> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://doc.getrationale.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Figma to import design frames into Rationale

> Sign in with Figma once and import frames from any file by pasting a URL. Rationale has read-only access to your files and comments.

Connecting your Figma account lets Rationale read your design files so you can import frames directly into any project. You sign in once through OAuth, and from that point on you paste a Figma file URL whenever you want to bring screens into the canvas. Rationale only requests read-only access — it can read your files and comments, but it cannot create, edit, or delete anything in Figma.

## What the Figma integration does

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Import frames from any file" icon="figma">
    Paste a `figma.com/file/…` or `figma.com/design/…` URL when creating a project or adding a design source. Rationale fetches the frames and places them on the canvas.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Read-only access" icon="lock">
    Rationale requests read-only permission to your files and comments. It cannot modify your Figma files.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Required for design import" icon="plug">
    The Figma connector must be active before you can paste a Figma URL into any project. The connection is workspace-wide — connect once and use it across all projects.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Watch for drift" icon="eye">
    Once connected, you can link a specific Figma file to a project version so Rationale re-audits every time you save a named version. See [Watch for design drift](/workflows/match).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How to connect

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    Click **Settings** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Connections">
    Select **Connections** from the settings menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Figma connector">
    Click the **Figma** card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the connector">
    Click **Add connector**. A Figma OAuth window opens.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in to Figma">
    Sign in with your Figma account and authorize Rationale. The window closes automatically once the connection succeeds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  The Figma connector uses your personal Figma account. Any file you have access to in Figma can be imported into Rationale.
</Note>

## How to use after connecting

When you create a new project or add a design source to an existing one, paste a Figma URL in the Figma URL field. Rationale accepts both file URLs and design URLs:

* `https://figma.com/file/<key>/…`
* `https://figma.com/design/<key>/…`

Rationale fetches all frames in the file and places them on the canvas for the audit.

## Watch mode

After connecting Figma, you can enable watch mode for a specific project version. With watch mode active, Rationale automatically re-runs the audit each time you save a named version in Figma, and posts a summary to Slack if you have that integration connected.

To set up watch mode, go to **Settings → Figma watch** while a project is open, paste the Figma file URL, and click **Watch File**. For the full workflow, see [Watch for design drift](/workflows/match).

## How to disconnect

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    Click **Settings** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Connections">
    Select **Connections** from the settings menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Figma connector">
    Click the **Figma** card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disconnect">
    Click **Disconnect**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Disconnecting removes the stored OAuth token. Rationale can no longer fetch new frames from Figma after you disconnect. Existing project data — frames already imported and audit results — is not deleted.
</Note>