Publish a library

When you first create styles, components, and variables you can only access them in the current file. To use them in other files, you can publish them as a library. 

Publish styles, components, and variables

From the Library modal, you can choose which styles, components, and variables you want to publish.

The publishing process is the same for new libraries, as well as changes to existing libraries.

There are a few ways to access the Library modal from within a file:

• A

  Editor toolbar

  1. Click on an empty spot in the canvas to deselect all layers.
  2. Click the next to the file name in the toolbar.
  3. Select Publish library from the options.
• B

  Assets panel

  1. Click on the Assets panel in the left sidebar.
  2. Click the to open the library modal.

  

• C

  Use the keyboard shortcut

  • Mac: ⌥ Option 3
  • Windows: Alt 3

Publish to a library

Every time you publish to a library, you'll be prompted to add a description. This allows you to communicate decisions and changes to the people who use your library.

Figma shows descriptions when accepting updates from a library, as well as in the file's version history.

Publish styles, components, and variables from the file where they live.

1. Open the library modal from the file ↑
2. In the Current file section, click the Publish button.
3. Add a description of the library's purpose, or a summary of any decisions or changes.
4. View a list of changes to the library. This details any styles, components, or variables added, modified, or removed.
5. Choose which changes you want to publish:
   • Check individual assets you do want to publish
   • Uncheck individual assets you don't want to publish
   • Uncheck Changes to deselect all styles and components
6. When you've finalized your assets, click the Publish button. Figma will show a notification to confirm your file has been successfully published.

Publish individual styles, components, or variables

If you are missing styles, components, or variables from a published file, or want to add more, you can publish them individually.

1. Click the Assets tab in the left sidebar or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • MacOS: ⌥ Option 2
   • Windows: Alt 2
2. Scroll down to the Hidden section, which will list any components that exist in the file, but haven't been published.
3. Right-click on the component and select Show when publishing. If you have hidden the component using the . or _ prefix, you will need to remove this.
4. Figma will notify you that your updates are successfully published.

Publish updates to a library

If you make changes to a published style, component, or variable, it will only apply those changes to instances in the current file. If you want those changes to be reflected in your library, you will also need to publish those changes to the library.

Figma will display a blue dot on the icon in the Assets panel of the left sidebar to let you know if there are any updates that need to be published:

1. Click the Assets panel at the top of the left sidebar to open the library modal.
2. Add a description of any decisions or changes. This will show in the file's version history, and the Updates tab of the Libraries modal.
3. View a list of changes to the library. This details any styles and components added, modified, or removed.
4. Choose which changes you want to publish:
   • Check individual components you do want to publish
   • Uncheck individual components you don't want to publish
   • Uncheck Changes to deselect all styles and components
5. When you've finalized your styles and components, click the Publish button. Figma will show a notification to confirm your file has been successfully published.