Zoom’s whiteboard and annotation tools enable real-time collaboration during meetings, allowing participants to draw, add text, insert shapes, and highlight content on shared screens or blank canvases. These features are particularly useful for brainstorming sessions, interactive lessons, or visual explanations. To use them effectively, you must first enable the tools in your Zoom settings, then access them during a meeting through the Share Screen or Whiteboard options. Participants can annotate if granted permission by the host, and all annotations can be saved for future reference.

Key findings from the sources:

• Annotation tools include text, drawing, shapes, stamps, spotlight, and eraser, accessible via the Annotate button during screen sharing ^[3][4][7].
• The Zoom Whiteboard is a blank canvas where users can create multiple pages, insert sticky notes, and use templates for structured collaboration ^[2][9].
• Hosts control participant permissions for annotation, and some features may be limited on certain devices (e.g., Chromebooks) or browser versions ^[5][6].
• Annotations and whiteboards can be saved as images (PNG/PDF) for later use ^[4][9].

How to Use Zoom Whiteboard and Annotation Tools

Accessing and Enabling Annotation Tools

To use annotation tools in Zoom, you must first enable them in your account settings and then activate them during a meeting. The process varies slightly depending on whether you’re sharing a screen, a whiteboard, or a document, but the core steps remain consistent across platforms.

The Annotate button appears in the meeting toolbar once screen sharing begins. For hosts, enabling participant annotations requires adjusting sharing permissions. On Chromebooks or browsers, some features may be unavailable due to platform limitations ^[5][6]. Here’s how to get started:

• Enable annotation in Zoom settings:
• Log in to your Zoom account via the web portal (e.g., www.zoom.us).
• Navigate to Settings > Meeting > In Meeting (Basic) and ensure Annotation is toggled ON ^[7].
• For whiteboards, confirm that Whiteboard is also enabled in the same section.

• Start annotating during a meeting:
• Click Share Screen in the meeting controls, then select either:
• A specific application/window to annotate on shared content.
• Whiteboard to open a blank canvas for collaboration ^[4][9].
• Once sharing, click the Annotate (pencil icon) or View Options > Annotate in the toolbar to open the annotation menu ^[3][8].

• Grant participant permissions:
• Hosts can allow participants to annotate by clicking More in the annotation toolbar, then selecting Enable/Disable Participant Annotation ^[4].
• In Advanced Sharing Options, hosts can restrict annotations to specific participants or allow all attendees to contribute ^[5].

• Limitations to note:
• The Zoom Web SDK and browser-based meetings do not support annotation or whiteboard features ^[6].
• Chromebook users may experience reduced functionality due to the Progressive Web App (PWA) limitations ^[5].

Using the Whiteboard and Annotation Tools

Once annotation is enabled, Zoom provides a suite of tools for drawing, typing, highlighting, and inserting objects. The Whiteboard functions as a multi-page canvas, while annotation tools can be used on any shared content, including documents, slides, or images.

The toolbar includes options for text, shapes, stamps, and formatting, with additional controls for managing pages and saving work. Below are the key tools and their functions:

• Core annotation tools:
• Text: Insert text boxes with customizable font size, color, and alignment ^[3][9].
• Draw: Freehand drawing with adjustable pen thickness and color. The eraser tool removes annotations selectively ^[4].
• Shapes: Predefined shapes (lines, arrows, rectangles, circles) for diagrams or flowcharts ^[7].
• Stamp: Icons like checkmarks, stars, or question marks for quick feedback ^[3].
• Spotlight: Highlights a specific area of the screen with a colored overlay ^[9].
• Format: Adjusts line color, fill color, and transparency for shapes/text ^[7].

• Whiteboard-specific features:
• Multiple pages: Create new pages using the + button in the bottom-right corner, or navigate between existing pages with arrow controls ^[7].
• Sticky notes and templates: Insert sticky notes for brainstorming or use preloaded templates (e.g., grids, Venn diagrams) ^[2][8].
• Insert images: Upload images directly to the whiteboard for annotation (desktop app only) ^[9].

• Saving and sharing annotations:
• Click Save in the annotation toolbar to download the whiteboard or annotated screen as a PNG or PDF to your local Zoom folder ^[4][9].
• Hosts can also clear all annotations at once using the Clear button, or selectively erase with the eraser tool ^[3].

• Teaching and collaboration tips:
• Use whiteboards for brainstorming sessions, labeling diagrams, or interactive quizzes ^[8].
• For classrooms, enable participant annotation in small groups to encourage engagement, but disable it during presentations to avoid distractions ^[5].
• Pair annotation with Zoom Chat for students to explain their contributions verbally or in writing ^[8].