How to draw on your screen during a Zoom, Meet or Teams call on a Mac

Q: People in my meeting can't see my drawings

You're most likely sharing a single window or browser tab. Screen-drawing apps draw in their own transparent window on top, so window or tab sharing leaves the drawings out. Share your entire screen instead, and make sure it's the display you're drawing on.

Q: Do Zoom, Google Meet and Teams have their own annotation tools?

Yes, with conditions. Zoom has an Annotate option while you share your screen, and viewers can annotate too unless the host turns it off. Google Meet has Annotate for presenters on eligible Google Workspace plans in Chrome 124 or later. Teams has annotation while sharing, depending on your organization and setup. Each only works inside that app's meeting.

Q: Can people in the meeting draw with JellyDraw?

No. JellyDraw is for the person presenting. If you want participants to draw too, use the meeting app's own annotation tools.

Q: Does JellyDraw need Screen Recording permission?

No. Only your meeting app needs Screen Recording permission to share your screen. JellyDraw asks only for Accessibility access, to read where your windows are.

Circle the button you're talking about, underline the number that matters, sketch the idea instead of describing it. Here's how to do it in any video call, and the one sharing setting that decides whether anyone sees it.

By the JellyDraw team · Updated October 23, 2026 · We make JellyDraw, the app used in the steps below. The meeting apps' own tools are covered too.

Quick answer

Install a screen drawing app like JellyDraw (free).
In your call, share your entire screen, not a window or tab.
Press ⌃⌥⌘Space and draw. Press Esc to get back to presenting.

Step by step

Install JellyDraw. Download it, drag it to Applications and open it. It lives in your menu bar. Allow Accessibility access when the welcome guide asks: JellyDraw uses it to read where your windows are, so drawings can follow them.
Let your meeting app share your screen. The first time you share, macOS asks you to allow screen recording for Zoom or Teams, or for your browser if you use Google Meet. If you said no before, turn it on in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording, then quit and reopen the app.
Share your entire screen. In the share menu, pick your whole screen (the display you'll draw on), not a single window or browser tab. Here's why that matters.
Press ⌃⌥⌘Space and draw. Use B for the pen, H for the highlighter and E for the eraser. Your drawing attaches to the window under it, so if you drag that window during the call, the drawing comes with it.
Press Esc to go back to presenting. Your Mac works normally again and your drawings stay where they are. Switch apps and each app keeps its own notes. Press S while drawing to hide or show them all, or clear them from the palette or the JellyDraw menu bar icon.

Drag a window mid-call and its drawings come with it.

Why share your entire screen?

Screen drawing apps, JellyDraw included, draw in their own transparent window on top of everything else. When you share just one window or a browser tab, the meeting app captures only that window, so your drawings aren't in the picture. Share the whole screen and viewers see everything you see.

While drawing mode is on, they'll also see JellyDraw's palette. Press Esc when you're done and the palette goes away while your drawings stay.

App by app

Zoom

To share: click Share and choose your screen rather than an app window.

Zoom's own tools: while you share, Zoom shows an Annotate option with a pen, shapes, text, stamps and a spotlight. Viewers can annotate too, unless the host turns that off. It's handy when you want your audience to draw. It only works while you're sharing in a Zoom meeting.

Google Meet

To share: click Share screen and pick Entire screen. In Chrome, macOS needs to allow screen recording for Chrome itself.

Meet's own tools: presenters can click Annotate to draw, add text and sticky notes, and invite co-annotators. According to Google's help page, it needs an eligible Google Workspace plan and Chrome 124 or later, and its checklist describes presenting a tab or window. Its pen uses disappearing ink by default.

Microsoft Teams

To share: click Share and choose your screen.

Teams' own tools: Teams can offer annotation from the presenter toolbar while you share, and participants can ask to join in. Whether you have it depends on your organization's setup, so look for an Annotate button the next time you share.

Built-in tools or a screen drawing app?

	JellyDraw	Zoom, Meet or Teams tools
Works in every meeting app	Yes, it's on your Mac	Only in its own app
Works outside calls (recordings, in-person talks)	Yes	No
Drawings follow the window you drag	Yes	Not described
Notes stay with each app when you switch	Yes	Not described
Needs a plan, host setting or admin	No	Sometimes
Viewers can draw too	No	Yes
Price	Free · Pro $9.99 once	Included

Meeting apps' features from their help pages on October 23, 2026, and they vary by plan and version. "Not described" means their documentation doesn't mention it.

Our take: if you want the audience to draw with you, use the meeting app's tools. If you're the one explaining, especially across several apps or windows, a screen drawing app works the same in every call and keeps your notes on the right window.

Tips for drawing during calls

Using two displays? Share the one you're drawing on. JellyDraw draws on every display, but viewers only see the one you share.
Explaining from scratch? Switch the background to a whiteboard or blackboard from the palette, then switch back to your apps.
Changing topic? Press S while drawing to hide every drawing at once, and again to bring them back.
Recording a tutorial? The same rule applies: record your whole screen, not one window, and your drawings are in the video.
Want a copy of what you drew? JellyDraw Pro exports your drawings as PNG or SVG.

Troubleshooting

People in my meeting can't see my drawings

You're probably sharing a single window or tab. Stop sharing and share your entire screen, and check that it's the display you're drawing on.

The share menu won't let me pick my screen

macOS hasn't given your meeting app (or your browser, for Google Meet) permission to record the screen. Turn it on in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording, then quit and reopen the app.

Pressing ⌃⌥⌘Space does nothing

Another app may already use that shortcut. JellyDraw tells you in its Settings if it couldn't claim it. You can also start drawing from the JellyDraw icon in the menu bar.

Do Zoom, Google Meet and Teams have their own annotation tools?

Yes, with conditions. Zoom has Annotate while you share your screen, and viewers can annotate too unless the host turns it off. Google Meet has Annotate for presenters on eligible Google Workspace plans in Chrome 124 or later. Teams can offer annotation while you share, depending on your organization's setup. Each only works inside its own meeting.

Can people in the meeting draw with JellyDraw?

No. JellyDraw is for the person presenting. For drawing together, use the meeting app's own annotation tools.

Does JellyDraw need Screen Recording permission?

No. Only your meeting app does, to share your screen. JellyDraw asks only for Accessibility access, and never reads or records what's on your screen.

Is drawing on screen during calls free?

With JellyDraw, yes: the pen, highlighter, eraser, whiteboard and window anchoring are free with no time limit. Pro adds shapes, text and export for a one-time $9.99. More free ways to draw on your Mac's screen.

Draw on your next call

JellyDraw is free to download, with window anchoring included. Upgrade to Pro once for $9.99 when you want shapes, text and export.

Download JellyDraw free Buy Pro, $9.99

macOS 26.2 or later · Apple Silicon · 14-day refund on Pro