Microsoft Whiteboard and frequently asked questions.

What can I do with Whiteboard?

Microsoft Whiteboard is a digital, free-form drawing whiteboard application where everyone can come together to present ideas, content, and express their individuality. You can use Whiteboard to collaborate with your team on a variety of activities — whether your team is in the same location or in multiple locations. Team members can collaborate using their own devices.

Operations that can be performed on Microsoft Whiteboard include:

• Run an effective meeting
• Discuss, collaborate
• Plan the sprint segment for the team
• Project planning
• Problem solving
• Incident management

How do I start using Whiteboard on my PC?

• You can install the Microsoft Whiteboard app for Windows 10 from  the Microsoft Store . Once installed, sign in to Whiteboard with  a  free Microsoft account ( Outlook, Hotmail, Live, Xbox, etc.) personal, work or school).

How do I start using Whiteboard on my iOS device?

Download  Microsoft Whiteboard  to your iOS device from the App Store (requires Apple iOS 9 or later, iPhone 5s or later, iPad Mini 3 or later, iPad Air, or iPad Pro). Once installed, sign in to Whiteboard with  a  free Microsoft account (Outlook, Hotmail, Live, Xbox, etc.) or an Office 365 account (personal, work, or school).

How to get started with Whiteboard for the web?

For commercial production, Whiteboard for the web is rolled out to all users. Once enabled, teachers can access whiteboard for the web at  https://whiteboard.microsoft.com .

Whiteboard for websites currently allows users to create and join boards, create and delete ink, and view sticky notes and images that others have added. Whiteboard supports most browsers like Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

How do I use the whiteboard on the Surface Hub?

You can launch the Microsoft Whiteboard app by tapping the Whiteboard icon on the start screen. You can instantly start writing with a pen, add images or sticky notes, and sign in to collaborate with colleagues.

Which account do I need to use Whiteboard?

• To use Microsoft Whiteboard on Windows 10 or on iOS, you must sign in with  a free Microsoft account  (Outlook, Hotmail, Live, Xbox, etc.) or an Office 365 account (personal, work, or school).
• To use whiteboard for the web, you must sign in with an Office 365 account (work or school).

I'm the Office 365 IT admin. How do I turn Whiteboard on or off for my organization?

Whiteboard for Windows 10, iOS, and web is automatically enabled for your organization. Your users can sign in to the Whiteboard app on those devices. To change this, see  Enable Microsoft Whiteboard for your organization .

What are the feature differences between Whiteboard for Windows 10, iOS and the web?

The Whiteboard apps on Windows 10 and on iOS provide equivalent functionality, with some slight differences. For example, in the iOS app, Bing image search isn't available and you can't handwrite to invite attendees (you must enter everyone's name using the keyboard) . Whiteboard for websites currently allows users to create and join boards, create and delete ink, and view sticky notes and images that others have added. 

What devices are supported?

• The Whiteboard app for Windows 10 is supported on all Windows 10 devices, including Surface Hub.
• The Whiteboard iOS app is supported on Apple iOS 9 or later and requires iPhone 5s or later, iPad Mini 3 or later, iPad Air, or iPad Pro.
• Whiteboard for the web is supported on devices running up-to-date versions of most browsers — including Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

How to login to Whiteboard?

Click the  Sign In button  in the upper right corner, then sign in. Immediately after signing in, you can access additional features, such as saved whiteboards and collaborate with others.

I can not log in. What should I do?

• If you're using an organization's Office 365 account, contact your administrator to make sure the new Whiteboard service is enabled for your organization.
• If you're using your Office 365 corporate account on an iOS device and your account has any access requirements, please make sure you have the Microsoft Authenticator app installed.

How do I use templates in Whiteboard?

Templates are a new feature, currently in preview and available in PC, Surface Hub, and iOS apps. Templates allow you and your colleagues to collaborate and work together more easily in Whiteboard. 

Templates can be accessed by tapping or clicking the  Insert button  . Whiteboard will load you with a collection of templates, where you can scroll to browse and select the template you want

The following templates are available in the whiteboard, with more to be added over time..

