How to add drawings and handwriting in Notes on iPad

Use the Notes app to add drawings and handwriting: draw a sketch or jot a handwritten note with Apple Pencil (on supported models) or your finger. Choose from a variety of Markup tools and colors, and draw straight lines with the ruler.

As you write with Apple Pencil, your handwriting can be automatically refined in real time to be more legible while keeping your own style. You can also transcribe handwriting to typed text with the Scribble tool, as long as you’re writing in a supported language.

Use drawing and handwriting tools

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, start drawing or writing with Apple Pencil. Or to draw or write with your finger, tap the Handwriting Tools button.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Change color or tools: Use the Markup tools.
   • Adjust the handwriting area: Drag the resize handle (on the left) up or down.
   • Transcribe your handwriting to typed text as you write with Apple Pencil: Tap the Scribble tool (to the left of the pen). Start writing.

     Note: Scribble is available in supported languages. To learn more about writing notes with Apple Pencil, see Enter text with Scribble.

Quick tip: You can search handwritten text (in supported languages) in Notes. If the note doesn’t have a title, the first line of handwritten text becomes the suggested title. To edit the title, scroll to the top of the note, then tap Edit.

Select and edit drawings and handwriting

Smart Selection works on drawings and handwriting with the same gestures you use to select typed text. Within the note, you can move, copy, or delete what you’ve selected, and it can even go into another note or app as typed text.

Note: Smart Selection and handwriting transcription work if the system language of your iPad is set to a supported language in Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, select drawings and handwriting with your finger using any of the following methods:
   • With the Lasso tool: Tap the Handwriting Tools button, tap the Lasso tool (between the eraser and Image Wand in the tool palette), and then use your finger to outline the objects you want to select.
   • With gestures:
     • Touch and hold, then drag to expand the selection.
     • Double-tap to select a word.
     • Triple-tap to select a sentence.
     • Drag the handles to adjust the selection as needed.
3. Tap the selection and choose an option.

Work with handwritten text

iPad can refine your handwriting so it’s smoother, straighter, and more legible. On top of that, you can move or delete handwriting, correct spelling inline, and paste or convert typed text in your handwriting.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, select the handwriting.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Refine: To make your writing smoother, straighter, and more legible, tap Refine1.

     To automatically refine your handwriting, tap the Handwriting Tools button, tap the More button, then turn on Auto-refine Handwriting.

   • Make your writing more level: Tap Straighten.
   • Correct spelling: Tap an underlined word and choose how you want to correct it. The fix appears in your own writing style.
   • Move handwriting: Touch and hold the selected text and then drag it to a new position.
   • Convert a text object to handwriting: Tap a text object in the drawing area and tap the More button. Tap Convert to Handwriting. (This feature2 requires previously saved notes in your handwriting with at least 10 unique lowercase characters.)
   • Paste typed text in your handwriting: Select and copy text from a webpage, document, or email; in a handwriting area in Notes and tap Paste. (This feature2 requires previously saved notes in your handwriting with at least 10 unique lowercase characters.)
4. To erase text, scratch out the writing. Hold down your writing instrument (such as Apple Pencil or your finger) on iPad. (Supported when using a markup tool such as Pen, Mono line, or Marker.)

Drag images from other apps

You can drag images from other apps to a note and combine them with handwritten and drawn content. After you add an image to the drawing area, you can reposition and resize the image.

Use Image Wand

With Apple Intelligence turned on, Image Wand in Notes can turn your rough sketches into generated images. Select empty space, and it can also create an image from words and images in the surrounding area. For more, read our article, Use Image Wand with Apple Intelligence.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

1. Handwriting refinement is available on iPad Pro (M4 and M5), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Air (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 10.9-inch (4th generation and later), iPad (10th generation and later), iPad mini (6th generation), and iPad mini (A17 Pro); supported for English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (Singapore), English (South Africa), English (UK), English (US), French (Belgium), French (Canada), French (France), French (Switzerland), German (Austria), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian (Italy), Italian (Switzerland), Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Mexico), and Spanish (Spain).

2. Handwriting reflow is supported for Cantonese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (Singapore), English (South Africa), English (UK), English (US), French (Belgium), French (Canada), French (France), French (Switzerland), German (Austria), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian (Italy), Italian (Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Thai (Thailand), Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Enter formulas and equations in Notes on iPad
• Add photos, video, and more to notes on iPad