Introduction to Annotations in MS Whiteboard

Table of Contents

This article contains information on Annotations in Microsoft Whiteboard and covers the content on how to access this feature.

  • Annotation in Microsoft Whiteboard helps you collaborate on things like a design or presentation while sharing your screen in a Teams meeting.
  • Everyone in the meeting can begin annotating right away, and collaborative cursors make it easy to view changes made by all participants.
  • During your meeting, go to the meeting controls in the upper-middle area of your screen. 
  • Click on the Start Annotations icon from the meeting controls panel.

Image highlighting the "Start Annotations" icon in the panel

  • You will now have the option to set the Annotations settings.

Screenshot of the Annotations settings.

  • The red outline around the shared screen will turn blue, and all participants will see the Microsoft Whiteboard tool-set at the top of the shared screen.
  • Everyone in the meeting can begin annotating right away. The red pen tool is selected by default.

Screenshot of the Annotations panel

  • To begin annotating, choose one of the tools in the Whiteboard tool-set, like Sticky notes and start typing or drawing on the screen. 

Screenshot of annotations screen highlighting the sticky notes icon

Annotation Settings

  • Collaborative cursors show the names of every participant in the meeting by default.
  • To turn off, select the Settings icon.
  • Click the toggle next to Collaborative cursors.

Screenshot of the annotations screen highlighting the "settings" and "Collaborative cursors" icons

Turning Off Annotations

  • As the presenter, you can turn off annotation for all participants by selecting Stop annotation in the meeting controls at the upper-middle area of your screen. 

Screenshot of the Meeting controls panel highlighting the "Stop Annotations" Icon