control Panel → Network → Change adapter settings
Right-click WiFi → Properties → IPv4 → Properties
Set DNS: 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8

Flush DNS cache:

# macOS
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

# Windows
ipconfig /flushdns

Fix 4: Update Figma Desktop App

Desktop app outdated → compatibility issues

macOS:

Figma → Check for Updates
Or download: https://www.figma.com/downloads/

Windows:

Help → Check for Updates

Fix 5: Disable VPN/Firewall Temporarily

Corporate VPNs and firewalls can block WebSocket connections (needed for multiplayer):

Test:

1. Disconnect VPN
2. Try loading Figma
3. If it works → VPN blocking it

Solution:

  • Ask IT to whitelist *.figma.com and *.figma-alpha.com
  • Use split tunneling (exclude Figma from VPN)
  • Try different VPN region/server

Fix 6: Check Figma Plugin Conflicts

Buggy plugins can crash Figma:

Disable all plugins:

1. Right-click canvas → Plugins → Manage plugins
2. Disable all
3. Restart Figma
4. Re-enable plugins one by one to find the culprit

Staying Productive During a Figma Outage

When Figma is actually down, here's how to keep design work moving:

For Designers: Alternative Workflows

If Figma web is down but desktop app works:

  • Desktop app sometimes works during partial outages
  • Files are cached locally
  • Can view/edit recent files offline

If Figma is completely inaccessible:

Design Task Alternative Tool
Wireframing Excalidraw, Whimsical, pen & paper
UI Design Sketch (Mac only), Penpot (free), Adobe XD
Prototyping Framer, ProtoPie, Principle
Brainstorming FigJam alternatives: Miro, Mural, Google Jamboard
Design specs Write specs in Notion/Google Docs
Component docs Screenshot existing designs, document in Confluence

Work you can do without Figma:

  • ✅ Write design documentation
  • ✅ Create user flows in Lucidchart/Miro
  • ✅ Conduct design critiques from exported screenshots
  • ✅ Plan information architecture in spreadsheets
  • ✅ Research competitors (screenshot and annotate)
  • ✅ Organize Figma file structure (plan it in a doc)
  • ✅ Review design tokens and naming conventions

For Developers: When Dev Handoff Breaks

If Figma Dev Mode is down:

  1. Check cached specs:

    • Developers may have recently viewed specs (browser cache)
    • Check your own browser history/cache

  2. Use exported design tokens:

    • If you export design tokens to code (Style Dictionary, Figma Tokens plugin)
    • Tokens should be committed to your repo, not only in Figma

  3. Reference component library:

    • Storybook or internal docs should document components
    • Don't rely solely on Figma for specs

  4. Ask designer for exported assets:

    • PNG/SVG assets via Slack/email
    • Temporary workaround until Figma recovers

If Figma API is down (automated workflows broken):

// Check Figma API health
async function checkFigmaAPI() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('https://api.figma.com/v1/files/FILE_KEY', {
      headers: { 'X-Figma-Token': process.env.FIGMA_TOKEN },
      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5000),
    })
    return res.ok
  } catch {
    return false // API down or network issue
  }
}

// In your design-to-code pipeline
async function syncDesignTokens() {
  if (!await checkFigmaAPI()) {
    console.warn('Figma API unavailable — using cached tokens')
    return loadCachedTokens() // Always cache for resilience
  }
  
  const tokens = await fetchFigmaTokens()
  cacheTokens(tokens) // Cache for next outage
  return tokens
}

For Design System Teams

Design systems are most impacted by Figma outages because everything lives there:

Resilience checklist:

  • Export component library as .fig file weekly (disaster recovery backup)
  • Keep design tokens in code (don't let Figma be single source of truth)
  • Document components outside Figma (Storybook, Notion, internal wiki)
  • Auto-export assets via Figma API on schedule (so you have recent cached versions)
  • Version control for Figma files (use Figma's version history + external backups)
  • Maintain offline component docs with screenshots and specs

Monitoring Figma Status Proactively

Set Up Real-Time Alerts

Don't wait for designers to report problems. Get notified instantly:

1. API Status Check (Recommended):

  • Visit apistatuscheck.com/api/figma
  • Connect Slack, Discord, or webhook for instant alerts
  • Monitors Figma every 5 minutes
  • Shows uptime history and response time trends

2. Figma Official Status:

  • Subscribe at status.figma.com
  • Email or SMS notifications for major incidents
  • RSS feed: https://status.figma.com/history.rss

3. Slack/Discord RSS Feed:

Add to Slack: /feed subscribe https://status.figma.com/history.rss

4. Custom Health Check:

// Run this every 5 minutes (cron job or monitoring service)
const axios = require('axios')

async function checkFigmaHealth() {
  const checks = {
    web_app: false,
    api: false,
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
  }
  
  // Check if Figma homepage loads
  try {
    const res = await axios.get('https://www.figma.com', { timeout: 10000 })
    checks.web_app = res.status === 200
  } catch (err) {
    console.error('Figma web app health check failed:', err.message)
  }
  
  // Check if Figma API responds (requires API token)
  try {
    const res = await axios.get('https://api.figma.com/v1/me', {
      headers: { 'X-Figma-Token': process.env.FIGMA_TOKEN },
      timeout: 10000,
    })
    checks.api = res.status === 200
  } catch (err) {
    console.error('Figma API health check failed:', err.message)
  }
  
  // Alert if any check fails
  if (!checks.web_app || !checks.api) {
    await sendAlert('⚠️ Figma health check failed', checks)
  }
  
  return checks
}

// Send alert to Slack/Discord webhook
async function sendAlert(message, data) {
  await axios.post(process.env.WEBHOOK_URL, {
    text: message,
    attachments: [{ text: JSON.stringify(data, null, 2) }]
  })
}

