Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
The right method depends on what you mean by “draw on your screen.” To mark up a saved image, press Windows + Shift + S and use the Pen or Highlighter in Snipping Tool. To draw over a live browser, spreadsheet, desktop, or other application while it remains usable, install Microsoft ZoomIt and press Ctrl + Shift + 4 for LiveDraw. For a presentation, use PowerPoint’s slideshow pen; for a blank canvas, use Microsoft Whiteboard.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick choice:
- Saved screenshot markup: Snipping Tool or the older Snip & Sketch.
- Live drawing over any Windows application: Microsoft ZoomIt LiveDraw.
- Drawing on presentation slides: PowerPoint slideshow ink.
- Brainstorming or handwriting on a blank canvas: Microsoft Whiteboard.
- Collaborative meeting annotation: Teams or Zoom’s meeting annotation tools.
Windows 10 does not include one universal built-in ink layer that stays over every live application. Its built-in tools mainly capture the screen, open a separate canvas, or draw inside a supported app. These instructions target Windows 10, including version 22H2, its final general feature release. Windows 10 Home and Pro reached normal end of support on October 14, 2025, although the installed operating system and applications can continue to work; app labels and availability may vary by build, Store-app version, account, and organizational policy. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support information and lifecycle page for platform-status details.
First, choose the kind of drawing you need
These tools solve different problems. Choosing the wrong one is the main reason people expect a live desktop drawing layer but end up with a screenshot or a new Whiteboard window.
#1 Best Overall
- Stylus Pen for Touchscreen: No Bluetooth or charging needed—use instantly on any capacitive touch screen (iPad, iPhone, Android, Samsung). Dual rubber tips (5mm/6.6mm) ensure precise control for writing, drawing, or gaming. Lightweight aluminum body with vibrant colors.
- Precision & Comfort Redefined: High sensitivity rubber tip glides smoothly without lag or scratches. Ergonomic design reduces wrist strain for extended use. Compatible with tablets, phones, and Laptops.
- Dual-Tip Flexibility: Switch between 0.20” and 0.26” rubber nibs for detailed art or bold notes. Anti-scratch, fingerprint-resistant tip. Pretty bright metal colors inspire creativity.
- Effortless Multi-Device Compatibility: Works seamlessly on Apple, Samsung, Android, and more. No apps or setup—just pick up and write. Perfect for notes, games, or gifts—ready to spark ideas instantly. Replaceable tips included for long-term use.
- Creative Freedom, Anywhere: Lightweight aluminum stylus with natural grip. Includes 6 replaceable tips and 3 color stylus pens. Perfect for sharing with friends, family, or colleagues, this bundle ensures you’re always equipped to capture inspiration.
| Your goal | Use this | Does the underlying app stay live? | Can you save the result? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle or highlight something in an image | Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch | No—it is an image capture | Yes, save or copy the marked-up image |
| Draw over Chrome, Excel, a terminal, or the desktop during a demonstration | ZoomIt LiveDraw | Yes, when LiveDraw is selected | Use ZoomIt screenshots or recording; live marks are not automatically a permanent document |
| Mark a slide while presenting | PowerPoint slideshow ink | Only within the slideshow | Desktop PowerPoint can keep or discard the ink |
| Sketch or brainstorm on an empty digital page | Microsoft Whiteboard | No—it opens a separate canvas | Yes, subject to the app and account in use |
| Draw with other people in a meeting | Teams or Zoom annotation | Only on shared meeting content | Teams supports saving a snapshot; meeting-app behavior varies |
| Mark a webpage or PDF in Edge | Edge Screenshot | No—it annotates a capture | Yes, copy or save the result |
A mouse is enough for all of the major methods below. A compatible active pen or touchscreen makes handwriting easier, but it is optional for Snipping Tool, ZoomIt, Whiteboard, PowerPoint, and meeting annotation.
Method 1: Mark up a screenshot without installing anything
Use this method for bug reports, instructions, screenshots, homework feedback, or anything you want to send as a finished image. The live application is captured first; you draw on the resulting image rather than on the application itself.
Take and annotate the screenshot
- Arrange the browser, document, or desktop so the material you want to mark is visible.
- Press Windows + Shift + S.
- Choose a capture mode from the toolbar. Depending on your Windows 10 build and installed app, the choices include Rectangle, Window, Full screen, and Freeform.
- Drag around the area you want to capture, or select the window or full-screen option.
