Figma: auto layout now aligns with CSS handling

Figma released an update on July 24, 2026 that refines how auto layout frames behave to align more closely with CSS layout handling. New frames created after the update automatically use the revised behavior. Existing frames keep their current settings until manually updated, and Figma will maintain backward compatibility until January 2027 to give teams time to migrate without breaking existing designs.

The practical impact is at design-to-code handoff. Auto layout properties in Figma have historically required translation work from developers — values that made sense in the Figma context did not map directly to CSS behavior, requiring workarounds that introduced gap between what was designed and what was built. The update reduces that translation layer by making Figma’s interpretation of layout logic closer to how browsers and CSS frameworks handle it.

For product teams with active design-code workflows, the update removes a category of recurring friction. Developers who frequently converted Figma auto layout properties into CSS flexbox or grid styles will find the gap narrower. The update follows Figma’s broader direction since Config 2026: closing the distance between the design file and the codebase through features like Code Layers, Code Connect, and the MCP server integration.

The migration path is gradual. Teams can update individual frames when it is convenient rather than making a single pass through all files at once. The January 2027 deadline for legacy support gives most teams enough runway to prioritize the update without urgency, while new work benefits from the improved behavior immediately.