• Deductive
• Effective meeting
• KANBAN sprint planning
• SWOT analysis
• Project planning
• Problem solving
• Project milestones
• Past
• KWL (Know, Wonder, Learn) for Education
• Weekly Planner (new)
• Empathy Map (new)
• Persona Builder (new)

Note:  Templates are not yet supported in whiteboard for the web, but will be in the future.

How to use the ink feature on Whiteboard? What is finger painting?

• If you're using a device with an active pen, you can use the pen and the stylus for a variety of purposes. Drawing on the screen with a pen causes ink to appear, while dragging with your finger slows down the transition.
• If your device is passive — that is, an empty pen, or your device doesn't come with any pens — you'll need to toggle finger drawing mode on and off to change the way you interact with the screen. When finger drawing mode is on, tapping the screen draws ink onto the drawing. When finger drawing mode is turned off, tapping the screen will slow down or zoom in on the drawing
• You can switch between different pens, highlighters, and erasers by selecting the right tool at the bottom of the app.

How do I use the mouse and keyboard in Whiteboard?

Do one of the following:

• To rotate the table canvas, click the artboard and then drag the canvas with your mouse, or hold Ctrl on your keyboard while using the arrow keys.
• To zoom in or out of the table canvas, scroll the mouse wheel up or down (if applicable).
• To select an object, click the object or press the Tab key repeatedly until the object you want is selected.
• To insert an object, such as an image or text, click the  + icon  in the toolbar, and then click the object you want to add. You can also use the context menu by clicking Shift + F10, using the arrow keys to select the object you want to add, and then pressing the Enter key.
• To draw or erase ink, click the  Pen icon  in the toolbar, select a pen or eraser , then use your mouse to draw on the canvas or to erase ink strokes. To use the keyboard to select tools, press the Tab key repeatedly until the  Pen icon  is selected in the toolbar.
• To move the ruler while it is visible, click and then drag the ruler with the mouse.
• To change the angle of the ruler, click to select the ruler with your mouse, and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to change the angle.

How can I use the ruler?

The on-screen ruler in Whiteboard can help you draw precise lines or align sets of objects on the whiteboard. To use the ruler, do the following:

1. Click the Ruler icon   to make the ruler appear on the drawing.
2. Set the ruler at the angle you want:
   • Use  a finger  or mouse to move the ruler up/down or left/right.
   • Use  two fingers  to rotate the ruler to the angle you want. If you don't have a touchscreen, use the mouse to select the ruler and the arrow keys to change the angle.
3. To draw a line, tap to select a pen or highlighter, and then start drawing along the edge of the ruler.

How can I use the Ink to Shape Conversion?

If you want the hand-drawn shape to change to an exact shape, you can use the  Convert Ink to Shape   feature by enabling it in  Settings . When Ink to Shape Conversion is activated, drawing a shape — such as a circle or square — automatically changes the hand-drawn stroke to an exact shape on your whiteboard. Whiteboard shapes now work with squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, hexagons, and parallelograms.

How can I use the Handwriting to Table Conversion?

• Microsoft Whiteboard allows you to create neat and clean boards with just a few handwriting strokes. You can highlight cells and add or remove columns or rows. To start a board, first draw a square on the canvas. Once Whiteboard has recognized the shape, split it in half with a straight or horizontal line to create columns and rows, respectively.
• You can add or remove columns and rows using the  +  and  – symbols . Using a highlighter on specific cells also allows you to highlight those cells for easier reference.
• Eraser on the board will erase the content in that table  before the  board deletes itself to prevent you from accidentally deleting the board.

How can I use object snapping?

Object snapping helps you align your content with ease

You can enable Snapping feature in  settings , turn it on to Enable

How can I select, move, resize and copy content?

• To move objects, with finger painting turned off, you can select with your finger to easily move around the canvas.
• To select content, you can use your finger or a pen — or you can use the  Wire Selection tool  in the toolbar to select multiple objects at once. With Wire Selection enabled, use the pen to circle the content you want to select. When finger drawing mode is enabled for passive/pen-based devices, you can also turn  on String Select  to use your finger to select by circling content.
• If your active pen has a button, hold it down to temporarily switch to  Wire Selection mode , and then circle the text to select it.
• Once the content is selected, move it using your finger or pen. To resize content, use two fingers to zoom in or out. To copy, press and hold the selected content, press the  Copy button , press and hold in the place where you want to paste, and then press the  Paste button .

