Detach instance
Break a component instance's link to its master and convert it to independent, editable layers.
What detaching does
Detaching an instance permanently breaks its connection to the master component. The layers that make up the instance remain on the canvas and look exactly the same, but they are now independent — they will no longer receive updates when the master component changes, and you can freely modify their structure.
When to detach
Detach an instance when:
- You need to make structural changes (add, remove, or rearrange child layers) that overrides cannot handle.
- The instance needs to diverge significantly from the master and should not follow future master updates.
- You are creating a one-off custom design from a component base.
Do not detach if you only need to change text, colors, or other overrideable properties — apply overrides instead to maintain the component link.
Detaching an instance
- Select a component instance on the canvas.
- Right-click to open the context menu.
- Choose Detach component instance.
The layer icon in the Layers panel changes from the component badge to a regular group or frame icon.
After detaching
- The layers are fully editable — you can add, delete, and rearrange child layers.
- The selected layer behaves like a regular group or frame after detaching.
- Changes to the original master component do not affect the detached layers.
Tips
- Duplicate the instance before detaching so you have a linked backup you can reference or restore.
- If you detach by mistake, undo immediately with ⌘Z.
- Detach is a one-way operation — you cannot re-attach layers to a master component after detaching.