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Question

Issue with Hyperlinks in Figma Instances

  • November 26, 2024
  • 6 replies
  • 186 views

Ankur

Hi Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I am currently encountering an issue with hyperlinks in Figma instances and would appreciate your assistance in resolving it.

Issue Summary

I’ve created an Index component that includes hyperlinks to three other Figma files (Moodboard, Resell, and Other Project & Component Library). The links work perfectly within the master component file. However, when I use the component instance in another Figma file, the hyperlinks no longer function as expected.

Details

Component File:

Index Component Link

Instance File:

File with Instance Link

Expected Behavior

The hyperlinks embedded in the master component should work seamlessly within the instances in other files.

Observed Behavior

The hyperlinks do not work when the component is used as an instance in a different file.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Open the Index Component.

  2. Test the hyperlinks—they work correctly.

  3. Use the component instance in a different file, such as the Pre. Con. Projects file.

  4. Test the hyperlinks in the instance—they do not work.

Additional Notes

This functionality is crucial for maintaining consistency and usability across projects. If this is a known limitation, could you please suggest alternative solutions or workarounds?

Thank you for your time and assistance. Please let me know if further details or clarification are needed.

Best regards,
Ankur Soni

6 replies

y_toku
Figmate
  • Community Support
  • 2545 replies
  • November 29, 2024

Hi there,

Thanks for flagging!

This behavior is unexpected, so I’ve shared it with our internal team. To be transparent, I can’t promise a quick fix since there’s no ETA at the moment, but I’ll keep you updated if there are any developments.

Thanks for your patience.
Toku


hatefulcrawdad

The problem seems random, too. Some links in my component instance work and some don’t. I can’t figure out what is creating the difference. This is a big problem for my team because we maintain a single table of contents component linking all of our files together.

Any update on whether the team is working on a fix for this or has a good workaround?


Ankur
  • Author
  • 1 reply
  • December 18, 2024

Workaround Solution: Prevent Hyperlinks in Instances from Breaking

To ensure hyperlinks within a component instance continue to work in Figma:

Steps to Follow

  1. Create the Master Component

• Design your Index component (or any component with hyperlinks) in the original file.

• Add the hyperlinks directly within the master component.

  1. Use the Component Instance

• In the target Figma file, place the component instance where needed.

• Test the hyperlinks in the instance—they should work.

  1. Do NOT Publish the Component

• Avoid publishing changes to the library for this particular component (e.g., the Index component).

• If you publish the library, the hyperlinks in the instances will reset and no longer work.

  1. If You Need to Publish Other Components

• If you need to publish the library to share updates for other components, you must manually re-add the instance of the Index component after publishing.

• This ensures that the hyperlinks remain functional in the new instance.

Why This Works

By not publishing the Index component:

• Figma does not overwrite the hyperlinks in the instances.

• You can continue to use the hyperlinks across multiple files without issue.

If you do publish for other components, manually replacing the instance of the Index component will ensure the hyperlinks work again.

Key Notes to Remember

  1. Avoid unnecessary publishing of components that contain hyperlinks.

  2. If publishing is required:

• Place a fresh instance of the Index component after the library update.

  1. Always test the hyperlinks after updating or re-placing instances.

This workaround strikes a balance between maintaining a functional Index component and keeping your library updated for other components. Let me know if you need further clarification or step-by-step guidance! 🚀


Dominic P
  • New Member
  • 1 reply
  • February 14, 2025

Having the same issue. No publishing is involved, just within local components. Styling updates to show an underline across instances when I apply the link to the master component text and it’s styling is updated, but the link is not propagated to any instances. Very frustrating, but good to know this is not expected behavior. Any ETA would be amazing.  Thank you.


Nicholas_Hobson

I had the same issue and wasn’t using a Library. 

To fix it — I created the master component (index) in a separate file and relinked everything. 
This created hyperlinks with global reference not local references.    


franco-loreal

We ran into the same issue and did a lil hack – converted the Figma links into TinyURLs. If you use an ‘external’ link instead it works just fine :)


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