Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard marks the modern times’ digital board for scribbling, typing, brainstorming, and collaborating?—a transformative and interactive canvas that surpasses conventional handwriting. Since its most recent edition in September 2021, MS Whiteboard became known as Microsoft 365’s “collaborative digital canvas” due to easy virtual canvas sharing, hybrid business or education collaboration, and Microsoft Teams integration.

What is Microsoft Whiteboard?

Microsoft Whiteboard is a whiteboard application from the Microsoft 365 suite including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Teams, and more. This cloud-based digital app brings you a flexible virtual canvas that supports a touchscreen whiteboard pen, keyboard, or touch, making integrated brainstorming more convenient than using a physical whiteboard. With Whiteboard, you can expect a range of features from collaborative learning, team meetings, project management, sprint planning, and lots more.

Microsoft Whiteboard Definition

Microsoft Whiteboard is a digital whiteboard application from the Microsoft Office series where users can scribble, draw, type, and do a lot more on the cloud.

Microsoft Whiteboard Features

Outshines a Physical Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard mimics a physical whiteboard where you can scribble anything from drawings, shapes, and texts, to symbols on a canvas, except it is a digital canvas. And it surpasses the functions of a physical whiteboard because MS Whiteboard offers additional features such as embedding content, syncing devices, or any digital tool that the latter couldn’t provide.

Works with Other Microsoft 365 Apps

If you need to integrate other MS Office 365 apps such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Drawings, Outlook, Excel, and more, Microsoft ensures that their entire suite, including MS Whiteboard, can collaborate with the rest of the Office tools. In fact, Whiteboard coordinates the best with Microsoft Teams where you can share and integrate Teams meetings or channels.

Provides a Range of Available Platforms

MS Whiteboard is highly accessible via web browser, MS Teams, Whiteboard Windows, Apple, Android, and Surface Hub devices. Easy access is surely guaranteed whether you use Whiteboard online or offline (except more features are available online), as long as you have a Microsoft account for access.

Helps You Express Ideas Visually

Whiteboard offers a range of features and activities that you can do with the digital canvas such as using a pen or pencil (digital stylus), font style, text color, logo, icon, ink, sticker, sticky note, shape, or a template. All of which can help you scribble ideas or present anything visually.

Brainstorming and Collaboration

From brainstorming at work, and planning lessons, to hosting important discussions, MS Whiteboard is the perfect spot for team meetings and collaboration. You can share a virtual canvas with other Whiteboard users for viewing, send Whiteboard files to Google Mail or any other email service, and enable other users to edit the canvas in real time.

Microsoft Whiteboard – Uses, Purpose, Importance

Microsoft Whiteboard can be easily understood as a drawing you visualize that would display on screen rather than writing on a piece of paper. But you should know that there is more to expect from MS Whiteboard, particularly in familiarizing its many uses, purposes, and important aspects.

Digital Whiteboard Perks

Using MS Whiteboard leads you to the benefits of a digital whiteboard such as engaging users for collaborative discussions and visualizing processes or ideas. That means users who can access a whiteboard are allowed to input colors, sticky notes, and other alterations for collaboration. It is not just about endless scribbling but scribbling with a purpose.

Whiteboard for Every Purpose

Speaking of purpose, Microsoft Whiteboard helps users for different purposes. Whiteboards can be used by businesses to create ideas, educators to conduct creative classroom discussions, artists to craft their skills, and even for personal use like scribbling for therapeutic reasons. In short, anyone can leverage MS Whiteboard.

Ready-Made and Easy-to-Use Templates

One of the important reasons to depend on Microsoft Whiteboard is its eclectic premade templates. There are templates you can preview using the Windows 10 Whiteboard application and other presets for different functions. These templates alone prove that even handy physical whiteboards can’t have everything compared to the features of digital whiteboards.

MS Whiteboard Support

Whiteboard ensures that you won’t be left alone, thanks to Microsoft Whiteboard Help—the official support page for any Whiteboard concerns. More so, you can get help from Teams and Surface Hub devices. Take this opportunity to learn more about Whiteboard from the basics down to the most complex features of the app.

