Draw and handwrite messages on iPhone
You can send messages with handwriting, doodling, and more.
You need iMessage to exchange drawn or handwritten messages.
![A Messages conversation with animations: a handwritten message, Digital Touch, and animated Memoji.](https://help.apple.com/assets/6758C14AEA2BBD75D7023772/6758C150890517C4260090D6/en_US/e0ada26431c2409dcdc57510d2bcbd35.png)
Send a Digital Touch gesture, animation, or effect
With Digital Touch, you can send animated sketches, taps, kisses, heartbeats, and more, on their own or as an effect on a photo or video.
![A Messages conversation with a Digital Touch gesture and animation.](https://help.apple.com/assets/6758C14AEA2BBD75D7023772/6758C150890517C4260090D6/en_US/f2d470e1d94941899ff4420a7d5b620f.png)
Go to the Messages app
on your iPhone.
Tap
, swipe up or tap More, then tap Digital Touch.
Do one of the following:
Send an animated gesture: Tap or touch and hold with one or two fingers. Your gesture is sent automatically when you finish it.
Touch and hold the color dot to choose a color for the one-finger taps.
Note: If you have Apple Watch or another sensor that records heartbeat data, Messages may use the recorded data when you touch and hold with two fingers to send a heartbeat.
Send an animated drawing: Draw with one finger.
You can change the color, then start drawing again.
Add an effect to a new image: Tap
, then tap
to take a photo or
to record a video.
To take a new photo or video, or to erase anything you draw on your preview, tap
.
Tap
to send your drawing or image, or tap
to delete it.
To send an animated doodle on a white background, see Send a handwritten message or doodle.
Send a handwritten message or doodle
Use your finger to write a message or draw a doodle. Recipients see what you wrote or drew, re-created before their eyes.
Go to the Messages app
on your iPhone.
In a conversation, rotate iPhone to landscape orientation.
Tap
on the keyboard.
Write a message with your finger or choose a saved message at the bottom, then tap Done.
Tap
to send your message or
to cancel.
After you create and send a handwritten message, the message is saved at the bottom of the handwriting screen. To use the saved message again, tap it. To delete the saved message, touch and hold it until the messages jiggle, then tap .
To send a doodle on a black background, see Send a Digital Touch gesture, animation, or effect.