Figma: How To Change Text Language Easily

Nov 8, 2025 by Admin 42 views

Hey guys! Ever wondered how to change the text language in Figma? It’s a pretty common question, especially if you’re working on projects with an international team or targeting a global audience. Figma is an awesome tool for collaborative design, and knowing how to tweak the text language can really streamline your workflow. So, let's dive right into how you can change the text language in Figma. Trust me, it's easier than you think!

Understanding Figma and Language Settings

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's quickly touch on what Figma is all about and why language settings matter. Figma is a cloud-based design tool that's super popular for creating user interfaces, prototypes, and all sorts of design projects. Its collaborative nature means multiple people can work on the same design simultaneously, making it perfect for team projects. But here’s the thing: not everyone speaks the same language, right? That’s where language settings come into play.

When you're designing for a global audience, or even just collaborating with team members who speak different languages, you need to ensure that your text elements are displayed correctly. This includes things like the right characters, correct spelling, and appropriate localization. Imagine designing a website in English but needing to present it to a Spanish-speaking client – you'd want to ensure all the text can be easily switched to Spanish without a hassle. Changing the text language in Figma isn’t just about translation; it’s about making your designs accessible and understandable to everyone involved.

Also, keep in mind that Figma's interface language can be different from the text language within your design. The interface language affects the menus, buttons, and other elements of Figma itself, while the text language refers to the language used in your text layers and components. You can change Figma's interface language in your account settings, but that won't automatically change the language of the text in your designs. That’s what we're going to focus on today: how to modify the text language within your Figma projects.

Knowing how to handle language settings effectively can save you a ton of time and prevent misunderstandings. It also ensures that your designs are professional and polished, no matter who's viewing them. So, let's get started and learn how to change the text language in Figma!

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Text Language in Figma

Alright, let’s get down to the specifics. Changing the text language in Figma involves a few key steps. Don't worry; I'll walk you through each one so you can easily implement these changes in your own projects. Here’s what you need to do:

Selecting the Text Layer: First things first, you need to select the text layer you want to modify. In Figma, you can do this by simply clicking on the text element within your design. Make sure you've selected the correct layer by checking the Layers panel on the left side of your screen. You'll see the name of the layer highlighted, confirming that it's the active one. If the text is part of a component, you might need to double-click to enter the component and select the text layer inside it.
Accessing the Text Settings: Once you've selected the text layer, look over to the right-hand panel. This is where you'll find all the properties and settings for your selected element. Scroll down until you see the Text section. Here, you'll find various options for customizing the appearance of your text, such as font family, font size, font weight, and, most importantly, the text language.
Finding the Language Option: Inside the Text section, you might not see a direct option labeled "Language." Figma uses the font selected to determine the language support. To effectively change the language, you may need to select a font that supports the language you intend to use. For example, if you're writing in Japanese, you'll want to choose a font that includes Japanese characters. The available characters will depend on the selected font.
Choosing the Right Font: This is where it gets a little tricky. Figma doesn’t have a dedicated language dropdown like some other tools might. Instead, the language support is tied to the font you choose. To change the text language, you need to select a font that supports the language you want to use. For example, if you want to write in Japanese, you should select a font that includes Japanese characters. Similarly, for Cyrillic languages like Russian, you'll need a font that supports Cyrillic characters. Experiment with different fonts until you find one that displays the characters correctly for your desired language.
Using Plugins for Advanced Language Support: For more advanced language needs, such as translation or localization, you might want to explore Figma plugins. There are several plugins available in the Figma Community that can help you manage multilingual text. These plugins often provide features like automatic translation, support for different language formats, and easy switching between languages. To find these plugins, go to the Figma Community, search for "translation" or "localization," and browse the available options. Install the plugin that best suits your needs and follow its instructions to manage your text language.

By following these steps, you can effectively change the text language in Figma and ensure your designs are accessible and understandable to a global audience. Remember to choose the right font and explore plugins for more advanced language support. Now, let’s look at some tips and tricks to make this process even smoother.

Tips and Tricks for Managing Text Language in Figma

Changing the text language in Figma can be straightforward, but here are a few tips and tricks to help you manage it more efficiently:

Use Styles for Consistent Formatting: If you're working with multiple text elements in the same language, create text styles. This ensures consistency across your design. You can save specific font settings as a text style and apply it to multiple layers. This way, if you need to change the font for a particular language, you only need to update the style, and all linked text layers will update automatically. It saves a ton of time and keeps your design uniform.
Leverage Components for Reusable Elements: Use components for elements that appear multiple times in your design. For instance, if you have a button with text that needs to be in multiple languages, create a component for that button. You can then create variations of the component for each language. This makes it easy to update the text across all instances of the button by simply modifying the component.
Explore Translation Plugins: As mentioned earlier, Figma has a vibrant plugin ecosystem. There are numerous translation plugins available that can help you automate the translation process. These plugins often integrate with translation services like Google Translate or DeepL, allowing you to quickly translate text within your Figma designs. Some plugins also offer features like automatic language detection and support for different file formats.
Organize Your Layers: Keep your layers organized to make it easier to manage text in different languages. Use descriptive layer names that indicate the language of the text (e.g., "Button Text - EN" for English, "Button Text - ES" for Spanish). You can also use groups or frames to group text elements by language. This makes it easier to find and modify text when you need to make changes.
Test Your Designs: Always test your designs with different languages to ensure everything looks correct. Pay attention to things like text overflow, character rendering, and overall readability. It’s a good idea to have native speakers review your designs to catch any potential issues. Testing ensures that your designs are truly accessible and understandable to your target audience.

By implementing these tips and tricks, you can streamline your workflow and ensure that your Figma designs are easily adaptable to different languages. Now, let’s address some common issues you might encounter when changing text language in Figma.

Common Issues and How to Troubleshoot Them

Even with the best preparation, you might run into a few snags when changing text language in Figma. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Missing Characters: Sometimes, when you switch to a different language, certain characters might not display correctly. This usually happens when the font you're using doesn't support those characters. The solution is to choose a font that includes the necessary characters for your target language. Do some research to find fonts that offer comprehensive language support.
Text Overflow: When translating text, the length of the text can change, causing it to overflow its container. To fix this, you might need to adjust the size of the text container or reduce the font size. In some cases, you might need to rewrite the text to make it fit within the available space. Use Figma’s auto-layout features to help manage text overflow automatically.
Incorrect Rendering: Occasionally, text might not render correctly, appearing distorted or misaligned. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as font rendering issues or conflicts with other design elements. Try refreshing Figma or restarting your computer. If the problem persists, try using a different font or simplifying your design.
Plugin Conflicts: If you're using translation plugins, they might sometimes conflict with other plugins or Figma itself. If you encounter issues after installing a plugin, try disabling other plugins to see if that resolves the problem. If the issue persists, contact the plugin developer for support.
Font Loading Issues: Sometimes, fonts might not load correctly in Figma, causing text to display in a default font. This can be due to internet connectivity issues or problems with the font file itself. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and that the font is properly installed on your system. Try clearing your browser cache or restarting Figma.

By understanding these common issues and how to troubleshoot them, you can minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth workflow when changing text language in Figma. And that’s a wrap! You’re now equipped with the knowledge to effectively manage text language in your Figma projects. Go forth and create designs that speak to the world!