- Click the notification that appears after the capture. This opens the image in Snipping Tool or the older Snip & Sketch editor.
- Select Pen or Highlighter, then choose a color and thickness if those controls are available in your version.
- Draw with the mouse, finger, or digital pen.
- Use Eraser, Undo, or Redo to correct marks.
- Select Save, or press Ctrl + S, to keep the annotated image. Use Copy or Ctrl + C to paste it into email, Word, Teams, or another application.
Microsoft’s Snipping Tool documentation covers the capture modes, pen, highlighter, eraser, crop, undo, redo, saving, and copying. Windows 10 builds do not all show the same toolbar, so do not assume that every installation has the same shapes, ruler, protractor, or text controls.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUseful screenshot shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows + Shift + S | Starts an image snip |
| Ctrl + C | Copies the captured or annotated image |
| Ctrl + S | Saves the image in interfaces that support the shortcut |
| Print Screen | Captures the screen or opens screen snipping, depending on your Windows settings and build |
| Alt + D | Sets a delay in interfaces that support the legacy Snipping Tool shortcut |
If the notification disappears
Open Start and search for Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch, then choose New and repeat the capture. The keyboard shortcut starts the capture; it does not itself open the drawing toolbar. You must complete the snip and open the captured image in the editor.
Why the app may have a different name
Microsoft originally called the modern screenshot drawing experience Screen Sketch, then renamed it Snip & Sketch. More recent Microsoft documentation commonly uses Snipping Tool. The name you see depends on your Windows 10 feature update and the installed Store-app version. Microsoft explains the Screen Sketch-to-Snip & Sketch transition in its Windows Experience announcement.
Method 2: Draw live over the desktop with Microsoft ZoomIt
Use ZoomIt when you literally want to draw over a live application. It is Microsoft Sysinternals’ screen-zooming, annotation, and recording utility. Unlike a screenshot editor, its LiveDraw mode is designed to place ink over live windows and the desktop while the demonstration continues.
Install and configure ZoomIt
- Download ZoomIt from Microsoft’s official Sysinternals ZoomIt page. The standalone utility is the simplest option; extract the download if it arrives as a compressed file, then run ZoomIt.
- Review the first-run configuration dialog and note the hotkeys. Change any shortcut that conflicts with your browser, presentation software, graphics tablet, or other utility.
- Leave ZoomIt running. It normally remains available from the notification area/system tray.
- Open the browser, spreadsheet, code editor, or other application you want to demonstrate.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 4 to enter LiveDraw mode.
- Draw with the mouse, touchscreen, or pen.
- Press Esc or right-click to exit the active mode.
ZoomIt’s release number and interface can change, so use the current Microsoft documentation as the authority for a newly downloaded version. Microsoft also distributes ZoomIt through PowerToys. Current PowerToys releases list Windows 10 version 2004, build 19041, or newer, with x64 or ARM64 support, as a minimum; the standalone ZoomIt page describes the utility separately from the broader PowerToys requirements. See Microsoft’s PowerToys installation requirements and PowerToys ZoomIt settings.
Recommended Free Tools
ZoomIt LiveDraw controls
| Key or combination | Action in the documented ZoomIt drawing controls |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + 4 | Enter LiveDraw mode |
| Ctrl + 4 | Enter LiveZoom mode |
| Ctrl + 2 | Use the draw-without-zoom mode; this is not the same as LiveDraw |
| R, G, B, Y, O, or P | Choose red, green, blue, yellow, orange, or pink pen |
| Shift + a color key | Choose the matching highlighter |
| Hold Shift | Draw a straight line |
| Hold Ctrl | Draw a rectangle |
| Hold Tab | Draw an ellipse |
| Hold Ctrl + Shift | Draw an arrow |
| Ctrl + Z | Erase the last drawing |
| E | Erase all drawings |
| Esc | Exit the active ZoomIt mode |
ZoomIt’s keyboard shortcuts can be customized, so your installation may not use the defaults. Test them before a class, support session, or presentation.
Rank #2
- 【Stylus for Touch Screen】This stylus can be used on touch screen, designed to replace your fingers, the stylus can free up your fingers and provide higher sensitivity and response on the screen.
- 【Capacitive stylus】This is a capacitive stylus (battery-free, requires no charging, and functions like a fingertip)—not an active stylus. It does not support pressure sensitivity or palm rejection. However, it allows for tapping, scrolling, note-taking, and drawing on touchscreens; if you require professional-grade drawing capabilities on an iPad, please choose an active stylus instead.
