Figma links always open in browser, not desktop app

in browser figma there is no more 「Open in desktop app」
20210914-111213|392x500

It seems like the installation of the desktop app is not detected for some reason. Try reinstalling the desktop app and restarting your computer.

Reinstalling and restart not help for me on mac & google chrome v.93
Work only in safari

Try change link to figma://file/…

I had this problem days ago, and I’ve solved just restarting the Figma app (quit and starting again) on Macbook.

The “Open in App” option doesn’t exist in my preferences menu, as shown here:

Trying to figure out the solve for this as well… having the same issues as screen shot above.

I JUST started having this problem as well. I found this old thread about it, but it’s closed.

I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Figma desktop app and restarting my Macbook, but neither fixed the issue. Interestingly, when I reinstalled the desktop app, it did open my browser to log in, and then went back to the desktop app automatically upon detecting my login from my browser. Very frustrating.

Same issue here, and it’s quite annoying.
As a workaround I use https://browserosaurus.com, but would be nice to have it working out of the box

I’ve also recently begun to experience this issue. Previously, opening Figma Links from my Jira tickets would open to a browser page saying “your link will open in the app” and then focus would switch to my Desktop App. Now, it simply opens the new Figma tab in my browser, but the page doesn’t load completely, and nothing happens in Figma.

Glad that I am not alone, it started happening for me couple of weeks ago. Anybody found how to change it?

I just found a fix! If you go to the Figma web app, then the tick box preference is available to tick. It’s not an option in the mac app! 🎉

This only seems to work once you have the page open in the browser and click on something from the Figma file, I’m not sure about the others but I’m trying to open links people have sent me (usually via teams) and they keep opening in the browser not the app 😦 This didn’t used to happen so I’ve no idea why it is happening now

Same problem, both on iMac (Big Sur 11.6.8) and Macbook Pro (Ventura 13.1). Tried reinstalling, restarting, turning the setting off and back on — nothing helped. The menu persistently suggests I get the desktop app and doesn’t recognize that I already have it.

Still no fix.
MBA (M1 with Ventura), have tried with different browsers.

Been this way for several weeks… and is really really annoying.
Miro can still do the browser<->app switch effortlessly, so what’s up Figma?

Me again… I think I’ve worked out what it is.

I just installed a (for me) completely new browser Opera.
Called up Figma, and logged in.
Then called up a Figma file, and chose the option “open in desktop app”, and immediately received the “always open in the app” dialog.

So, the question is how to get the “new” signing in feel in my standard browser?

yes, same problem with me. I’m trying to open links people have sent me (usually via slack, notion) and they keep opening in the browser not the app 😦 This didn’t used to happen so I’ve no idea why it is happening now

This problem still exists. Any ideas how to fix this @figmasupport?

I had the same problem and opened the link in Safari instead (was using Brave earlier) and there I had the option to “Open in Desktop App”. Worked just fine!

Same issue here, using Chrome. It used to work, now it doesn’t. Please fix it.

Hey All, thanks for reaching out!

Can you please try the following troubleshooting steps to see if it helps?

• logging out and back in
• clearing your desktop app’s cache
• un-installing and re-installing the desktop app

You can clear the desktop app cache on a Mac in the Help menu under Troubleshooting. If you’d prefer to manually clear your cache you can:

1. Quit the Figma desktop app
2. Open Terminal.app and enter the following command: rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Figma"
3. Try opening the desktop app again

You can clear the desktop app cache on Windows under the toggle-arrow at the right of the top toolbar under Help > Troubleshooting. If you’d prefer to manually clear your cache you can:

1. Close the Figma desktop app
2. Open the Start menu, and paste in this, followed by enter: %APPDATA%\Figma
3. In the window that opens, delete the Desktop and DesktopProfile folders if they exist
4. Launch the desktop app again

Will deleting my cache on windows also remove my settings? I have customized a lot of things and would need to know if this would make me lose anything. I ask this because the folder is named DesktopProfile which sounds like where settings are stored.

Hey @Eduardo_Mazieri1,

Clearing the desktop app cache will remove some settings in the Figma app, but it should only remove the settings specific to the desktop app itself (which there are very few). Most of Figma’s settings are stored to your account and will be preserved.

and, of course, if it doesn’t work you must click on the “Open in Desktop App” when you’re link is open in restarted browser.