To draw directly on a Word page, switch to Print Layout, open the Draw tab, choose a pen, and drag on the page with a supported pointer or touch device. The available tools depend on your Word version and device.
Draw with ink in Word
- Open the document in Word and choose View > Print Layout. Microsoft says ink drawing in Word requires this view.
- Open Draw. If the tab is hidden in desktop Word on Windows, choose File > Options > Customize Ribbon, select Draw, and confirm. On Mac, check the ribbon preferences for the tab.
- Choose a Pen or Highlighter. Open its options to set color and thickness where available.
- Draw on the page with a stylus, finger, mouse, or trackpad if your version supports that input. If the pointer selects text instead of drawing, select the pen again and check the device’s drawing setting.
- Use Eraser to remove unwanted ink. Press Esc or choose Select when you want to edit text again. Save the document.
If the Draw tab or pen is missing
First check that you are in Print Layout and that the Draw tab is enabled. Update Word if the feature is missing. Inking options differ across Windows, Mac, web, and mobile versions, and some tools require a touch-enabled device or digital pen. Do not assume every installation has the same pens or effects.
Draw freehand with the Scribble shape
If your version of Word doesn’t show the Draw tab, the Shapes menu has a freehand tool that works with a mouse.
- Choose Insert > Shapes.
- Under Lines, select Scribble.
- Hold down the mouse button and drag to draw. Release the button to finish the stroke.
- With the drawing selected, use the Shape Format tab to change its outline color and weight.
Each scribble is a separate shape. To keep several pieces together in Word for Windows, select Insert > Shapes > New Drawing Canvas first and draw inside the canvas, so the whole drawing moves as one object.
Ink versus a straight line or shape
Ink is useful for freehand notes, signatures, and sketches. For a perfectly straight line or a shape that is easy to resize, use Insert > Shapes instead. See our guide to drawing a line in Word for that method.
Source: Microsoft Support: Draw and write with ink in Office.
Shapes also work well for neat diagrams such as a Venn diagram in Word, where circles need to overlap evenly.
For a clean, even outline around a word or image instead of a freehand loop, see how to circle something in Word with a shape.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com