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Question

Design Mode for Figma Slides (Collab Seat)

  • November 15, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 142 views

taurusangel

Hi!

 

I upgraded my Figma account from using the free version to the basic plan. Since I did that I can no longer switch to design mode when I could do that with my free account. Please can someone fix this asap. Otherwise I will downgrade my account.

4 replies

Tom Reem
Figmate
  • Figmate
  • November 16, 2025

Hey ​@taurusangel — welcome to Figma Forum! I’m stepping in to help you move forward with your Figma Slides project.

When you say you’re no longer able to switch to Design mode, could you provide a bit more detail? In your Figma Slides file, when you look at the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, do you see the Design mode button like in this screenshot from my test account? If you click on it, does it bring up the tools and settings you expect to see in the right side panel?

Design mode toggle displays on right side of toolbar.

If that doesn’t resolve it, please reply with the steps leading up to the issue, and a screenshot or short screen recording showing what’s happening. This will help us narrow down the cause and get things back on track quickly. I’ll keep watch for your reply! 


taurusangel
  • Author
  • New Member
  • December 5, 2025

Hey ​@Tom Reem, thanks for getting back to me!

 

When I hover over design mode it says “Full seat needed to access Figma Design tools” (see screenshot). This is quite annoying as when I used the free version I was able to switch from Slides mode to Design mode with ease.

 

The only reason I upgraded to a professional plan was because I wanted to insert videos into my slides deck but now it seems it’s taking away functionality? For more context, I am paying for the collab seat professional plan.

 

Design mode is what makes me use Figma Slides over Microsoft PPT and other tools. Should I downgrade to the free version and not have the videos in my slides so that I can get Design mode back? Or is this a bug that can be fixed?

 

Sorry for the late reply but a speedy answer and resolution would be great for me. Thanks!

 

 


Jinita Mishra

Facing the exact same issue! I also purchased the collab seat to insert videos in my figma slides deck. It’s crazy how the design mode is free on the free plan but suddenly becomes a paid feature, even after paying specifically for figma slides. Really makes me not want to pay for a subscription at all. Anyways, for now the only work around I have to this is to create your slides on a design file in figma and then paste those slides in figma slides because without the design mode there is very little functionality to actually design within figma slides. 


djv
Figmate
  • Community Support
  • January 6, 2026

Hey All, thanks for flagging this!

Users with a Collab seat have editing access for Figma Slides, but it does not include Design mode in Figma Slides (this is noted in our Help Center article here).

I completely understand the confusion though. I’ve updated this topic into a feature request, and I’ll pass this along to the team for consideration.