Figma: On-Canvas Video Playback in Design and Draw

On-Canvas Video Playback in Figma Design and Figma Draw

Figma rolled out a long-requested capability on April 7, 2026: native video playback controls directly on the canvas in Figma Design and Figma Draw. Designers can now interact with video files without leaving the design canvas or entering prototype view, streamlining workflows that involve motion content, marketing assets, or video-heavy design systems.

Visual Identification for Videos

One of the first improvements is a set of visual identifiers on video files. Previously, a video placed on the canvas could easily be mistaken for a static image or thumbnail. Now, Figma marks video files with a clear visual indicator, making it immediately obvious which canvas elements contain video content. This is especially useful in dense, complex files where multiple media types coexist.

Playback Controls on the Canvas

The core of the update is a full suite of playback controls accessible directly on any video file:

• Play and pause — control playback without entering prototype mode
• Full screen — expand the video to full screen for review or presentation purposes
• Playback speed adjustment — slow down or speed up the video for closer inspection
• Sound control — adjust or mute audio directly on the file

These controls are rendered inline on the canvas, meaning the design workflow is not interrupted. Figma designed these controls to match what has been available in FigJam and Figma Slides for some time, completing cross-product parity for video playback.

Why This Matters

Before this update, working with video in Figma Design required designers to either export and preview externally, or wire up a prototype just to see if a video would play as intended. That friction was particularly felt by teams designing apps with embedded video components, motion designers reviewing animation exports, or marketing teams building assets in Figma Buzz. On-canvas playback removes that round-trip and keeps the review process inside the design tool.

Availability

The feature is rolling out gradually for Figma Design and Figma Draw. No additional plan or seat type is required — any user who can place a video on the canvas will gain access to the playback controls as the rollout completes.