What Metrics to Watch

Response time trends:

  • Normal: 200-500ms for file loads
  • Degraded: 1-3 seconds
  • Critical: >5 seconds or timeouts

Error rate spikes:

  • Normal: <0.1% error rate
  • Concerning: >1% errors
  • Outage: >10% errors

User reports:

  • Check internal Slack for "Figma slow" or "Figma down" mentions
  • Monitor Twitter for "Figma down" spikes
  • Watch Downdetector heatmap for regional patterns

Prevention: The 5-Minute Weekly Figma Backup Routine

Outages are rare, but when they happen, teams with backups survive better:

Every Friday at 5 PM (or end of sprint):

  1. Export critical files as .fig:

    Open file → File → Save as .fig → Save to local disk

    Store in Google Drive, Dropbox, or version control

  2. Export key frames as PNG/SVG:

    Select important frames → Export → PNG (2x) + SVG

    Useful for presentations if Figma goes down during demos

  3. Export design tokens:

    • If using Figma Tokens plugin or Style Dictionary
    • Commit tokens to your code repo
    • Don't rely solely on Figma API

  4. Document critical info outside Figma:

    • Component usage guidelines → Notion/Confluence
    • Design system rules → Internal wiki
    • Brand guidelines → PDF

5 minutes once a week saves hours during outages.

Figma vs. Alternatives: The Availability Tradeoff

When Figma outages become frequent, teams consider alternatives. Here's the reality check:

Tool Cloud/Local Real-Time Collab Figma Import Uptime
Figma Cloud-first ✅ Best-in-class — ~99.9%
Sketch Local + cloud sync ⚠️ Limited ✅ Via plugins Local = 100%
Adobe XD Local + cloud ✅ Good ⚠️ Limited Local = 100%
Penpot Self-hostable ✅ Yes ⚠️ Partial You control
Framer Cloud-first ✅ Yes ❌ No ~99.5%
Lunacy Local (free) ❌ No ✅ Yes Local = 100%

The reality: Figma's real-time collaboration is unmatched. Switching tools mid-project for occasional outages isn't practical. Better strategy: Use Figma but maintain offline backups and have alternative workflows documented.

Hybrid approach for maximum resilience:

  • Use Figma for collaboration and design
  • Export weekly backups as .fig files
  • Keep Sketch or Adobe XD installed for emergencies (can open .fig files with plugins)
  • Document design system outside Figma

FAQ: Common Questions

Q: How often does Figma go down? A: Major outages are rare — typically 3-4 per year. Degraded performance (slowness) is more common, especially during peak US hours.

Q: How long do Figma outages usually last? A: Most are resolved within 2-4 hours. Rarely exceed 6 hours. Minor performance issues often resolve in 30-60 minutes.

Q: Can I work offline in Figma? A: Limited. The desktop app caches recently opened files, so you can view them offline. But editing requires internet, and changes won't save until you're back online.

Q: Will I lose work if Figma goes down while I'm editing? A: Not if you don't close the browser tab. Figma buffers unsaved changes locally. When the service recovers, those changes should sync. But don't risk it — export backups regularly.

Q: Is the Figma desktop app more reliable than the web app? A: Sometimes. The desktop app has local caching and can handle some network instability better. But for major Figma server outages, both are affected.

Q: Can I switch to Sketch or Adobe XD during a Figma outage? A: You can export .fig files and import them to Sketch (via plugins) or Penpot. But conversion isn't perfect — fonts, plugins, and some features won't translate. Better to wait for Figma to recover unless outage is prolonged (>6 hours).

Q: Why does Figma work for my teammate but not for me? A: Likely a local issue (cache, browser extension, network). Try incognito mode and a different browser. If it works, clear your cache.

Q: Can I access version history during an outage? A: If files won't load, no. But if files load but other features are broken, version history might still work. Try: File → Show version history.

Q: Should I report the outage to Figma support? A: Only if it's specific to your account (works for others but not you). For global outages, Figma already knows — check status.figma.com for updates instead.

Key Takeaways

✅ Check multiple sources before assuming Figma is down: apistatuscheck.com/api/figma, status.figma.com, Twitter search, and test in incognito mode

✅ Most issues are local — 60% of "Figma down" reports are browser cache, extensions, or network problems. Try clearing cache and incognito mode first.

✅ Don't close the tab if auto-save is stuck — Figma buffers changes locally and will sync when connection returns

✅ Export backups weekly — 5 minutes on Friday to export .fig files and key frames as PNG/SVG saves hours during outages

✅ Set up alerts — Connect API Status Check to Slack/Discord to know about outages before your team panics

✅ Have alternative workflows — Know which design tasks can be done without Figma (docs, research, critiques from screenshots)

✅ Figma outages are rare — Typically 3-4 major incidents per year, usually resolved in 2-4 hours

✅ Partial outages are confusing — One feature (multiplayer, export, plugins) might break while core editing works. Test each feature separately.

Need real-time Figma monitoring?

Stop discovering outages when your design work breaks. Set up proactive monitoring:

  1. Bookmark: apistatuscheck.com/api/figma for real-time status
  2. Connect Slack/Discord: Set up alerts to know instantly when Figma goes down
  3. Subscribe: status.figma.com for official incident updates
  4. Export backups: 5-minute weekly routine saves hours during outages

Figma outages are rare but disruptive. The best design teams aren't the ones with perfect uptime — they're the ones who export last week's backups and have workflows that continue during downtime.

API Status Check monitors Figma and 100+ other APIs in real-time. Set up free alerts at apistatuscheck.com.

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