Draw and handwrite with Markup on iPad

In supported apps such as Notes and Photos, you can use the Markup tools to draw and sketch in your documents and images. You can also use the Markup tools to annotate screenshots, PDFs, and more.

Note: If you don’t see the Markup toolbar in a supported app, tap or Markup. If the toolbar is minimized, tap its minimized version.

A note is open in the Notes app, and the Markup toolbar is open at the bottom of the screen. The Markup tools from left to right are: the Pen, Mono line, Marker, Eraser, Lasso, Ruler, and Pencil, followed by color buttons, the Add button, and the More button.

Show and hide the Markup toolbar

To show the Markup toolbar in a supported app, tap or Markup, then do any of the following:

Move the Markup toolbar: Drag the toolbar to any edge of the screen.
(Drag from the edge of the toolbar closest to the center of the screen.)
Collapse the toolbar automatically: Tap , then turn on Auto-minimize.
To show the full toolbar again, tap the minimized version.
Hide the toolbar: Tap or .

Draw or handwrite

In the Markup toolbar, tap the pen, marker, or pencil tool, then draw or handwrite with your finger or Apple Pencil (on supported iPad models).
Do any of the following in the toolbar:
- Change the line weight: Tap the selected drawing tool, then tap an option.
- Change the opacity: Tap the selected drawing tool, then drag the slider.
- Change the color: Tap , tap Grid, Spectrum, or Sliders, then choose a color.
- Undo: Tap .

Draw straight lines

In the Markup toolbar, tap the Ruler tool, then do any of the following:
- Move the ruler: Drag the ruler with one finger.
- Change the angle: Touch and hold the ruler with two fingers, then rotate your fingers.
Draw a line along the edge of the ruler.
To hide the ruler, tap the Ruler tool in the toolbar again.

Edit or move a drawing

In the Markup toolbar, tap the Lasso tool (between the eraser and ruler).
Touch and hold a group of strokes or circle multiple drawings, then do any of the following in the formatting tools that appear near the selection:
- Change the color: Tap .
- See editing options: Tap , then tap Cut, Copy, Duplicate, and more.
To move the drawing, touch and hold it until it lifts up, then drag it to a new location.

Select and edit handwritten text

In the Markup toolbar, tap the Lasso tool (between the eraser and ruler), then do any of the following:
- Select a word or drawn object: Double-tap it.
- Select a sentence: Triple-tap it.
- Select a paragraph or text block: Touch and hold the first word, then drag to the last word. To select more precisely, drag slowly.
Tap the selected content you want to revise, tap it, then do any of the following:
- Edit: Tap an option, such as Copy as Text, Translate, or Straighten. To see other options, tap . If you see the formatting tools near your selection, tap , then tap Cut, Copy, Duplicate, and more.
- Recolor: Tap a color in the Markup toolbar or tap in the formatting tools.

In iPad apps that support Markup, you can write text in any field and have it immediately converted to typed text. See Enter text with Scribble. For more ways to edit your handwriting or drawing in Notes, see Add drawings and handwriting in Notes.

Erase part or all of your drawing

In the Markup toolbar, tap the eraser tool.
Do any of the following:
- Erase pixels: Scrub over what you want to remove with your finger.
- Erase a group of strokes: Tap the eraser tool, tap Object Eraser, then touch the grouped strokes with your finger.
To switch between the erasers, tap the eraser tool again, then choose Pixel Eraser or Object Eraser.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide