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Linear FAQ

Common questions about Linear, plus troubleshooting for common issues.

Last updated: December 2025

General questions​

What is Linear?​

Linear is a precision measurement tool for designers and developers. It lets you measure pixel distances, verify alignment, and check spacing on any screen content.

What platforms does Linear support?​

  • macOS: 10.15 (Catalina) and later, Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Windows: Windows 10 and later
  • Browser: Chrome 88+, Firefox 78+ (as extension)

Is Linear free?​

Linear offers a free tier with core functionality:

  • Point-to-point measurement
  • Basic grid overlay
  • Guides
  • Screenshot export

Advanced features (comparison mode, annotations, presets, team features) require a paid plan.

How is Linear different from browser DevTools?​

DevTools shows computed values for web elements. Linear measures anything on screen—designs, prototypes, other applications, or web pages. Linear is designed specifically for visual verification and design QA workflows.

Can Linear measure things outside the browser?​

Yes, the desktop app can measure anything on your screen: design tools (Figma, Sketch, XD), other applications, even system UI. The browser extension is limited to web page content.

Technical questions​

Why does Linear need screen recording permission on Mac?​

To measure anything on screen, Linear needs to capture screen content. macOS requires apps that do this to have explicit screen recording permission. Linear only reads pixels for measurement—it doesn't record or transmit your screen.

How do I grant screen recording permission?​

  1. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy
  2. Select Privacy tab
  3. Select Screen Recording
  4. Click the lock to make changes
  5. Check the box next to Linear
  6. Restart Linear

Why are my measurements slightly off?​

Common causes:

Display scaling: If you're measuring in CSS pixels on a retina display, make sure Linear is set to CSS pixels, not device pixels.

Zoom level: Browser zoom affects measurements. Reset to 100% for accurate measurements.

Subpixel rendering: Some elements render at fractional pixels. Linear shows the nearest whole pixel by default.

Snap is off: If edge snapping is disabled, measurements depend on your exact click position.

Can Linear measure inside Figma files?​

In the browser (Figma web), the Linear extension can measure Figma content. For the desktop Figma app, use the Linear desktop app—it can measure anything on your screen.

Does Linear work with multiple monitors?​

Yes. The desktop app can measure across monitors. Use the measurement tool on whichever screen has your target content.

How do I switch between measurement units?​

  1. Open Preferences (⌘, or Ctrl+,)
  2. Select "Units"
  3. Choose your preferred unit
  4. Optionally, set up a keyboard shortcut to switch units

Usage questions​

How do I measure the padding on an element?​

  1. Identify the element's edge and its content's edge
  2. Activate measurement tool (M)
  3. Click on the content edge
  4. Drag to the element edge
  5. The distance is your padding

For more precise element measurement, use the browser extension which can detect element boundaries automatically.

How do I check if elements align?​

Several approaches:

Guides: Place a horizontal or vertical guide at one element's edge, then see if other elements touch it.

Grid: Enable a grid and check if elements snap to the same grid lines.

Measurement: Measure from a reference point to each element—matching values mean alignment.

Can I measure diagonal distances?​

Yes. The measurement tool works in any direction. Linear shows:

  • Total (diagonal) distance
  • Horizontal component (Δx)
  • Vertical component (Δy)
  • Angle

How do I save my grid settings?​

  1. Configure your grid as desired
  2. Open grid settings (⌘G or Ctrl+G)
  3. Click "Save as Preset"
  4. Name your preset
  5. Access later via preset dropdown or keyboard shortcut

Can I share measurements with my team?​

With a team plan:

  • Export screenshots with annotations
  • Share measurement reports
  • Sync presets across team members
  • Generate shareable links to annotated views

Troubleshooting​

Linear isn't detecting element edges​

Try:

  • Ensure snap is enabled (check for "snap" indicator)
  • Zoom in for more precise edge detection
  • Check if the element has complex borders or shadows
  • Use the browser extension for better web element detection

Grid doesn't align with my design​

Check:

  • Grid offset settings (may need adjustment)
  • Grid size matches your design system
  • Browser zoom is at 100%
  • You're measuring CSS pixels, not device pixels

Keyboard shortcuts aren't working​

Try:

  • Check for conflicts in Preferences > Keyboard
  • Make sure Linear window is focused
  • Some shortcuts are disabled in certain modes
  • Reset to defaults if customizations caused issues

Linear is slow or laggy​

Try:

  • Close comparison mode when not in use
  • Use larger grid sizes (small grids are rendering-intensive)
  • Clear old measurements
  • Update to the latest version
  • Restart the application

Screenshots don't include measurements​

Check:

  • Measurements are visible before capture
  • "Include measurements" is checked in export options
  • You're using Linear's screenshot feature (⌘S), not system screenshot

Browser extension doesn't appear​

Try:

  • Check if extension is enabled in browser settings
  • Reload the page
  • Check if the page blocks extensions (some do)
  • Reinstall the extension
Still stuck?

Email support at hello@theuxshop.com with:

  • What you're trying to do
  • What's happening instead
  • Your OS and Linear version
  • Screenshots if relevant

Privacy and security​

Does Linear send my screen content anywhere?​

No. All measurement happens locally on your device. Linear doesn't transmit screen content, measurements, or any other data to our servers.

What data does Linear collect?​

With default settings:

  • Anonymous usage analytics (can be disabled)
  • Crash reports (can be disabled)

Linear never collects:

  • Screen content
  • Your measurements
  • Personal information

Can I use Linear offline?​

Yes. The desktop app works fully offline. The browser extension needs to download initially but works on pages after installation.

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