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How to Make a Scrollable Asset in Figma

What is a Scrollable Asset?

A scrollable asset in Figma refers to content within a frame that users can scroll through vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. This is useful when you have content that extends beyond the frame’s borders.

For example, you may want users to scroll through:

  • A long page of text
  • A grid of images
  • A list of products
  • Filters or menu options

Making assets scrollable improves the user experience by allowing access to additional content without having to navigate to a new page.

When to Use a Scrollable Frame

Here are some instances where a scrollable frame makes sense in your Figma designs:

Long Pages

Scrolling comes in handy for long pages in your prototype, like multi-page articles, stories, terms of service, etc. Rather than linking out to separate frames, contain all the content in one vertical scroll.

Image Grids

Enable horizontal scrolling for grids of images, like an image carousel. This allows the viewer to scan through without taking up too much vertical space.

Lists and Menus

Vertical scrolling works well for long lists of filters, menu items, products, etc. Horizontal scrolling can work too for wide menus.

Smaller Screens

Scrolling helps you optimize designs for smaller screens like mobile where vertical space is limited. Rather than scaling down content, allow users to access it by scrolling.

How to Make a Frame Scrollable in Figma

Making a frame scrollable in Figma only takes a few steps:

  1. Add content: Place the content you want to be scrollable inside a frame. This can be text, images, vectors, buttons, etc.
  2. Overflow it: Make sure the content overflows and extends beyond the frame borders.
  3. Select frame: Click on the frame to select it.
  4. Open prototype tab: On the right Properties Panel, click on “Prototype”.
  5. Set scroll: Under “Overflow”, choose “Vertical”, “Horizontal”, or “Both”.
  6. Test scroll: Click Present to view it on a device and test out scrolling!

Detailed Steps

Let’s go through an example to see it in action:

  1. I have a document with a big group of text content that extends way below the page frame. This text content is what I want to be scrollable.
  2. To contain it, I’ll select all the text layers and click the Frame Selection icon or use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + G to place the selected layers into an auto-sized frame.
  3. In the layers panel, I can see a new “Frame” layer wrapping my text content all together.
  4. I’ll click on the Frame layer to select it. This is the container that will have the scrollable overflow behavior enabled.
  5. Then at the right Properties panel, I’ll click on “Prototype” to open those options.
  6. Under Overflow, I enable “Vertical Scrolling”. I could also choose “Horizontal Scrolling” or “Both”.
  7. Lastly, I click the Present button at the top to launch a preview on a device frame I have set up.
  8. Now I can see my text content overflowing vertically with a scroll bar. I can scroll down to access all the text!

And that’s it, my overflows content is now scrollable!

Tips for Scrollable Frames

Here are some tips when working with scrollable frames in Figma:

  • Use auto-layout: Auto-layout frames resize dynamically based on content. This works well paired with scrollable overflow.
  • Set constraints: Constraints control sizing behavior for auto-layout frames. Consider setting constraints like min/max width/height for the scrollable frame.
  • Clip content: This option will hide any content overflowing outside the frame borders rather than showing it and enabling scrolling.
  • Fixed position: Use fixed position on elements you want to lock in place as the user scrolls through other content. Sticky headers are a great example.
  • Scroll to: Set scroll to position to jump or animate to specific vertical or horizontal scroll positions in prototypes.

Common Questions

Can I make a vector shape scrollable?

Yes! You can place images, vectors, text, etc. into any frame and make it scrollable. So feel free to overflow shapes and enable scrolling.

Why is my frame not scrolling?

Check that you have vertical, horizontal, or both scroll enabled under the prototype tab. Also make sure your content visibly overflows and extends beyond the frame borders. If it fits inside, scrolling may not activate.

Can I create a scroll box like a website?

Absolutely! Use a layout grid or auto-layout frames to design a page. Then embed those elements into a main parent frame and enable vertical scrolling on that parent. Add styling like background colors to mimic a web design.

Final Thoughts

That covers the basics of working with scrollable frames in Figma! It’s a simple setting that can greatly improve your prototypes and designs.

Scrolling allows users to access more content without navigating away. This helps keep viewers engaged with less effort.

So explore enabling vertical, horizontal, or both directions of scrolling to unlock the full potential of your Figma designs. Just overflow any frame and select the scroll settings you need.

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