figma · braza shows you
how to use auto layout in figma
braza points at the auto-layout panel and the spacing controls so the 'still confusing' feeling finally clicks.
auto layout is figma's most powerful - and most confusing - feature for beginners. it makes a frame resize and re-space its contents automatically, like a tidy little container. once you see where the controls live, the 'autolayout hell' feeling goes away.
or do it yourself
- 1select the layers you want to arrange - text, buttons, an icon row, whatever.
- 2press shift + a (or click the auto-layout '+' in the right panel under 'auto layout').
- 3figma wraps them in a frame and stacks them; in the panel flip the direction between vertical and horizontal.
- 4set the gap (space between items) and padding (space inside the frame edge) in that same panel.
- 5now drag the frame - the items re-space themselves instead of breaking.
let braza do this with you
braza is a tiny on-screen guide that points at the right buttons and talks you through it, on windows and mac.
downloadcommon questions
what does auto layout actually do?
it turns a frame into a smart container that spaces and resizes its contents automatically when you add, remove, or edit items.
what's the shortcut for auto layout in figma?
select your layers and press shift + a to add it, or shift + alt + a to remove it.