- 【2-in-1 Stylus Pen】This stylus features two different tips: a flexible transparent disc tip and a rubber tip. Applying moderate pressure when using the rubber tip ensures full contact with the screen—especially on screens with protective films—thereby enabling stable signal transmission. The combination of the rubber tip and the disc tip offers two distinct touch experiences.Please note that the plastic piece on the transparent disc is an integral part of the tip and cannot be removed.
- 【Works On Capacitive Touch Screens】Compatible with iPad, iPad Air/mini, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Android tablets, Kindle and smartphones. Also works over most screen protectors — glide, no scratch. The stylus is used to replace your fingers on a touchscreen, Avoid rubbing your fingers and leaving fingerprints on touchscreen devices. If it cannot be used for writing on some devices, This may be due to limitations in the settings of touchscreen devices. If you cannot find a solution, please contact us at any time, and we will help you resolve the issue.
- 【Multiple Usage Scenarios】Whether you are taking notes in class, reviewing documents at work, drawing creative designs, or enjoying mobile games, this universal stylus pen delivers a smooth and comfortable touch experience. It is ideal for writing, sketching, annotating, scrolling, and precise screen control on tablets and smartphones. From daily tasks to creative projects, this stylus helps you capture ideas anytime and anywhere.
LiveDraw versus ordinary ZoomIt drawing
This distinction matters. ZoomIt’s classic drawing or draw-without-zoom behavior can act like drawing over a captured or frozen presentation frame. That is useful when you want to pause a demonstration, but the application underneath may not respond until you leave that mode.
LiveDraw is the correct choice when the underlying window must remain live. Press Ctrl + Shift + 4, not merely Ctrl + 2, for that requirement. Microsoft introduced LiveDraw as a mode for drawing over live windows and the desktop alongside LiveZoom; the Sysinternals announcement describes the feature.
Optional ZoomIt tools
For technical training and presentations, ZoomIt can do more than draw. Its documented features include zooming and panning, whiteboard and blackboard modes, typed text, screenshot and region capture, OCR copying, full-screen and cropped recording, a countdown timer, and DemoType. These features are useful when you need to enlarge a small interface, type a label, capture the annotated result, or record a demonstration.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSaving, recording, and display checks
Live ink is an on-screen overlay, not automatically a finished image or editable document. If you need a permanent copy, use ZoomIt’s screenshot or recording features, or take a screenshot after drawing. Before recording, make a short test using the exact capture source you plan to use. A desktop-capture source is the logical first test for a desktop overlay; a window-only source can behave differently, and no recorder configuration should be assumed to capture every overlay.
Also test the exact monitor arrangement, display scaling, and window position you will use. Multi-monitor layouts and different scaling percentages can affect where a mark appears relative to the pointer, so validate the setup before presenting.
Method 3: Show the Windows Ink Workspace tools
Windows Ink Workspace is an access point for pen-related tools, not a permanent desktop drawing layer. In the current documented Windows experience, it provides access to Whiteboard and Fullscreen Snip. Older Windows versions also showed tools such as Sticky Notes and Sketchpad.
Put the Ink Workspace button on the taskbar
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar.
- Select Show Windows Ink Workspace button.
- Select the pen-shaped Ink Workspace icon that appears in the notification area.
- Choose Whiteboard for a separate canvas or Fullscreen Snip for a screenshot you can annotate.
Microsoft’s Windows pen documentation notes that Sketchpad was available only in earlier Windows versions. If you cannot find Sketchpad, do not treat that as a missing driver or a hidden universal drawing mode: use Whiteboard for a blank canvas or Snipping Tool for screenshot markup.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The setting called Let me use my pen as a mouse in some desktop apps is not the switch that creates the Ink Workspace button. It controls pen behavior in certain desktop applications. The taskbar button is controlled by the taskbar’s Show Windows Ink Workspace button option, although that option can be hidden or restricted by a Windows build, device configuration, or organization policy.
Method 4: Draw on PowerPoint slides while presenting
PowerPoint is better than a desktop overlay when the ink belongs to individual presentation slides.
Rank #3
- 『Better Than Finger』- A stylus has a better touch point than the tip of your finger giving better accuracy to little touch focuses like keys on the console. No more big finger troubles.
- 『Anti-Scratch Tip』- The stylus pen tip was made of soft, and scratch resistant rubber,which can protect your screen from scratching and keep no fingerprints.
