How to annotate a Figma file
To annotate a Figma file, press Shift T to open the built-in annotation tool, click the element you want to mark, and type your note. For back-and-forth discussion, use the comment tool (C) instead — comments thread and resolve while annotations stay as permanent design documentation. To collect feedback from a client who doesn't have a Figma account, export the frame and share a link they can annotate without signing up.
Use the built-in annotation tool (Shift T)
Press Shift T (or click Annotation in the toolbar), then click any layer in your file. Type a note, or click + Property to pull in a design value like spacing or color. Assign a category — Development, Interaction, Accessibility, or Content — so developers can filter by type in Dev Mode. Annotations are visible to anyone with 'can view' access. One catch: only editors can create them, so clients on a viewer link can see your annotations but can't add their own.
Use comments for back-and-forth discussion (C key)
Comments (press C, then click the canvas) are conversational — they thread, resolve, and close. Use them for feedback with teammates or stakeholders who already have a Figma account. The client friction: Figma requires an account to comment. On the free plan, non-designers land in the full editor, see every layer, and hit a sign-up prompt before they can type anything. Most give up and send notes over email instead.
Build annotations manually for detailed redlines
Press T to add a text box, draw an arrow to the element, and group both on a dedicated 'Annotations' layer you can toggle off for client presentations. The free Figma Annotation Kit (Figma Community) gives you pre-built callout shapes, number badges, and redline components. More visual control than Shift T, but it adds file weight and doesn't sync with Dev Mode's property panel.
When the client needs to annotate (not just view)
This is where Figma falls short. Guest commenting has been a top feature request since 2021 — still not available as of 2026. The workarounds: paste a screenshot into a Google Doc (loses precision), email a PDF for them to mark up in Preview (version chaos), or use a review link. A review link opens the exported frame in a browser where your client clicks the exact spot and pins a note — no account, no Figma knowledge required.
If the client is the one annotating — not your dev team — export the frame and drop it into Drafty. Share the link. They click the element they mean and pin a note to it. No Figma account, no file download. You reply, push a revised frame to the same URL, and resolve it. The back-and-forth that used to live across iMessage and a vague Loom stays in one thread.
Open a live demoQuestions
- What is the difference between annotations and comments in Figma?
- Annotations (Shift T) are permanent design documentation — they stay on the canvas and appear in Dev Mode alongside layer specs. Comments (C key) are conversational threads you can resolve and close. Use annotations for developer handoff; use comments for ongoing team discussion. Annotations are always visible to viewers; comments only show when the Comments panel is open.
- Can a client annotate a Figma file without a Figma account?
- No. Figma requires an account to leave a comment or annotation. Viewers without an account can see the design but can't add notes. The workaround is to export the frame and share it via a tool that supports guest commenting — the client annotates on a web page without signing up.
- What is the keyboard shortcut to annotate in Figma?
- Press Shift T to open the built-in annotation tool, then click any layer to attach a note. For a regular comment, press C and click the canvas. Press Esc to exit either tool.
- How do I hide annotations from clients when sharing a Figma file?
- You can't — annotations are visible to anyone with 'can view' access. For developer-only notes, put them in a dedicated frame or a toggled-off layer rather than using Shift T, or export a clean version of the frame that excludes annotation layers.
- How do I collect feedback on a Figma design from someone who doesn't use Figma?
- Export the frame and share it as a link they open in any browser. A review tool that supports guest commenting lets your client click the exact spot and leave a pinned note without creating an account — their feedback stays in one thread instead of scattered across email.
Keep exploring
Stop emailing files back and forth.
Share one link. They comment on the exact spot — no account, always the current version.