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Using Your iPad With The Zoom Whiteboard Feature

Note: Whiteboard is currently available for iPad and desktop Zoom applications only. If you are on an iPhone, you will not see the Whiteboard option.

Accessing The Zoom Whiteboard

When using an iPad and the Zoom iOS application, launch a Zoom Meeting and select the “Share Screen” button in the meeting controls. This will pull up a dropdown menu where you can select “Whiteboard” to begin sharing.

Illustration of a Zoom Meeting Room on a iPad with the "Share Screen" button with its dropdown menu displaying the "Whiteboard" option.
Illustration of a Zoom Meeting Room on a iPad with the “Share Screen” button with its dropdown menu displaying the “Whiteboard” option.

Using The Zoom Whiteboard and Annotation Tools

When opening the Zoom Whiteboard, you will be initially presented with a minimal control layout with only the “Pen”, “Eraser”, and “Color” annotation tools displayed at the bottom middle of your current whiteboard, this is the “Annotation Tools Menu”. You can either begin annotating on the screen by selecting the “Pen” tool or you can click on the “Expand” icon represented by a “>” symbol to extend the Annotation Tools List and to view all of the annotation tools available while using the Zoom Whiteboard.

Annotation Tools Explained

Illustration of the complete Annotation Tools Menu with corresponding number labels
Illustration of the expanded “Annotation Tools Menu” with numbered labels
Illustration of the Undo and Redo icons.

1. Undo and Redo

Remove your last changes or adds back the annotations you previously removed.

Animated example of the undo and redo function using the Zoom Whiteboard
Animated example of the undo and redo function using the Zoom Whiteboard

Illustration of the Pen Icon

2. Pen

Annotate on your screen either using a finger or Apple Pencil inputs.

Animated example of a pen annotation using the Zoom Whiteboard
Animated example of a pen annotation using the Zoom Whiteboard

3. Eraser

Erase specific annotations on your screen by dragging your finger or Apple Pencil over sections of your screen.

Animated example of the Eraser tool clearing annotations using the Zoom Whiteboard

Illustration of the color icon with blue selected

4. Color

Change the color of Pen or Highlighter annotations.

Animated example of using the Color tool to change the Pen Tool color
Animated example of using the Color tool to change the Pen Tool color

Illustration of the text icon

5. Text

Type text on the whiteboard by using the iPad onscreen keyboard. Basic text editing functions include changing font size, color, italicizing, and bolding.

Animated example of using the text tool to type out and modify text on the whiteboard
Animated example of using the text tool to type out and modify text on the whiteboard

Illustration of the Stroke icon

6. Stroke

Changes the thickness of either the Pen or Highlighter annotations.

Animated example of using the stroke tool to change the stroke size of the pen tool
Animated example of using the stroke tool to change the stroke size of the pen tool

Illustration of the Highlighter Icon

7. Highlighter

Highlight parts of the screen or specific annotations by dragging your finger or Apple Pencil over sections of your screen.

Animated example of using the highlighter tool to highlight a text annotation on the whiteboard
Animated example of using the highlighter tool to highlight a text annotation on the whiteboard

Illustration of the spotlight icon

8. Spotlight

Display a red dot on the shared Whiteboard screen at all times. Use this to point out parts of the screen to other participants.

Animated example of turning on the spotlight tool and dragging it around the whiteboard
Animated example of turning on the spotlight tool and dragging it around the whiteboard

Illustration of the select icon

9. Select

Draws a selection box over specific annotations by using your finger or Apple Pencil over sections of your screen. Allows you to move or resize selected annotations.

Animated example of using the select tool to select a text annotation and then moving it across the screen to another area of the whiteboard
Animated example of using the select tool to select a text annotation and then moving it across the screen to another area of the whiteboard

illustration of the collapse icon

10. Collapse

Collapse the Annotation Tools Menu to only display the “Pen”, “Eraser”, and “Color” annotation tools.

Animated example of using the collapse tool to reduce the items displayed in the Annotation Tools Menu
Animated example of using the collapse tool to reduce the items displayed in the Annotation Tools Menu

Illustration of the trash bin icon

11. Trash Bin

Clears every annotations off your current whiteboard.

Animated example of using the trash bin tool to remove all annotations from a whiteboard
Animated example of using the trash bin tool to remove all annotations from a whiteboard

Illustration of the new whiteboard icon

12. New Whiteboard

Adds a new Whiteboard to your whiteboard collection. A new icon will appear next to this button which will allow you to change whiteboards once you add your first additional whiteboard. You can add up to 12 individual whiteboards.

Animated example of adding additional whiteboards and toggling in-between them
Animated example of adding additional whiteboards and toggling in-between them

Illustration of the annotation settings icon

13. Annotation Settings

Clicking on the “Annotation Settings” icon will bring up a pop-up menu that will allow you to toggle a thumbnail of the Zoom Meeting video feed on and off or shave your current whiteboard to the iPad “Photos” application.

Close-up illustration of the "Annotation Settings" icon with the pop up menu displaying the "Show Thumbnail Videos" and "Save to Photos" options displayed
Close-up illustration of the “Annotation Settings” icon with the pop up menu displaying the “Show Thumbnail Videos” and “Save to Photos” options displayed

Using The Zoom Whiteboard Feature In Face-To-Face, Online/Virtual, or Blended Classrooms

Note: When using the Whiteboard Feature on a iPad, the iPad must either be the host of the meeting or have permission to share its screen content. For example, If your iPad is not the host application, you must join the iPad to the meeting and either enable participants to share their screen or make your iPad a “co-host” in order to use the whiteboard feature.

Using your iPad as a Virtual Whiteboard for Face-To-Face Classrooms

  1. Launch Zoom on your classroom’s desktop and projector. This will be the host of the meeting. The projector will allow students in class to see the whiteboard on the projector.
  2. Join your iPad to the meeting as either a co-host or allow for participants to share their screen in order to share the whiteboard feature. Note: Make sure to disable the microphone and webcam of either the classroom computer or iPad to avoid confusion or audio feedback.
  3. Once the iPad has joined the meeting, press the “Share Screen” button in the meeting controls of the iOS Zoom application. This will pull up a dropdown menu where you can select “Whiteboard” to begin sharing the iPad’s display.

Using your iPad as a Virtual Whiteboard for Online/Virtual Classrooms

  1. Either host your meeting on the iOS zoom application on your iPad or join your iPad to an existing Zoom meeting you have started on another computer as either a co-host or allow for participants to share their screen in order to share the whiteboard feature. Note: Make sure to disable the microphone and webcam of either the classroom computer or iPad to avoid confusion or audio feedback.
  2. Once the iPad has joined the meeting, press the “Share Screen” button in the meeting controls of the iOS Zoom application. This will pull up a dropdown menu where you can select “Whiteboard” to begin sharing the iPad’s display.

Using your iPad as a Virtual Whiteboard for Blended (Remote and Face-to-Face) Classrooms

  1. Launch Zoom on your classroom’s desktop and projector. This will be the host of the meeting and serve as the meeting that your remote students can join in order to participate in class and allow students in class to see the whiteboard on the projector.
  2. Join your iPad to the meeting as either a co-host or allow for participants to share their screen in order to share the whiteboard feature. Note: Make sure to disable the microphone and webcam of either the classroom computer or iPad to avoid confusion or audio feedback.
  3. Once the iPad has joined the meeting, press the “Share Screen” button in the meeting controls of the iOS Zoom application. This will pull up a dropdown menu where you can select “Whiteboard” to begin sharing the iPad’s display.
Updated on March 21, 2023
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