You can draw directly in Google Docs using the built-in drawing tool, which works on computers and tablets but not phones

Google Docs has a drawing feature that lets you create shapes, lines, freehand sketches, and text boxes without leaving the document. You access it through the Insert menu, and your drawing appears as an image that you can move, resize, or delete like any other element in the document. The tool works best on a computer with a mouse or trackpad, or on a tablet with a stylus or your finger.

On a phone, you cannot draw directly in Google Docs. You can insert an image of a drawing you made elsewhere, but the drawing tool itself is not available in the mobile app. If you need to sketch on a phone, you would draw in a separate app like Google Keep, take a screenshot, and then insert that image into your document.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your Google Document, click Insert, then select Drawing to open the drawing canvas in a new window.
  • Use the toolbar at the top of the drawing window to choose shapes, lines, text, or freehand drawing tools.
  • Click Save and Close when you are finished, and your drawing will appear in the document as an embedded image.
  • You can edit the drawing later by double-clicking it, or delete it by clicking once and pressing Delete.
  • The drawing tool works on computers and tablets but not on phones or the Google Docs mobile app.

Step-by-step: inserting and using the drawing tool

Start by opening your Google Document in a web browser on a computer or tablet. Click the Insert menu at the top of the page. A dropdown list will appear. Click Drawing, then select New from the submenu that opens. A new window will pop up with a blank white canvas and a toolbar across the top.

The toolbar contains several groups of tools. On the far left is a selection arrow (used to click and move things you have already drawn). Next to it are shape tools: a rectangle, circle, line, and arrow. The text tool (shaped like a capital A) lets you add words. The freehand drawing tool (shaped like a pen) lets you sketch by hand. At the right end of the toolbar are color options, line thickness, and fill settings. Experiment with these as you draw — you can change colors and thickness before or after you create a shape.

When you are finished drawing, click the blue Save and Close button in the top right corner of the drawing window. The window will close, and your drawing will appear in your document at the location where your cursor was. You can now move it, resize it, or continue typing around it like you would with any image.

Editing or deleting a drawing you have already made

To change a drawing after you have saved it, double-click on it in your document. The drawing window will open again, showing your work. Make any changes you want, then click Save and Close. Your document will update with the new version.

To delete a drawing, click on it once to select it (you will see a border around it), then press the Delete key on your keyboard. The drawing will disappear from the document. If you delete it by mistake, you can undo the action by pressing Ctrl+Z (on Windows) or Command+Z (on Mac).

What the drawing tool is good for

The drawing tool works well for straightforward diagrams, flowcharts, basic sketches, and annotated shapes. Many people use it to add arrows pointing to text, to create straightforward organizational charts, or to sketch a quick visual idea without switching to another program. Because the drawing stays in the same document, anyone with access to the document can see it without downloading a separate file.

The tool has limits. It is not designed for detailed artwork, photo editing, or complex graphics. If you need to create something intricate, you are better off using a dedicated design program like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or even Microsoft Paint, then inserting the finished image into your document. The drawing tool is meant for quick, straightforward visuals that support your writing.

Drawing on a tablet versus a computer

On a tablet with a stylus (like an iPad with an Apple Pencil), drawing in Google Docs feels more natural because you can write and sketch by hand. The stylus gives you finer control than a mouse. If you are using your finger on a tablet, the experience is less precise but still workable for basic shapes and lines.

On a computer with a mouse or trackpad, drawing is slower and less intuitive. Straight lines and shapes are easier to create than freehand sketches because the mouse is not designed for smooth, continuous movement. If you plan to do a lot of hand-drawn work, a tablet is the better choice. If you mainly need shapes and text labels, a mouse works fine.

Inserting an image of a drawing instead

If you have already drawn something on paper or in another app, you can photograph it or screenshot it, then insert the image into your Google Document. Click Insert, then Image, and choose Upload from computer. Find the image file on your device and click Open. The image will appear in your document.

This approach is useful if you drew something on your phone using an app like Google Keep, Notability, or Procreate. You can take a screenshot or export the drawing, then add it to your document. The image will be fixed in place, so you cannot edit it the way you can edit a drawing made inside Google Docs — but you have more control over the original artwork before you insert it.

Sharing a document with drawings

When you share a Google Document that contains drawings, the drawings are included automatically. Anyone you share the document with will see the drawings exactly as you made them. They can view the document, comment on it, or edit it (depending on the permissions you set), but they cannot edit the drawing itself unless you give them editing access to the whole document.

If someone with editing access wants to change a drawing, they can double-click it to open the drawing window and make changes. When they save and close, the updated drawing appears in the document for everyone to see. This makes drawings useful for collaborative documents where multiple people are working on the same project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I draw on a Google Doc using my phone?

No. The drawing tool is not available in the Google Docs mobile app on phones. You can insert an image of a drawing you made elsewhere, but you cannot draw directly in the app. Use a computer or tablet if you need to draw in Google Docs.

What happens if I accidentally delete a drawing?

Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready to undo the deletion. If you have already closed the document, the drawing is gone unless you had made a previous version. Google Docs keeps version history, so you can click File, then Version history, to see earlier versions of your document and restore a drawing if needed.

Can other people edit my drawings if I share the document?

Only if you give them editing access to the document. If they have editing permission, they can double-click a drawing to open it and make changes. If they have view-only or comment-only access, they cannot edit the drawing.

Is the drawing tool the same on Google Docs for desktop and tablet?

The tool is the same, but the experience is different. On a tablet with a stylus, drawing feels more natural. On a desktop with a mouse, it is slower and better suited to shapes than freehand sketches. Both versions save the drawing the same way.

Can I make my drawing bigger or smaller after I save it?

Yes. Click the drawing once to select it, then drag one of the corner handles to resize it. Drag from a corner (not a side) to keep the proportions correct. You can also move it by clicking and dragging it to a new location in the document.