Relocating master components
Sometimes you need to reorganize your design system files. Once you have created a master components, you cannot move it to another file, and you are stuck with the current file forever.
It would be great if you can just move your Master Component from one document to another.

45 comments
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Alfonso commented
workaround
1- created a new document
2- copy the artboards( from the working document with masters)
3- pasted designed screens in the new document ... all master components used remained in the original file and were linked to the new document
*rename the files=)
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A Lovinger commented
This issue is becoming a huge time-waster. I've used the workaround of copying, deleting, making local before, but today, for some unknown reason, I'm not getting "Make Local" as an option. And Edit Main is greyed out. It looks like I have no choice but to recreate this component completely which is a problem since it is already used in multiple places in the new file. You really should be able to easily disconnect a component in any file from its originating Main component and retain all of the states you've spent time defining. I would also like to be able to re-assign an instance to a different main component then reset to main as needed.
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Evan Manni commented
I am with Ash De on this one. Making components local indeed does make a component local however it remains as a copy of the master and you have to redo the whole process of making it a master component again in the new file.
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Ash De commented
Making components local with 'Make local' does not solve the issue. Changes in this new local component do not reflect in all other files. We have a big team that is working on one project which has more than 80 pages. My team members have created additional components in their files whenever required. Now for the design system, I can not gather all master components in one file.
Adobe please help us. Give the facility to move/export/relocate the master components. -
James commented
Okay, update on my previous comment:
See the three screenshots I have attached.
1. The first linked component did not give me the option to 'make it local'.
2. The second did give me the option.
3. When I highlighted them both I was given the option 'make local' and it worked...😏🤔😣 While my issue is now solved I am baffled as to why this was the workaround, but thankful that I stumbled across it! Maybe this will help some others out there...
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James commented
In the past, I have copied components from one doc to another and when I hover the item in my document assets I have the option to 'Make local component'. Today I tried this and I only get the options:
1. Edit Main in source.
2. Highlight on canvas.Why today when I am having a major tidy-up and merging multiple files does this happen? Am I doing something wrong (It's never been an issue for me in the past)? 😖 So frustrating Adobe!!!!
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Ändu commented
1. You copy the component to another document
2. Right-Click the asset and select "reveal component in "assets"
3. Right-click the component in the assets panel and select "make local component" -
Noelstah commented
Hi Everyone, locate your component, right-click just click "Make Local Component", works a charm!
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Anonymous commented
Huge blocker for me right now! Please, prioritize this feature Adobe.
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Anonymous commented
Initially, I created my design system in the same file and also added other screens in the source document. Later I decided to move the design system to the new file and all the original components should remain linked but this didn't happen. It's a blocker for me.
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Mahesh commented
Link the main file which has the master component with the file you are working on then delete the components you want to relocate from the main file itself and locate the master component in the component panel in your current file, right-click and then click on "edit main component"
It should work fine :)
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Cognisant commented
I'm fairly new to XD and this has come across as a HUGE issue for me. I can't believe Adobe hasn't solved this yet!!
I have multiple people in my team working remotely on a single project and not having the feature to be able to move master components from one file to another is just silly!
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Atasay Ugras commented
To be able to update and organize design system files, this feature is a must!
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Neil commented
This is a necessary item. For example I imported a sketch file to convert it to XD. Now all my master components are in one file. It is a workflow disaster with over 100 screens to keep finding the master components and zoom back to the boards.
I want all the masters to be in a separate XD file tied into the master to use as my design system components and share with multiple XD files. Now I can't. I'd have to create a separate file, recreate all the assets as new masters and then relink everything.
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David Motalík commented
This is really blocker, please prioritize it.
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Diana commented
This is so necessary! I work in a team and sometimes someone makes this great component that could be an add in to our Design System.
Right now we have all our components all over diferent files. It would be nice to pull em up into a design system master file. -
Joo Chung commented
Wait, what?! How is this not a feature yet? Just absolutely boneheaded that Adobe would force master components to be tied to one file and not allow them to be moved to another file. And this app is out of beta? What the everloving F---!
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Anonymous commented
It will be a breakthrough. Please, prioritize it.
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uiux designer commented
I really need this feature to be able to manage my design team
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Anonymous commented
agree!!