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Chris_Calabrese
May 20, 2021

LAUNCHED: Option to disable keyboard shortcuts in prototype

  • May 20, 2021
  • 14 replies
  • 4095 views

Issue
When performing user testing, the prototypes can look and function so real that users have tried typing into static fields. This can lead to problems if a user types a shortcut (ie “C” for comment) and a Figma login window pops up, or “R” and they are sent to the beginning of the flow.

The main use cases I have for prototypes are:

1. General/Client Presentation
Users: Only me

  • This case is covered well by the existing functions. The shortcuts help the presenter navigate. However, a Table of Contents (TOC) is badly needed. Many prototypes are not linear so the forward and back button navigation is not very useful.

2. Client Handoff
Users: multiple people who may have a wide range of interacting Figma prototypes

  • Improvements:
    • showing users shortcuts and a TOC upfront and letting them hide it if they want
    • sometimes, especially in the early stages of design, designs need written explanations, so a way for designers to leave annotations in the prototype would be very useful

3. Setting up User Testing
Users: Me and colleagues (sometimes client)

  • Currently setting up a prototype in Figma requires manually going through each page of the prototype and validating that:

    • The appropriate CTAs are linked and navigate to the correct pages
    • all links have the proper transitions between pages
  • Improvements:

    • As an MVP, a check list of frame names that displays a sublist of each prototype connection and details.
    • Clicking on a frame name would focus the view to the appropriate page in the Figma file. Clicking on a sublist item’s details would display the interaction options for that item. For example:

3. User Testing
Users: Moderator and Participant

  • The participant needs to feel like they are actually using the interface and to an extent, freely navigate though the prototype. While this is happening the moderator needs to be able to quickly set participants up for the next scenario they are testing.

  • Improvements:

    • A TOC would come in handy to easily direct participants to their next task
    • option to disable prototype shortcuts

14 replies

Celestine
New Participant
October 20, 2023

Hi, I try to create a prototype to test a scenario with keyboard navigation only for visual impaired users. But if I ‘disable’ this functionality, my prototype will also not work with the keystrokes I’ve assigned for the flow 🫠 Any suggestions here?

Charlene_Hew
New Participant
December 20, 2023

Please, this is still an issue. For those needing an alternative, I made this workaround that will show a toast message when ANY key is pressed. But I wish there were a built in solution for this.

Figma
Celine_
Figmate
Community Support
February 28, 2024

Hey all,

With the launch of some new Figma Prototyping updates, we are pleased to inform you that you can now disable shortcuts: Turning off “Enable Figma Shortcuts” now disables all shortcuts on a prototype (not just the navigation shortcuts)! Learn more here

Michelle_M
October 23, 2024

Is it possible to have the Figma shortcuts turned off when the prototype is being shared through a link? This setting is not included as part of the link shared prototype so another person who opens the Figma prototype still has the Figma shortcuts enabled (without knowing). This is causing lots of frustrations in unmoderated user testing with participants who do not use Figma.