To remove a group and turn its elements back into individual layers in Figma, you need to ungroup them. This is often what people mean by "removing a group selection." The quickest way to do this is by using a simple keyboard shortcut.
Understanding Groups in Figma
Groups are a fundamental feature in Figma used to organize layers and objects. As the reference states, groups are really useful when you want to combine similar items together and manage less layers within your design. For example, you may have a selection of company logos that need to stay together, or perhaps all the elements that make up a button or a section header. Grouping keeps these related items bundled in the Layers panel and allows you to move, resize, or apply properties to them as a single unit.
However, sometimes you need to modify individual items within a group, or you no longer need the items to be grouped. This is where ungrouping comes in.
How to Ungroup Elements (Remove the Group)
The most efficient way to "remove" a group selection, meaning to dissolve the group itself, is by using a specific keyboard shortcut provided by Figma.
Here are the shortcuts to ungroup selected elements:
- Mac: ⌘ + ⌫ (Command + Delete)
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + ⌫ (Control + Shift + Delete)
Simply select the group you wish to dissolve, and then press the corresponding shortcut for your operating system. At any point you can ungroup the elements, by pressing: ⌘ + ⌫ or Ctrl + Shift ⌫ (Win).
After ungrouping, the individual layers that were inside the group will appear as separate items in your Layers panel, allowing you to select and edit them independently.
What About Simply Deselecting a Group?
If by "remove a group selection" you mean simply no longer having the group selected on your canvas or in the Layers panel (while keeping the items grouped), you can do this by:
- Clicking anywhere on the canvas away from the selected group.
- Pressing the
Esckey on your keyboard.
This action just removes the selection highlight, leaving the group structure intact. Ungrouping, on the other hand, breaks the group apart.
Why Ungroup Elements?
You might need to ungroup elements for several reasons:
- To edit text within a specific layer without entering the group editing mode.
- To rearrange individual elements within the former group.
- To delete just one item from a collection without affecting the others.
- To apply different properties (like colors, effects) to individual items that were previously styled as a group.
Using the ungroup shortcut is a quick way to regain control over individual layers when your design needs change.