- 『Easy To Carry』- Slim body and lightweight. Clip design is great for clipping in your pocket, diary, etc. Great stylus for kids.
- 『Perfect For Sharing』- Get 10 of tablet stylus with an unbeatable price. You can share this tablet pen to your friends or family.
- 『Universal Capacitive Stylus』- 100% compatible with all capacitive touch screen devices,such as iPad,iPhone,tablets,samsung galaxy and so on.
- Open the presentation in desktop PowerPoint.
- Open the Slide Show tab.
- Choose From Beginning or From Current Slide.
- Move the pointer to the lower-left corner to reveal the presentation controls.
- Select the Pen icon.
- Choose Pen or Highlighter.
- Draw with a mouse, pen, or touchscreen.
- To change color, open the pen menu and choose Ink Color.
- To erase, right-click the slide, choose Pointer Options, and select Eraser. You can also choose Erase All Ink on Slide.
- When you end the slideshow, choose whether to Keep or Discard the ink annotations.
See Microsoft’s instructions for drawing on slides during a presentation. Desktop PowerPoint can keep or discard the marks when the show ends. PowerPoint for the web supports drawing during a slideshow, but Microsoft says it does not save those onscreen annotations.
PowerPoint ink is slide-specific. It is not a general Windows overlay, so it is not the right choice if you switch from PowerPoint to Chrome, Excel, or another unrelated application during the demonstration.
Method 5: Annotate shared content in Microsoft Teams
Use Teams when the purpose is collaborative annotation during a meeting, class, support call, or screen-share session. Teams annotation applies to shared meeting content rather than to the entire Windows desktop outside the meeting.
- Join or start a Teams meeting.
- Share your screen or a supported window.
- Move the pointer to the top of the shared screen to reveal the presenter toolbar.
- Select Annotate.
- Choose whether Everyone can annotate or only the presenter can draw.
- Draw on the shared content with the mouse, pen, or touch input.
- Select Start interacting with the background when you need to scroll, click, or advance the content.
- Select Save a snapshot if the annotated screen needs to be retained.
- Select Annotate again to stop, or use the clear controls to remove the marks.
Teams annotation is powered by Microsoft Whiteboard and depends on the meeting features available to the account and organization. Microsoft’s current instructions are in Use annotation while sharing your screen in Microsoft Teams. Zoom also offers in-meeting annotation when enabled by the host and account, but those controls belong to the meeting application—not to Windows 10 itself.
Method 6: Use Whiteboard for a blank digital canvas
Whiteboard is the right choice for brainstorming, handwriting, diagrams, sticky notes, and freeform painting on a separate canvas. It is not transparent ink over Chrome, Excel, or the desktop.
- Open Microsoft Whiteboard from Start, the Microsoft Store, the web experience, or Windows Ink Workspace.
- Sign in if the installed version or account type requires it.
- Create a new board.
- Select the Pen or inking mode.
- Choose a pen, highlighter, color, and thickness.
- Draw with a mouse, finger, or digital pen.
- Use the eraser, lasso, ruler, shapes, text, or sticky-note tools as needed.
- Use Share or the board’s export options when you are finished.
Microsoft documents mouse, keyboard, pen, and touch input in Whiteboard and lists supported platforms in its device-support documentation. The Windows 10 app, account requirements, and sign-in experience can vary, particularly now that Windows 10 is outside normal support. Whiteboard remains a separate canvas even when launched from Ink Workspace.
Method 7: Mark up a webpage or PDF in Microsoft Edge
For a webpage or PDF that is already open in Edge, Edge’s capture tool may be more convenient than taking a full desktop snip.
- Open the webpage or PDF in Microsoft Edge.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + S, or open Edge’s menu and choose Screenshot. Older Edge versions may call this Web Capture.
- Choose the selected-area or full-page capture option available in your version.
- Use the inking tools to draw on the capture.
- Copy or save the finished image.
Microsoft’s Edge documentation explains that Web Capture was renamed Screenshot and supports capturing webpage or PDF content and annotating the capture with inking tools. This is still capture annotation, not live ink directly on the active webpage. See the Edge Web Capture/Screenshot documentation.
