Separate Prototype-Only Link (Without Access to Working File)

Hey @Serkan_Zararsiz, thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback!

1. “When I share the prototype-link with clients, they still have to request viewing access.”.

I do understand your feedback, you’ve to invite the users to the file beforehand so that they don’t need to request viewing access. You’re right there should be an easier step to avoid back and forth.

2. " when I grant them view access, they can also access the working file"

It is possible to share a prototype without allowing users to open the file with “Open in editor”.
Could you change the file sharing setting to “Only invited people” in the file?

Please make sure users have no explicit or inherited file permissions from the team or project level. If there are any unwanted users in the file share modal, remove those users.
And also please open the prototype in presentation mode, click the Share button from the prototype page, and invite the desired user to view the prototype.

Let me know if this works for you!

Dear @Gayani_S

Thanks for reaching out! 👍

Regarding issue 2:
It’s still not working. My settings were already set to “only invited people.” As soon as I grant permission, they can access the working file through the “Open in editor” link. I believe there needs to be a separation:

• A) I can grant access to the prototype link (so they can only view the prototype without the ‘Open in editor’ link).
• B) I can grant access to both the prototype and the working file (including an ‘open in editor’ link).

At Accenture Song (100k+ employees), we really struggle with clients accidentally accessing working files. Currently, we create a new presentation file each time, copy/paste the prototype artboards into it, and share only that. However, this method causes issues when linking components, updating the library, and making minor but significant changes to the prototype. We have to constantly double-check and copy/paste everything again.

The easiest and most reliable solution would be to separate the prototype link from the working file link when only prototype view access is granted! 🤞

Hey @Serkan_Zararsiz, thanks for getting back!

If you’ve checked all these steps and users are still able to access the file then there might be a potential bug.

1. Changed the file sharing setting to “Only invited people” in the file
2. Checked that there are no explicit or inherited file permissions from the team or project level
3. Opened the prototype in presentation mode, and selected the Share button from the prototype page.

We do take your feedback serious, I’ll make sure to pass your feedback internally to the teams. Before that I’d like out support team to take a look at your issue. As I’ve mentioned before It should be possible to share a prototype without allowing users to open the file with “Open in editor”.

I’ve created a support ticket on your behalf. Your ticket number is #1137662, for reference. Someone from support should be in touch with your soon.

Our support team usually takes up to 24 hours to reply back to emails - tends to be quicker than that in normal circumstances. However, please be aware that we are facing increased contact volume so there might be a delay.

Appreciate your patience in the meantime!

Thanks @Gayani_S

I am sure there will be a better solution for this in the future. All the colleagues I asked didn’t know about it and were very surprised. Probably, some changes are needed to better understand the difference.

I have one follow up question: If I directly invite a client using their email address, can they access the prototype view without logging in? Or do they still have to create an account, even though I have invited them?

Thanks
Serkan 👋

Hey @Serkan_Zararsiz, thanks for your patience and for following up!

Your client should be able to view the prototype without an account, as long as the share setting is set to “anyone with the link can view” or “anyone with link + password.” Any other settings would require them to have a Figma account.

That said, if you’re directly inviting someone who doesn’t already have a Figma account, it might be a good idea to test it out first to see how it works in that scenario.

Let me know if you have any more questions!