Figma links always open in browser, not desktop app

Ask the community
62

Found a fix, working for me now.
I use Brave browser which has heavy shields and tracking blocking features (other browsers like chrome, safari also have similar blockers).

  1. I disabled the trackers and blockers for the Figma website. (Present beside the URL bar for each website when opened)
  2. Reloaded the web page and I got the Open in Desktop App option
  3. Non-mandatory step: re-install the desktop app post steps 1 and 2.
    Screenshot 2023-10-20 at 6.11.42 PM
    Screenshot 2023-10-20 at 6.11.42 PM418×752 13.8 KB
1 Like
63

Soham, this is the solution - simply brilliant.

It seems it’s not Figma… it’s how the browser handles/blocks links.

On a side note, this also means that I can go back to Brave as my default browser.

64

It seems it’s not Figma… it’s how the browser and any extensions handle/block links.

65

Thanks for your comment! Logged into my account in browser and the link was automatically opened in Figma app in less than 1 min :tada: :tada: :tada:

66

None of this worked for me and I try to prevent sites and apps from tracking me as much as possible. I wrote a simple bookmarklet to open links in the Figma app.

To use this, make a bookmark in your browser for any site—I’d suggest having it as whatever your browser considers a Favorite so it’s easily accessible. Go and edit the link and paste in the following javascript:

javascript:(function() {
  var oldUrl = window.location.href;
  var newUrl = oldUrl.replace(/^https:\/\/www\.figma\.com\//, 'figma://');
  window.location.href = newUrl;
})();

This works on macOS Sonoma. I have no clue how Windows works, but perhaps this works here too.

3 Likes
67

This absolutely worked for me and has now fixed it when I have Chrome or other browsers open!!!

68

Having this issue in Safari. It just won’t detect the Figma app. It’s a fresh login and app install.

1 Like
69

Seems to be a tracking issue. Chrome seems to work.

1 Like
70

Yes with Safari if Disable trackers and for website with still won’t work. I tried with Brave Browsers and it worked but I prefer use safari

71

Hello. This issue is not resolving for me. I’ve tried everything mentioned in this thread - but Safari is just not cooperating.
Any recent updates or ideas???

72

This seems to be a new issue in Safari for me. I’ve tried disabling the trackers, but no luck. Worse than not opening in the app by default, instead of the “Open in app” option I get in other browsers, Safari only shows the “Get app” option, which triggers a download for the Figma app. Essentially there is currently no way for me to open a link in the Figma app that doesn’t involve a second browser other than Safari. Pretty annoying!

1 Like
73

This helps

with safari duplicate a bookmark and change name to open in Figma and change address according this post: Figma links always open in browser, not desktop app - #66 by Kevan_Loy

74

The problem is iCloud+ Private Relay. It’s blocking tracking

1 Like
75

Would be great to have an actual fix for this with Safari. Compromising security for the entire browser isn’t really a suitable workaround, in my opinion.

3 Likes
76

Alright I figured this out! it is because of private relay being turned on with the new update

Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay on iPhone - Apple Support.

You need to turn it off and then restart your computer and you will be golden!!

My headache is now resolved :sweat_smile:

77

You need to go turn off your private relay, I just figured this out and it fixed my problems Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay on iPhone - Apple Support.

78

Glad you found a workaround that works for you. I don’t think reducing the privacy settings of my entire browser is an acceptable tradeoff. Plenty of apps have figured out how to do this without needing to have Private Relay disabled. I don’t think it’s too much to ask of Figma to figure out something that, just for example, Zoom has figured out. The Zoom app sucks and I hate it, but at least when I open one of their links in Safari, it opens the meeting in their app.

2 Likes
79

I’ve found another clever way to handle this.

You’ll have to use an open-source app called Finicky.

Then, in your ~/.finicky.js file, paste the following configuration:

const FIGMA_BUNDLE_ID = "com.figma.Desktop";
const FIGMA_HOST_NAME = "figma.com";

module.exports = {
  defaultBrowser: "Google Chrome",
  handlers: [
    // Open any Figma link that's clicked with the Figma Desktop App, instead of first going to the browser
    {
      match: ({ url }) => url.host.includes(FIGMA_HOST_NAME),
      browser: FIGMA_BUNDLE_ID,
      // Convert the url to a format that automatically opens in the Figma Desktop app
      url: ({ url }) => `figma:/${url.pathname}`,
    },
  ],
};

Then, when you click any Figma link, it will automatically open in the Figma Desktop app straight away!