A Must-Have Tool for Quick Collabs Anywhere and Anytime

Collaborate with your team in real-time with MS Whiteboard since the app lets users access the program anywhere and anytime. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft Whiteboard is one example that helps connect people from far distances quickly and efficiently. And the app itself does more than just scribble notes but also embeds videos, converts Whiteboard files into PDFs, uses Excel spreadsheets for statistical analytics, etc.

Microsoft Whiteboard Components

Left Side

The first component of the Whiteboard is the left side where you can display or hide the “Create” panel and go with the pointer or ink mode. The “Create” panel contains what you can add to your whiteboards such as notes, text, shapes, reactions, images, templates, and documents.

Top Left

The top left part displays menu options such as the “Home” button to the board picker, the undo and redo buttons for previous actions, and the title of your board which you can change anytime.

Top Center

At the top center, you get access to the range of ink options provided by Whiteboard. You can choose from three pens with editable colors and thicknesses, pens with arrows, lasso tools, a highlighter, and an eraser.

Top Right

The top right corner has the “Share” button in case you need to send a link to other users and collaborate with the board. And most importantly, it leads you to “Settings,” presented in a gear icon, where you can get help, change the board background, export the board to a picture, and more.

Microsoft Whiteboard vs. OneNote

Microsoft Whiteboard is a freeform whiteboard app with a digital canvas that allows users to scribble, visualize, and create ideas together.

Microsoft OneNote is a digital notetaking application where users can write down notes, organize notes into sections or notebooks, and pin mixed media files.

See a more detailed comparison in the table below.

Microsoft Whiteboard Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Whiteboard’s canvas or surface lets you use it with a mouse, keyboard, stylus, screen reader, or touch. And besides what was already discussed earlier, there are still loads of ideas, techniques, tips, and tricks you can learn about MS Whiteboard, such as the following:

Use Microsoft Whiteboard

Before you even open Microsoft Whiteboard on your device, be guided on how to use Microsoft Whiteboard. This serves as every beginner’s quick introduction to Whiteboard and its features.

Add Microsoft Whiteboard to Teams

Every Teams meeting, interview, or session can be integrated with MS Whiteboard. Learn how to add Microsoft Whiteboard to Teams to get started.

Download Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft gives you the license to download Microsoft Whiteboard files whenever you like. It only takes several steps to accomplish that.

Fix Microsoft Whiteboard Not Working

Master troubleshooting service tips and tricks to fix Microsoft Whiteboard that is not working. That way, you won’t have to worry about system errors from time to time.

Use Microsoft Whiteboard in Zoom

Have you tried using Whiteboard along with Zoom? Indeed, app integration includes letting you use Microsoft Whiteboard in Zoom.

Open Whiteboard on Microsoft Teams

Do you want to use Microsoft Teams as your location to access MS Whiteboard? It is certainly possible to open Whiteboard on Microsoft Teams shortly.

Use Alternate Text in Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard’s deployment of text features includes using alternate text. Leverage this feature and use alternate text in Microsoft Whiteboard ow.

Zoom Out/Zoom in Microsoft Teams Whiteboard

Collaborate with both Teams and Whiteboard to access a variety of features. This includes allowing users to zoom out/zoom in on Microsoft Teams Whiteboard.

Use Ruler in Microsoft Whiteboard

Whether you need to insert a table, drawing, or any shape in Whiteboard, make sure to consider the measurements to achieve accurate dimensions. The best way to handle that is to use a ruler on Microsoft Whiteboard.

Save Microsoft Whiteboard as a PDF

Convert or export your Microsoft Whiteboard files into PDF file formats quickly. Just save Microsoft Whiteboard as PDF and you are good to go.

Use Microsoft Whiteboard with Pen

One of the staple steps to master is to use Microsoft Whiteboard with a pen. Or you use a keyboard shortcut: Alt + W / Alt + W + 1 (draw mode), Alt + W + 2 (pen 2), or Alt + W + 3 (pen 3).

Install Microsoft Whiteboard without Store

Even without Microsoft Store, you can download Microsoft Whiteboard. Practice the basic steps on how to install Microsoft Whiteboard without Store efficiently.

Change Font on Microsoft Whiteboard

Similar to any other MS Office tool, there is certainly enough room to change the fonts of your text in Whiteboard. Study the basics of how to change fonts on Microsoft Whiteboard quickly.

