How to Use Markup on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Markup is an image-annotation feature built into iOS. It gives you the flexibility to edit screenshots and images, add signatures to PDFs, add text, and create drawings. Here's how to use Markup on photos and screenshots, in emails, or with Notes.

How to Use Markup With Screenshots

Markup is available when you take a screenshot. Here's a look at how to use Markup to annotate or draw on a screenshot. Use your finger to select and draw with tools, or use an Apple Pencil if your device supports it.

How to Use Markup's Menu Tools

Here's how to use Markup's basic tools with screenshots.

1. Take a screenshot on your iOS device. You'll hear a camera-snapping sound and see a small preview of the image in the lower-left corner of the screen.

   It can be a screenshot of a photo, text conversation, Instagram post, or anything else on the device screen.

2. Tap the screenshot thumbnail preview quickly. It disappears in about five seconds.

3. In Markup, tap the plus sign to reveal the Text, Signature, Magnifier, and Opacity tools.

   

4. Tap the Pen, Highlighter, or Pencil, and then draw on the screenshot.

5. Tap the same tool again to change its opacity.

6. Tap the Eraser, then rub your finger along the areas you want to delete.

   Tap Undo at the top of the screen to delete the last action. Undo looks like a circle with an arrow pointing to the left. Tap Redo (the circle with a right-pointing arrow) to redo the action.

   

7. To move your drawing, tap Lasso, and use your finger to make a circle around your drawing. A dotted line circles your drawing. Use your finger to drag it to another part of the screen.

   

8. To change the Pen, Highlighter, or Pencil color, tap the color wheel in the lower-right corner.

9. Select a color.

10. When you draw, the tool has the new color.

    

How to Use Markup's Additional Tools

Here's how to do more with your Markup image.

1. Tap the plus sign in the lower-right corner.

2. Tap Text to write something on the screenshot.

3. Tap the text symbol (a big and small capital A) to change font, style, and size.

   

4. Tap inside the text box and write something.

5. Tap and drag the text box where you want it.

6. Tap the color wheel to change the text color.

   

7. Tap Magnifier to increase the size of the image or a portion of the image.

8. Use the green circle to zoom in. Use the blue circle to expand the magnified image area.

   

9. Tap Opacity, then use the slider to change the transparency level.

   

10. To add a signature, take a screenshot, tap the plus sign, and then tap Signature.

11. Use your finger to draw a signature, then tap Done.

12. Move the signature and change its size and color, if you like. Markup saves the signature. The signature is available on other screenshots, photos, and documents.

    Use this method to edit or sign a PDF and return it in an email.

    

Use Markup's Shape Tools

Markup's Shape tools allow you to do more with your image.

1. Tap the plus sign and then tap the square to place a resizable square anywhere on the screenshot.

   

2. Tap the circle to add a resizable circle anywhere on the screenshot.

   

3. Tap the speech bubble to add one of four cartoon-style dialogue bubbles.

   

4. Tap the arrow to add an adjustable arrow to the screenshot image.

   

   Use your finger to drag the shape anywhere you want it. Adjust the blue dots to change the shape's size. Adjust the green dots to change the speech bubble's size and the arrow's shape.

How to Save or Share a Markup Image

When you're done adding edits, drawings, and adjustments to your Markup screenshot, save it to your Photos or share it by text, email, or social media.

1. Tap Done in the upper-left corner.

2. Select Save to Photos, Save to Files, or Delete.

   

3. To share your Markup screenshot, tap Share (a square with an arrow) in the upper-right corner.

4. Choose to share your image using AirDrop, Messages, Mail, Messenger, WhatsApp, Notes, and more. Or, opt to Print, Add to Shared Album, Save to Files, or Create Watch Face.

   

Markup With Photos

Here's how to bring up Markup from a photo in your Photos app.

1. Select a photo from your photo album and tap Edit.

2. Tap More (three dots) in the upper-right corner.

   

3. Select Markup.

4. The Markup tools are now available for your image.

   

Use Markup When Emailing a Photo

It's easy to call up Markup when you're emailing a photo.

1. Open the Mail app and start a new email or open an existing email you want to reply to.

2. Tap the body of the email to display a menu bar. Tap the arrow until you see Insert Photo or Video and select it to go to your Photo Library.

3. Locate the photo you want to mark up and tap Choose to add it to the email.

   

4. Tap the image in the email to display the menu bar and select Markup.

5. Use the Markup tools to enhance the photo and tap Done.

6. Complete the email, then tap Send.

   

Use Markup With Notes

The Notes app is also Markup-friendly, and you don't need a photo.

1. Open a Note and tap Markup (it looks like a pen tip in a circle) from the bottom row.

2. Use the Markup tools to annotate the note or add a drawing, then tap Done to finish.

   

3. Save and share as you would a screenshot.