Troubleshoot memory issues
If you are working with large files in Figma, then you may run into some issues with memory.
There is currently an active memory limit of 2GB on files. This is a technical limitation with browsers. Figma serves both the web app and desktop app via a browser.
When your file reaches the active memory limit we will display an error message on screen.
Restore a Previous Version
In some rare circumstances, you may no longer be able to view, edit, or delete the file once your file size reaches this limit. If this happens, you will need to restore a previous version of the file before you can continue.
Note: Any changes you have made to the file between the last version and the restored version will no longer be available.
As the Error message indicated, you won't be able to access the normal version history view, as the file cannot be opened.
Instead, you can recover your previous work via a hidden menu option in the file Browser.
- Navigate to the file Browser.
- Access the hidden Version History menu item using these shortcuts when clicking on the tile for the affected file:
- macOS: Option Shift and right-click
- Windows: Alt + Shift and right-click
- macOS: Option Shift and right-click
- Select Restore from version from the options:
- You will then be able to select which version you wish to restore. Click Restore to open the required version:
If you are unable to view the last version of a file, then you may need to go back further. If you're having trouble accessing previous versions, please reach out to the Support Team. Click the " ?" in the bottom-right corner and select "Get Help". Or, send us an email on support@figma.com.
Managing memory usage
There are a number of factors that contribute to memory usage.
Hidden Layers
The most common reason for running out of memory in Figma is using multiple Instances of a Component within hidden layers. If a Component has a large number of hidden layers, a Figma file can potentially have millions of objects associated with it. This increases the risk of running out of memory.
We recommend that you avoid using hidden layers to represent different states. Instead, create separate Components for each state and switch between them.
Check out our Using Instances and Components article for more information. Or, watch the Figma Tutorial: Components Playlist (see below).
Files with multiple pages or images
If you have a large file with a significant number of pages, or lots of high resolution images included, your active memory will be affected.
We recommend splitting up large files into smaller files. This can be done by copying and pasting the content of individual pages into a new Figma file.
Importing Large Assets
If you have imported a large text, image or vector based file into a Figma file, then this will also affect your memory usage.
The Resource Use tool will allow you to track your current usage (see above).
If you are near the memory limit, you may need to reduce the number of quality of assets you import. Alternatively, you may wish to:
- Break large files into smaller files.
- Compress high resolution images.
- Import complex SVGs in smaller parts.
Check out our Importing files to Figma article for more information on importing files.