How can I add photos to Whiteboard from a web browser?

To copy and paste a picture from a browser or another application, press and hold (on a touch device) or right-click to copy the content, and then right-click to paste it.

How can I add photos to Whiteboard from my device?

To insert a picture from your device, press and hold (on touch devices) or right-click to open the content menu, and then select the Image button . File Explorer will appear, and you can select photos from your device here.

How can I add sticky notes and captions to them?

• Press the  Insert button  in the toolbar, and then press  Text Note . You can also select a specific area of ​​the canvas, press and hold (on touch devices) or right-click to open the context menu, and then click the  Notes button  to insert a sticky note.
• To annotate a sticky note with ink, write on top of the sticky note and the ink will be grouped with the sticky note. To annotate a sticky note with text, click the sticky note. When the cursor appears, type on the keyboard.

How can I lock the image to the background?

• On touch devices, press and hold the context menu (or right-click it) to open it, and then tap or click the  Picture button .
• In the Open dialog box   that appears, select a photo from your device, and then click  Open .
• If necessary, resize the image you inserted by clicking or tapping the image to select it, and then drag the sizing handle in the lower-right corner of the image up or down.
• When the image looks the way you want, right-click it, click  …  on the context menu, and then click  key to make background .

Tip:  To unlock the picture from the background, right-click the image, then click the  …  button on the context menu, and then click the  unlock from background .

How can I see the overview for my whiteboard?

Double-click to return your drawing to the whiteboard view, or scroll until appropriate.

Where can I find all my whiteboards and how can I switch between them?

 When you have a whiteboard open, you can click the  Back arrow  to go to your existing whiteboard.

Note : The back button is not shown on Surface Hub until you sign in.

How do I header the whiteboard?

You can title your whiteboard by going to the board gallery and clicking the  … button  to rename your whiteboard

• Title can be between 1 and 254 characters
• The title cannot contain the characters “*: <> ? / \ |
• Titles cannot begin with ~ (tilde) 
• The title cannot contain: _vti_,. Lock, CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM0, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, ​​COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT0, Lpt1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8

How can I collaborate with someone in Whiteboard?

• When you sign in, you can click the share button to  invite and then write or type the name of the person you want to collaborate with. Whiteboard will send the person an email and they will see your board automatically appear in their list of available boards.
• You can also select  More options  to create a sharing link that you can copy and paste into Skype or into an email message.
• Note:  Users can currently only collaborate with others within their organization. Microsoft Whiteboard will add the option to collaborate on whiteboards with guests outside of your organization in the near future

How can I export the whiteboard or save it as a screenshot or a file?

To export a whiteboard, tap the  Settings button , then select  Export Image (png) .

How can I use Bing Search in Whiteboard?

Click the  Insert button  in the toolbar, and then click  Bing Image Search to bring up the Bing Search  dialog box  . From here, you can enter a search keyword, the results will return photos and corresponding content that you can place on the whiteboard. Click the  Insert button  to insert the selected content on your whiteboard.

Note:  In Whiteboard, the Bing SafeSearch filter is set to  Strict .

I don't see Bing Search, Sign in or Share options. Did an error occur?

Administrators have the ability to change default settings and Whiteboard functions using device management tools such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Microsoft InTune. Please check with your Administrator about enabling these features

Note:  Bing image search is currently not supported in Microsoft Whiteboard for iOS.

How can I export, transfer or delete personal data from my whiteboard?

How to export:

• Click  …  for the whiteboard you want to export, and then select  Export Image (png) . That will open a File Explorer window where you can choose where to save the image.

How to transfer:

• Contact your IT administrator and ask them to change the ownership of the whiteboard you want to transfer.

How to delete:

• Tap  …  for the whiteboard you want to delete, then select  Delete . Warning:  This will permanently delete the whiteboard.