Mouse, touchscreen, and pen requirements
You do not need a Surface device, touchscreen, or stylus to use these tools. A mouse can draw in:
Rank #4
- 【New Upgraded 3-in-1 Stylus】: Building on the foundation of dual rubber tips, this new version adds a more precise and sensitive transparent disc tip, and comes with a protective cap. This 3-in-1 stylus pen meets various needs in your daily life, whether it's clicking icons, writing, drawing, or playing games, it can handle them all with ease
- 【Highly Sensitive and Accurate】: The disc tip is transparent which allows visibility of the contact point, making it highly accurate and responsive. 180° flexible writing angle for comfortable using. You can get more smooth writing or painting experience, no lag, no interruption, no screen scratching
- 【Dual-sized Rubber Tips】: The two different-sized rubber tips(0.18'' & 0.27'') are smooth and responsive, made from high-quality silicone material with excellent wear and aging resistance. The soft rubber tips won't scratch screens or leave as many fingerprints as fingers. Ideal for those with long nails or larger fingers, perfect for browsing screens, writing, note-taking, and playing games
- 【Wide Compatibility】: MEKO capacitive styluses are universally compatible with all touchscreen devices such as Apple iPad iPhone Duo/ Tablet/Nintendo Switch/ iPod/ Galaxy/ kindle & morephones, tablets, touch screen laptops & PC, e-Reders etc
- 【Easy to Use & Replaceable】: No battery or bluetooth needed, simply unscrew the pen cap to use the disc tip and use dual rubber tips directly.All 3 tips are replaceable and finish the replacement process within seconds. Package contains 2* stylus, 4* 0.18'' replacing rubber tips, 4* 0.27'' replaceable rubber tips, 2* disc tips, effectively extending the lifetime of the stylus. To find extra replacement Disc tips, please search ASIN: B016X4QJWE on Amazon.
- Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch.
- ZoomIt LiveDraw.
- PowerPoint slideshow ink.
- Microsoft Whiteboard.
- Teams and other meeting annotation tools.
An active pen is useful for natural handwriting and may support pressure sensitivity, an eraser button, palm rejection, or shortcut buttons. Those features depend on the pen, digitizer, drivers, and application; a generic stylus will not necessarily provide all of them.
If the pen does not respond
- Confirm that the computer supports active pen input. A passive rubber-tip stylus behaves like a finger or mouse and may not provide pressure sensitivity.
- Charge or pair a Bluetooth pen if the hardware requires it.
- Test the pen in Whiteboard or another known inking app.
- Try a mouse. If the mouse works, the problem is probably the pen, pairing, digitizer, or driver rather than the annotation tool.
- Open Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink and review the available pen settings.
- Check the display, touch, and pen drivers in Device Manager or through the computer manufacturer’s support tools.
- If finger and pen input interfere with one another, adjust palm-rejection or touch behavior where the device and app provide that option.
Troubleshooting common problems
“I want to draw directly on the screen, but Windows gives me a screenshot.”
That is the expected behavior of Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch, Fullscreen Snip, and Edge Screenshot. They capture an image and then let you annotate it. Install ZoomIt and use Ctrl + Shift + 4 for a live desktop overlay.
“Windows + Shift + S works, but I cannot find the pen.”
Complete the selection first, then click the notification that appears. The Pen and Highlighter tools are in the editor, not necessarily in the initial capture toolbar. If the notification has vanished, open Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch from Start and make a new capture.
“I cannot find Screen Sketch.”
Screen Sketch is a legacy name. Depending on your Windows 10 build, look for Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool instead. Microsoft’s historical naming information is in its Snip & Sketch announcement.
“I cannot find Sketchpad.”
Sketchpad was part of earlier Windows Ink Workspace versions and is not a current option in Microsoft’s documented Windows pen experience. Use Whiteboard for an empty canvas or Snipping Tool’s Fullscreen Snip for screenshot annotation.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →“My Windows Ink Workspace icon is missing.”
Right-click the taskbar and select Show Windows Ink Workspace button. If that command is absent, the Windows build, device configuration, or organizational policy may control the taskbar options. You can still launch Whiteboard or Snipping Tool from Start. Turning on a pen-as-mouse setting does not create the Workspace button.
“The screen freezes when I draw with ZoomIt.”
You may be using a classic drawing mode that pauses or presents a captured frame. Exit it and use LiveDraw with Ctrl + Shift + 4 when the underlying application needs to remain interactive. ZoomIt’s official shortcut reference distinguishes LiveZoom, LiveDraw, and draw-without-zoom.
“My ZoomIt hotkey does nothing.”
- Another program may already own the shortcut.
