Recover Deleted Figma Files: Step-by-Step Guide

Yes, you can recover deleted Figma files in most cases, provided you act quickly and know where to look. This guide explains the built-in recovery options in Figma and FigJam, how to use them, and what to do if the file isn’t showing up.

How Figma Handles Deleted Files

When you delete a file in Figma, it isn’t immediately wiped from the servers. Instead, it moves to a trash folder, similar to your computer’s recycle bin. The file stays there for a limited time—typically 30 days for files in a team or project, and 30 days for files in your drafts. After that period, Figma permanently deletes the file and it becomes unrecoverable through normal means.

There are two main places where deleted files go:

• Your drafts – files you created and haven’t shared with a team.
• Team projects – files inside a team project, which are deleted by a team member with edit permissions.

Recovering Files from Your Drafts Trash

If you deleted a file that was in your personal drafts, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Figma and go to the File browser (the main dashboard that shows all your files).
2. Look in the left sidebar for Drafts and click on it.
3. At the top of the file list, click the Trash icon (a trash can symbol).
4. You’ll see a list of deleted files. Find the one you want, hover over it, and click the Restore icon (usually an arrow pointing up).
5. The file will be moved back to your drafts.

If you don’t see the Trash icon, make sure you’re in the Drafts section, not a team project. Also, check that you are the owner of the file—if someone else deleted it, it might not appear in your trash.

Recovering Files from a Team Project

For files that were in a team project, the process is slightly different:

1. Go to the File browser and select the team that contains the project.
2. In the left sidebar, click on the project name to open it.
3. Click the Trash icon at the top of the file list.
4. Find the deleted file, hover over it, and click Restore.

Important: You need can edit permission on the project to restore a file. If you only have view access, you won’t see the Trash option. In that case, ask a project admin or the file owner to restore it.

What If the File Isn’t in the Trash?

If you don’t see the file in the trash, there are a few possibilities:

• The 30-day window has passed – Figma permanently deletes files after 30 days, and they cannot be recovered.
• You’re looking in the wrong place – Check both your drafts trash and the team project trash. Sometimes files are deleted from a project but still exist in your drafts.
• The file was deleted by someone else – If a teammate deleted it, you might not see it if you don’t have the right permissions.
• It was a library file – If it was a team library, it might be under the Libraries tab, not the regular file list.

If none of these apply, you can try contacting Figma support. They may be able to recover files from their backups, but this is not guaranteed and usually only works within a short time after deletion.

Recovering FigJam Files

FigJam files (Figma’s whiteboard tool) follow the same deletion process. They go to the trash and can be restored using the same steps as regular files. However, FigJam files are often stored in team projects, so check the team trash first. The 30-day rule applies here as well.

Preventing Future File Loss

To avoid the panic of losing work, consider these habits:

• Use version history – Figma automatically saves version history for files, but it doesn’t help if the file is deleted. Still, it’s useful for recovering earlier versions of a file that still exists.
• Duplicate important files – Right-click a file and choose Duplicate to create a copy in your drafts.
• Move files to a team project – Team projects have better organization and multiple people can restore files, reducing the risk of permanent loss.
• Export regularly – For critical files, export a .fig copy or PDF to your local drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a file after 30 days?

Once the 30-day period passes, Figma permanently deletes the file from its servers, and it cannot be recovered through the app. The only exception is if Figma support can restore it from a backup, but this is rare and not guaranteed. Always assume that after 30 days, the file is gone.

Why don’t I see the Trash icon in my drafts?

If you’re in the Drafts section and don’t see a Trash icon, it could be because you have no deleted files, or you’re not the owner of any deleted files. Also, make sure you’re not in a team project—the trash icon is only visible in the drafts or project view, not in the team dashboard.

Can I recover a file deleted by someone else?

Yes, if you have can edit permission on the project, you can restore files deleted by other members. If you only have view access, you’ll need to ask an admin or the file owner to restore it. If the file was in someone else’s personal drafts, you won’t be able to recover it unless they share it with you.

Does Figma have a backup system?

Figma does not offer a user-facing backup system, but it does maintain server backups for disaster recovery. These backups are not accessible to users, and Figma support may or may not be able to restore from them. The best backup is your own—use version history, duplication, and exports.

What if I accidentally deleted a whole project?

Deleting a project in Figma moves all its files to the trash. You can restore the entire project by going to the team’s trash and clicking Restore on the project. The files will be restored along with the project structure.

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