Turn snapping on or off
The red magnet at the start of the toolbar switches snapping on and off. Solid red means on, pale means off. It controls furniture; each wall has its own magnet.
With snapping on, furniture moves in small, even steps, slides flush against walls and lines up with the pieces around it. That keeps layouts neat, but sometimes you want a piece exactly where you put it. The magnet button in the toolbar switches snapping off and on.
Step by step
- 1
Find the magnet in the toolbar
On a computer it's the first button after Flow check, at the left of the toolbar above the plan. Hover over it and it says Disable snapping. Solid red means snapping is on.
Solid red magnet: snapping on. - 2
Click it to turn snapping off
The magnet turns pale pink and now says Enable snapping. Drag furniture and it stays exactly where you let go: no grid steps and no pull towards walls or other pieces. Click the magnet again to turn snapping back on.
Pale magnet: snapping off. Pieces go exactly where you drop them. - 3
On a phone
The magnet is the first icon in the toolbar row under the floor picker. On phones snapping starts off, because fingers and snapping tend to fight on a small screen. Tap the magnet to turn it on.
Phone: the magnet starts pale (off). - 4
Walls have their own magnet
The toolbar magnet is for furniture. Walls always snap to other walls and corners so they join up properly. To place one wall's end freely, select the wall and tap the red magnet in the small panel next to its length: it changes to Free for that wall only. On a computer you can also hold Ctrl (⌘ on a Mac) while you drag a wall end. See drawing interior walls.
A selected wall's own magnet: tap it for free placement of that wall.
Tips
When to switch it off
Staggered pieces, a chair at an angle, a rug that should sit slightly off centre, or a piece snapping to a wall you don't want it against. Place it, then switch snapping back on.
When to leave it on
Kitchen cabinet runs, a row of wardrobes, two matching chairs: snapping lines them up and butts them together perfectly. See alignment guides and snap.
Free rotation
Turning a piece with its rotate handle clicks to straight angles (every 45°) when you get close. Hold Shift while you turn to rotate freely.
Common mistakes
Changing the grid size to stop snapping
Settings → Drawing Defaults → Grid Spacing only changes how far apart the grid lines are drawn. It doesn't switch snapping off; the magnet does.
Expecting wall-mounted items to float free
TVs, wall cabinets, towel bars and other wall-mounted pieces always stay on a wall, even with snapping off. That's how they're mounted, not snapping.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off snap to grid?
Click the solid red magnet button at the left of the toolbar above the plan (it says Disable snapping). It turns pale, and furniture now goes exactly where you drop it.
What does snapping do?
With it on, furniture moves in 6-inch steps, slides flush against nearby walls, and lines up with and butts against the pieces next to it.
Does RoomSketch3D remember my choice?
Yes, on that device. Computers start with snapping on and phones with it off; once you tap the magnet, that device keeps your choice for every design.
Why does my wall still snap with snapping off?
The toolbar magnet only controls furniture. Walls always snap so they join cleanly. Use the magnet on the selected wall's panel (it changes to Free), or hold Ctrl / ⌘ while dragging on a computer.
Does the grid size in Drawing Defaults change the snap step?
No. Grid Spacing only changes the grid lines you see. Furniture snapping uses the same small steps whatever the grid spacing.
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