Share Microsoft Whiteboard

Skip the need to copy or duplicate a Whiteboard file for other users and just share the file instead. It only takes a few easy steps to share Microsoft Whiteboard correctly.

Collaborate on Microsoft Whiteboard

What makes MS Whiteboard a state-of-the-art change in the digital whiteboard sector is its feature to allow collaboration and integration. Hence, take advantage of it and collaborate on Microsoft Whiteboard.

Edit a Previous Microsoft Whiteboard File

You won’t have to lose previous Whiteboard files and make a new one. They can still be accessed and customized; just practice how to edit a previous Microsoft Whiteboard file.

Share a Microsoft Whiteboard on Skype

You can make your Skype sessions fun and creative by sharing your boards there. Master the steps on how to share a Microsoft Whiteboard on Skype appropriately.

Screen Record Microsoft Whiteboard

Screen record on Microsoft Whiteboard so you can share everything discussed or shown on the board with other users who weren’t present during the live session. The best part with recording is you can look back on your performance again and again.

Use Different Colors on Microsoft Whiteboard

Using the same color for every input you have in a Whiteboard file gets mundane. Use different colors on Microsoft Whiteboard occasionally to give some life.

Add Shapes to Microsoft Whiteboards

Whiteboard offers an ink-to-shape feature so shapes can easily be made. Add shapes to Microsoft Whiteboard and practice how it works.

Convert Handwriting to Text in Microsoft Whiteboard

Your scribbles or handwriting can be converted into text. Check out the simple steps of how to convert handwriting to text in Microsoft Whiteboard.

Create a Virtual Whiteboard Session

Virtual Whiteboard sessions give rise to hybrid learning. And MS Whiteboard allows you to properly create a virtual Whiteboard session whenever you want.

Brainstorm on a Whiteboard

Gather ideas and brainstorm on a Whiteboard to achieve a collaborative discussion with your team. And Microsoft Whiteboard is just the perfect spot for brainstorming.

Save a Microsoft Whiteboard

You are not a pro at Whiteboard yet if you don’t know how to save files. Save a Microsoft Whiteboard properly and there is even an auto-save feature in recent versions.

Access Microsoft Whiteboard

You can access Microsoft Whiteboard through different platforms. Make sure to recognize the steps on how to access Microsoft Whiteboard accordingly.

Open PowerPoint on the Whiteboard

Access MS PowerPoint on Whiteboard since they are both productivity tools from the Microsoft 365 subscription. Open PowerPoint on the Whiteboard in just a few clicks.

Move Objects in Microsoft Whiteboard

With so many scribbles, shapes, texts, and objects you may have inserted in MS Whiteboard, the struggle might be how to move or reposition them. Rest assured, it is very easy to move objects in Microsoft Whiteboard.

Use Stylus with Microsoft Whiteboard

Skip the need for a mouse and keyboard when you use a stylus with Microsoft Whiteboard. The stylus works like a pen so you can feel like you are scribbling on a whiteboard with your handwriting, except the results are digital.

Make Dashed Line in Microsoft Whiteboard

Add symbols such as a dashed line whenever you like on Whiteboard. It isn’t even that difficult to make a dashed line in Microsoft Whiteboard so try it now.

Use Microsoft Whiteboard with Mouse and Keyboard

Use Microsoft Whiteboard with mouse and keyboard if you don’t have a stylus or if that is your preference for scribbling on a board. As long as you have these two pieces of equipment, you can use Microsoft Whiteboard with mouse and keyboard pronto.

Sign In/Sign Out Microsoft Whiteboard

With an internet connection and a Microsoft account, you can always sign in/sign out of Microsoft Whiteboard. And it is super easy to do either just like how you log in and log out to other applications.

Make Whiteboard Animation Using Microsoft PowerPoint

An interesting and artistic way to design files is to insert animations. One example is to use Microsoft PowerPoint for creating a Whiteboard animation.

Draw on Microsoft Whiteboard without Touch-Screen

Need help on how to draw on Microsoft Whiteboard without a touchscreen? It is certainly possible with your mouse and keyboard, learn its manageable steps shortly.

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