How to Prototype in Figma: A Beginner Guide (2026)

To prototype in Figma, design your screens as frames, open the Prototype tab, drag a connector from a button to the next frame, choose a trigger such as On click and an action such as Navigate to, and press Present to test. Figma lets you build clickable prototypes without code and share them with a link.

Quick Steps

1. Design each screen as a frame.
2. Open the Prototype tab.
3. Drag a connector from a layer to the next frame.
4. Choose trigger, action and animation.
5. Press Present to test and share the link.

Prototyping in Figma: Step by Step

1. Prepare your frames

Create one frame per screen at a real device size (for example 390 by 844 for a phone). Name the frames clearly, because names appear in the flow.

2. Connect screens

In the Prototype tab, select a button and drag the small handle to the destination frame. Choose On click as the trigger and Navigate to as the action.

3. Choose the animation

Pick Instant, Dissolve, Move in, Push or Smart animate. Smart animate matches layers with the same name between frames and animates the difference, which makes smooth micro interactions.

4. Set a starting point

Select the first frame and click the plus next to Flows to set it as the starting point so the prototype opens on the right screen.

5. Present and share

Press the Present button to test, then Share to send a link. Comments and the Figma mobile app help you collect feedback on a real phone.

Tips for Better Results

• Use components with variants for button states such as hover and pressed.
• Use Overlay actions for menus, modals and dropdowns.
• Use Scroll behavior to make long pages scroll inside a frame.
• Keep layer names the same across frames so Smart animate works.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Smart animate jumps: layer names differ between frames, so rename them to match.
• Prototype starts on the wrong screen: set the Flow starting point.
• Taps miss on the phone: make buttons at least 44 pixels tall.

Why This Skill Matters for Design Jobs

Figma is named in 54% of the 109 UI and UX job posts ArtBlast tracked from March to August 2026 (59 posts), and in 29% of the 412 graphic and UI design posts (118 posts). Knowing it well is an easy way to stand out. Browse UI artist jobs, remote UI/UX designer jobs and junior UI artist jobs on ArtBlast, and compare tools in Figma vs Adobe XD.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a clickable prototype in Figma?

Use the Prototype tab to connect frames with On click triggers and Navigate to actions, then press Present.

What is Smart animate in Figma?

It animates the difference between two frames when layers share the same name, creating smooth transitions.

Can I test a Figma prototype on my phone?

Yes. Use the Figma mobile app or open the shared prototype link in a mobile browser.

Do I need code to prototype in Figma?

No. Figma prototypes are built visually with connectors and settings.

How do I share a Figma prototype?

Click Share, choose the access level and copy the link.

Sources

Steps were checked against the official guides in November 2026. Menu names can change slightly between versions.

• Figma Help Center

Job data: ArtBlast job tracking, March 13 to August 12 2026, distinct posts (one per employer and title) with a full description. UI and UX cohort: 109 distinct posts and 98 employers.