How to Draw in Word (Pens, Highlighters and Shapes)
Whether you want to circle something, sign your name, sketch a quick diagram or annotate a document with a pen, Word's Draw tab lets you write straight onto the page.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Freehand drawing | Draw tab → pick a pen |
| Keep a drawing together | Draw → Drawing Canvas |
| Neat shapes and lines | Insert → Shapes |
| Undo ink | Eraser or Ctrl + Z |
1. Draw freehand
1. Click the Draw tab.
2. Choose a pen, pencil or highlighter. Click it again to change the colour and thickness.
3. Draw on the page with your mouse, touchpad, finger or stylus.
2. Choose a pen, pencil or highlighter. Click it again to change the colour and thickness.
3. Draw on the page with your mouse, touchpad, finger or stylus.
When you're finished, click the Select arrow (or press Esc) to go back to typing.
2. No Draw tab?
1. Go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon.
2. Tick Draw in the right-hand list.
3. Click OK.
2. Tick Draw in the right-hand list.
3. Click OK.
3. Use a drawing canvas
Ink drawn straight on a page sits wherever you drew it. A drawing canvas groups your sketch into one box that moves with the text.
Go to Draw → Drawing Canvas (or Insert → Shapes → New Drawing Canvas), then draw inside the box.
4. Draw neat shapes
For clean lines, arrows, boxes and circles, go to Insert → Shapes:
• Pick a shape and drag on the page.
• Hold Shift while dragging for perfect circles, squares and straight lines.
• Use the Shape Format tab to change fill and outline colours.
• Hold Shift while dragging for perfect circles, squares and straight lines.
• Use the Shape Format tab to change fill and outline colours.
5. Edit what you've drawn
• Eraser on the Draw tab removes strokes. Click it again for a point eraser.
• Lasso Select lets you draw around ink to move it, resize it or change its colour.
• Ctrl + Z undoes the last stroke.
• Lasso Select lets you draw around ink to move it, resize it or change its colour.
• Ctrl + Z undoes the last stroke.
6. Handwriting to maths
On the Draw tab, Ink to Math turns handwritten equations into typed ones.
Troubleshooting
The pen doesn't draw with a mouse. On touchscreens, Draw with Touch may be off. Click it on the Draw tab. With a mouse, just choose a pen and click-drag.
Drawings move when I type. Put them on a drawing canvas, or right-click → Wrap Text → In Front of Text and Fix Position on Page.
Wrapping up
Draw tab for freehand, Insert → Shapes for neat lines, and a drawing canvas to keep everything together.
