How do you select everything on a slide except objects on the slide background?

Before you can update any properties associated with an object or layer, you will need to select it. We'll cover all the basics for selecting objects, as well as some lesser known tips and tricks.

You can select layers in the canvas itself, or from the Layers panel. Click on an object in the canvas to select it.

Select nested layers

If you're working on more complex designs, you may have objects nested within groups or frames.

We refer to nested objects as children, and the Frames or Groups that they nest within as parents. Learn more about parent, child and sibling relationships.

When you click on an object that is part of a group or frame, we'll select the parent by default.

Double-click on the object - or press the enter key - to select one level of nesting down. Repeat this process until you select the correct child elements.

Deep select

If there are many levels of nesting, you can use Deep select to select a nested child layer or the top-level frame. Hold down the modifier key to select the top-level frame or a nested layer or object by clicking it on the canvas.

• Mac: ⌘ Command
• Windows: Control

Select layer menu

We have a couple of different ways to select nested objects. The Select Layer menu allows you to choose which specific you'd like to select, in the canvas.

1. Right-click to open the context menu:
2. Hover over the Select layer option.
3. Select a layer from a list of layers underneath the cursor's location. We show the layer name and icon in the same order as the Layers panel.

Tip! Move between nested objects using the keyboard shortcuts:

• Select Child enter
• Select Parent shift enter
• Select Next Sibling tab
• Select Previous Sibling shift tab

Layers panel

Every object in the canvas will have a corresponding layer in the Layers panel.

Click the Layers tab in the left sidebar to open the layers panel. Or, use the keyboard shortcut:

• Mac: Option 1
• Windows: Ctrl 1

If you hover over the layer in the panel, a blue box will highlight that layer's location on the canvas.

Click on the layer name in the layers panel to select it.

If there are any Frames or Groups on the canvas, we will nest the child objects within the parent. Click the arrow next to a Frame, Group, or Component to view any child layers.

Can't see the layer highlight on hover? Adjust your preferences in the menu: select Preferences > Highlight on hover.

You can also select more than one object or layer at a time.

This is great when you want to:

• Update a property across more than one layer
• Resize layers in bulk
• Move a collection of objects
• Create a group, frame, or component from the selection

Note: When you select more than one layer, you can access Selection Colors in the right sidebar.

This allows you to update individual Fills, Styles and Strokes in a mixed selection. Learn more in our View and adjust colors in a mixed selection article.

Canvas

1. Select an object in the canvas.
2. Hold down the Shift key and click on another object.
3. This will allow you to select as many objects as you like.

Tip! Click an object a second time while holding Shift to remove it from from the current selection.

Selection marquee

The marquee tool allows you to select all objects in a specific area of the canvas.

1. Click and hold on a empty part of the canvas.
2. Drag the cursor across any objects you'd like to select.
3. A blue box will appear around each object are in the selection.
4. To select nested layers, hold down the modifier key and drag the marquee across the objects:
   • Mac: ⌘
   • Windows: Ctrl
5. To remove an object from the selection, hold down the Shift key and click on the object.

Note: It's possible to select nested objects without selecting the parent object. This is something to be mindful of, especially when selecting objects to move them!

If you select a top-level frame, only other top-level layers will be selected.

When you select a parent object, this also selects any child objects. This allows you to move everything at once.

Select multiple layers in the Layers panel

When you select layers in the Layers panel, there are some different rules:

To select every layers between two layers:

1. Click on the first layer to select
2. Hold down the Shift key
3. Select the last layer.
4. Figma will select every layer between those two layers in the Layers panel.

To select individual layers:

1. Click on the first layer to select
2. Hold down the modifier key
   • Mac: ⌘
   • Windows: Ctrl 
3. Select any other layers you want to select

The Edit menu allows to select multiple objects based on their properties. This allows you to select all layers in your file that have the same properties.

This is super handy when you want to adjust the properties of all those layers at once.

1. Select a layer or layers in the

2. Go to the File menu ☰ and select Edit from the options.

3. Choose to Select All other layers that have the same:

   • Properties
   • Fill
   • Stroke
   • Effect
   • Text Properties
   • Font
   • or another Instance
   

Want to select everything on the canvas?

Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Command / Ctrl A.

If you hide a layer we won't show in the Select layer menu. You will need to toggle visibility on to select it.

If you lock an object or layer, you can't select it via the normal left-click selection process. However, you can select it via the Select layer menu.

We include locked layers in the Select layer menu with a padlock icon.

Tip! Smart Selection allows you to select 2 or more objects in the canvas. From there you can adjust their arrangement, or the spacing between them.

Create a 1D Smart Selection from a list of objects that align on one axis, like a column or row. Or, a 2D Smart Selection of objects in a grid or gallery-like structure.

To clear your selection entirely:

• Click anywhere on the canvas
• Use the keyboard shortcut: Esc

To remove an object from a selection:

• Hold down the Shift key and click on the object again

Note: If you click on a parent object, this will deselect the parent and any child objects within it.

To select the inverse of your current selection:

• Use the keyboard shortcut:

  Mac: ⌘ A Shift

  Windows:  Ctrl A Shift

This removes the current selection, then selects everything on the canvas you didn't select before.

There are a few ways to select objects in a file, but for collaborators with can view access, the experience is a bit different.

How can you select multiple objects of a slide?

Which shortcut allows you to select all items on a slide?