Deny Herianto

Posted on Nov 3

Simplifying Figma MCP Server: How to Start in Minutes

#mcp #figma #ai

Overview

Unlock efficient design-to-code workflows by connecting Figma to Cursor using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This guide covers both the official Figma Dev Mode MPC server and community alternatives, offering actionable steps, troubleshooting, and best practices.

What is MCP and Why Use It?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets tools like Cursor read and translate Figma design context directly, speeding up token extraction and React/Tailwind code generation. Developers can automate UI component mapping and asset extraction, improving accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Why this matters

If you’ve ever felt the gap between designer’s Figma file and developer’s codebase, you’re not alone. The MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server in Figma brings more than just a screenshot. It brings actual design context into your development tools so you generate code that truly matches your design system, not just in look, but in structure too.

What is the Figma MCP Server?

In simple terms: it’s a bridge between your Figma designs and your development environment.

It surfaces variables, components, layouts, style tokens and more from Figma into your IDE, so AI-assisted tools (or manual workflows) know exactly what you meant when you sketched that button or card.
Instead of feeding an image or a PDF, you’re giving your tools data—and data = better accuracy, fewer mis-aligned features, less “why does this look different in code” drama.
Ideal if you have a design system, or want one, and you want to reduce friction between designers and developers.

A) Official way (recommended): Figma Dev Mode MCP → Cursor

Prerequisites:

Figma Desktop app (latest) with a Dev or Full seat on Professional/Organization/Enterprise. (Guide to the Figma MCP server)
Cursor (latest) with MCP enabled. (Model Context Protocol (MCP) | Cursor Docs)

Steps:

Turn on the MCP server in Figma Desktop
a. Open Figma Desktop → Menu → Preferences → Enable Dev Mode MCP Server.
b. You’ll see it’s running locally at: http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp. Keep that URL.
Add the server in Cursor
Cursor → Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP → + Add new global MCP server, then use this config:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "Figma": {
         "url": "http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp"
       }
     }
   }

Verify it worked

Open Cursor chat (Agent/Composer). Type #get_code to see Figma tools (e.g., get_code, get_variable_defs, optionally get_image). If nothing shows, restart both Figma Desktop and Cursor.

Use it (two easy flows)

Selection-based: select a frame/layer in Figma, then prompt Cursor to generate code for your selection.
Link-based: copy a Figma frame/layer link, paste it in chat, and ask for code/tokens.

Available tools include:

get_code → produces React+Tailwind by default (you can ask for Next.js/Vue/etc.).
get_variable_defs → lists variables/styles used (great for tokens).
Enable Preferences → Dev Mode MCP Server Settings → get_image to include screenshots for layout fidelity; also enable Code Connect to map Figma nodes to your components.

Troubleshooting quick hits

Must be Figma Desktop (server runs locally over SSE). Check the URL/port http://localhost:3845/mcp.
In Cursor, you can view MCP Logs (Output panel → “MCP Logs”) to see connection errors/timeouts.

B) Alternative: Community Figma MCP server (stdio / token-based)

If you want a standalone MCP server that talks to Figma’s REST API (handy for headless/remote setups or deeper API methods), you can run one locally and point Cursor at it.

Pick a server
Example:
GitHub - GLips/Figma-Context-MCP: MCP server to provide Figma layout information to AI coding agents like Cursor
Get a Figma Personal Access Token (PAT)
Figma → Settings → Security → Personal access tokens → Generate new token (copy it once).
Add the Framelink Figma MCP server to your IDE

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Framelink Figma MCP": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "figma-developer-mcp",
        "--figma-api-key=YOUR-KEY",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

How to Use:

Option 1: Select a Frame, Then Chat in Cursor

Open the Design
a. In Figma Desktop, open your file.
b. Click the frame or section you want (e.g. Hero, Pricing Page, Dashboard).
Generate Tokens (recommended)
In Cursor chat, type: #get_variable_defs
- Cursor shows colors, fonts, spacing used in your selection.
- Save these into tokens.ts or tailwind.config.ts.
Generate Code
a. In Cursor chat, type: #get_code
b. Then add a prompt like: Generate a Next.js page with React + Tailwind from my current selection. Use components from @/components/ui. Map all values to tokens, no hardcoded hex or px.
c. Cursor will create page.tsx (and child components if needed).
Refine
a. If output uses plain , ask Cursor: Replace raw buttons with my <Button /> component.
b. Keep iterating until it matches your system.

Option 2: Copy & Paste a Figma Link

Get the Link
In Figma, right-click the frame → Copy/Paste → Copy link.
Paste into Cursor
In Cursor chat, paste the link. Example: https://www.figma.com/file/xxxxxx?node-id=123-456
Ask for Code
After the link, add a prompt: Turn this Figma frame into a responsive Next.js page using React + Tailwind. Use my components in @/components/ui. Map to tokens from get_variable_defs.
Export Assets (if needed)
Ask Cursor: Export images/vectors from this frame into public/assets/... and update imports.

Which option to Use?

Frame selection → Best when you already have Figma open. The MCP server passes selection data directly.
Copy link → Best when someone shares a link in Slack/Docs. Cursor fetches design data for that node.

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