- Open ZoomIt’s configuration and assign a different combination.
- If you installed ZoomIt through PowerToys, confirm that ZoomIt is enabled.
- Check whether the target application is running as administrator.
- If an elevated application is involved, PowerToys may also need to run elevated. Microsoft explains this limitation in its PowerToys administrator-mode documentation.
“My marks are offset on a second monitor.”
Test the complete monitor arrangement before using the setup publicly. Check the display order, resolution, scaling percentage, and which screen contains the target window. A setup that works on one monitor can require testing again after a display or scaling change.
Best Value
- The round head of the stylus is made of silicone, which is used for mobile phones and tablets.
- The stylus pen tip is made of hard plastic, which can only be used for resistive screens such as GPS and navigator.
- The round head and pointed head of the stylus are compatible with all the capacitive and resistive screens at present.
- SILICONE ROUND HEAD, FOR MODERN DEVICES: The soft, conductive silicone round head is designed specifically for all capacitive touch screens, including iPad, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Android tablets/smartphones, and other similar devices. Perfect for scrolling, tapping, and general navigation.
- PLASTIC TIP, FOR SPECIFIC RESISTIVE SCREENS ONLY (PLEASE NOTE): The fine plastic tip is ONLY compatible with older resistive touch screens, such as those found on some GPS devices, Nintendo DS/3DS, and certain POS machines. It will NOT work on capacitive screens like iPhones, iPads, or modern smartphones/tablets.
“The annotations disappeared.”
- Screenshot: save or copy the annotated image before closing the editor.
- PowerPoint desktop: choose Keep when ending the slideshow if you want the ink retained; choose Discard to remove it.
- PowerPoint for the web: onscreen slideshow annotations are not saved.
- Teams: save a snapshot if the marks need to survive the meeting.
- ZoomIt: capture a screenshot or record the demonstration; live overlay marks are not automatically a reusable drawing document.
“The overlay is missing from my recording.”
Make a short test recording with the exact recorder and capture source you plan to use. Start with a desktop-capture source when recording a desktop-wide overlay, then verify the result. Window-only capture can behave differently, so do not assume that every recorder mode will include a third-party overlay.
Which tool should you use?
For most readers, the decision is simple:
- Use Snipping Tool when you want a saved picture with circles, arrows, or highlights and do not need the original app to remain active.
- Use ZoomIt LiveDraw when you need to point at or draw over a live Windows application during teaching, troubleshooting, streaming, or a demonstration.
- Use PowerPoint’s pen when the marks belong to presentation slides.
- Use Teams or Zoom annotation when the marks belong to a shared meeting.
- Use Whiteboard when you want a separate blank canvas for sketches, notes, or diagrams.
- Use Edge Screenshot when you only need to mark a webpage or PDF capture.
OneNote and other Office applications are also suitable when the ink belongs inside a note, document, or drawing canvas. They do not provide a general Windows-wide overlay; use an app-specific Draw tab where available. Microsoft’s OneNote for Windows 10 support notice is worth checking before relying on the older OneNote app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Windows 10 have a built-in way to draw over every application?
No. Windows 10’s built-in options mainly annotate screenshots, open Whiteboard, or draw inside apps such as PowerPoint. For a live desktop-wide overlay, use Microsoft ZoomIt’s LiveDraw mode with Ctrl + Shift + 4.
Can I draw on my Windows 10 screen without a pen?
Yes. A mouse works with Snipping Tool, ZoomIt, Whiteboard, PowerPoint slideshow ink, and meeting annotation. A compatible pen or touchscreen is optional, although it is usually more comfortable for handwriting.
Why does ZoomIt stop my application from responding while I draw?
You are likely using a classic or frozen-frame drawing mode. Exit it and select LiveDraw with Ctrl + Shift + 4 so the underlying window can remain live.
Recommended Free Tools
How do I keep my screen annotations?
Save the annotated screenshot in Snipping Tool, choose Keep when desktop PowerPoint asks about slideshow ink, save a Teams snapshot, or use ZoomIt’s screenshot and recording features. Live ink is not automatically stored as a separate document.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: use Windows + Shift + S for a marked-up screenshot, and use Microsoft ZoomIt with Ctrl + Shift + 4 when you need to draw over a live Windows 10 application. Whiteboard, PowerPoint, Teams, Zoom, Edge, and OneNote are better when the drawing belongs to a specific canvas, presentation, meeting, webpage, or document.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