What is a whiteboard in a Microsoft Teams meeting?

Whiteboard built into Microsoft Teams is Whi's version of Whiteboard for the web, allowing participants to draw, sketch, and write together on a shared digital canvas. For details on integrating Whiteboard with Teams, see  Use Whiteboard in Microsoft Teams.

I received a suggestion or I found an error. What should I do?

You can send feedback directly to the Microsoft Whiteboard team by clicking the  Settings button and  then selecting  Send Feedback . This will open the Microsoft Feedback Hub, where you can enter information about the issue you've encountered and provide a screenshot.

What is Microsoft Whiteboard in vTeams?

The whiteboard integration in Microsoft Teams is Whiteboard for the web, allowing participants to draw, sketch, and write together on a shared digital canvas.

How to use Whiteboard in Teams meetings?

You can share the Whiteboard with your Teams participants. At the same time, Micorosoft Whiteboard is also available on Windows 10, iOS and on the web.

1. After joining Microsoft Teams, click the  Share icon  in the sharing tray of that meeting.
2. In the list of windows that appear, select  Microsoft Whiteboard .

How can you use ink on a whiteboard in a Teams meeting?

As soon as the Whiteboard drawing is started, Teams meeting attendees will be able to write on it. To get started, click the  pen icon  , choose a color, and then start drawing, sketching, or writing on the board.

You can also choose to open the same whiteboard in the Microsoft whiteboard apps for Windows 10 or iOS to add additional content types to the canvas.

How can I add other types of content to the whiteboard in a Teams meeting?

Whiteboard in Teams meetings currently only supports handwriting together on digital canvas from within Teams. Currently, the feature of adding other content to the whiteboard on Microsoft Teams is not supported

To use richer functionality, Teams meeting participants can open the whiteboard on Windows 10 or iOS to add other types of content and use additional features. These changes will appear in the whiteboard being used in the Teams meeting.

If a team meeting is recorded, will it include Whiteboard as part of the recording?

If you share the whiteboard in a team meeting that is being recorded, it won't be part of the recording. This feature is not currently supported.

Can I access and continue working on the whiteboard after finishing a Teams meeting?

After a Teams meeting, the meeting's whiteboard will still be available to all chat participants in the Teams meeting under the tab labeled  Whiteboard (or username set). The whiteboard will also be available in  the board gallery  in the Microsoft Whiteboard apps for Windows 10 and iOS, so meeting attendees can continue to collaborate on the whiteboard even after the meeting has ended.

Note:  This functionality is currently not supported in the Microsoft Teams app for iOS and Android. You can work on whiteboards after team meetings are over using them on Windows 10, Mac, or on the web.

How can I start or write on the whiteboard in a Teams meeting?

Teams attending a meeting in the same organization using Microsoft Office 365 will be able to start, view, and ink on the whiteboard in a Teams meeting

Micorosoft Whiteboard in Teams meetings currently doesn't support initiating a new whiteboard, viewing the whiteboard, or handwriting by anonymous users, linked users, or users outside of your organization.

Can I get Whiteboard in Teams meetings on my Surface Hub?

When joining a Teams meeting, sign in to Whiteboard or Surface Hub, and then click the whiteboard icon in the meeting controls to share the whiteboard.

Is there a whiteboard in team integration available for Microsoft Teams rooms?

Whiteboard in Teams meetings available for Microsoft Teams. Inking is available if the meeting room system is equipped with a touch screen. During a Microsoft Teams meeting, Whiteboard will be view-only.

When will whiteboard be integrated in one-on-one calls?

Currently, Whiteboard in Teams is only available for calls with three or more people.

How can I enable Microsoft Whiteboard in a Teams meeting for my organization?

Whiteboard is automatically enabled for Office 365 users, and customers can use it in team meetings with Windows 10, Mac, iOS, Android, and on the web.

If Whiteboard isn't available to you in Teams, contact your organization's Office 365 administrator. See  Enable Microsoft Whiteboard for your organization  for detailed admin instructions.

See more: Instructions for using Whiteboard in teaching