Search results for

All search results
Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

How to draw in Google Docs

Whatever you do, please don't take a real pen to your screen.
By

Published onMarch 6, 2023

Have you ever taken a step back, looked at one of your Google Docs, and thought, “I wish there were a line there?” You can actually draw images using a tool built directly into Google Docs, or you can upload one of your own drawings. Images are a great way to create white space and breaks within the text, so let’s go over how to draw on Google Docs.

QUICK ANSWER 

To draw on Google Docs, click Insert > Drawing > +New. Click the Line tab, then choose the type of line you want to draw with. When you have finished your drawing, click Save and Close to insert it into your Google Doc.


JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS 

The drawing tool is incredibly versatile and useful in many applications; you can even use it so sign a document in Google Docs. However, it isn’t your average or typical drawing application. Often you may want to use a third-party app to draw what you need and then paste that drawing into your Google Doc.

How to draw in Google Docs

The drawing tool is easy to use and straightforward. However, it isn’t very powerful, unlike Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Corel, or even Microsoft Paint. In fact, all you can really do is draw lines on Google Docs. This is useful for something like adding your virtual signature, but crafting a more ornate image is probably something you’d best avoid on Google Docs.

To use the drawing tool, start by clicking the Insert button.

click insert on google docs
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Next, hover your cursor over the tab that says Drawing. From the extended menu, click + New.

click drawing then new
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

In the drawing tool, click the Line box to open a dropdown. From here, click:

  • Line if you want to insert a straight line.
  • Arrow if you want to insert an arrow.
  • Elbow Connector if you want to insert a stairs-like line with right angles. This can be manipulated to connect other lines.
  • Curved Connector if you want to insert a smooth, curvy line. This can be manipulated to connect other lines.
  • Curve if you want to insert a curved line.
  • Polyline if you want to insert a shape that consists of line segments.
  • Scribble if you want to insert your own line freely.
select the kind of line you want to draw
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

When you are finished drawing what you would like to draw, click the blue Save and Close button in the top right. This will save your drawing and insert it onto the page of the Google Doc.

click save and close once done
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

When your drawn image has loaded onto the page, you can move it around and manipulate it. If there is text, you can format it as InlineWrap text, Break textBehind text, or In front of text. If you format it as Behind text, you can drag it anywhere on the page, and it will stay.

drawing will be inserted onto the Google Doc page
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

How to add an image in Google Docs

If you want to draw a more intricate image and feature it in your Google Doc, you don’t want to use the Google Docs drawing tool. Instead, open a third-party app like MS Paint. Programs like Corel, Krita, and Clip Studio Paint all work great if you need additional features.

Go to your preferred program and create your drawing. Then save it as a JPG or PNG file.

save your drawing as a jpg or png
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Next, head back to Google Docs and click Insert.

click insert on google docs 1
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Move your cursor down to Image. From the extended menu, click Upload from computer.

click the option that says upload from computer
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

In File Explorer, select the image you drew. Click Open to add it to the page.

open your correct image into the google doc
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

You can click on your drawing to drag it around. If there is text, you can format it as InlineWrap text, Break textBehind text, or In front of text. If you format it as Behind text, you can drag it anywhere on the page, and it will stay.

image uploaded onto google docs
Curtis Joe / Android Authority

FAQs

Click Insert > Drawing > +New. Click Line, then choose the type of line you want to draw with. When you have finished, click Save and Close to insert it into the document.

Click Insert > Drawing > +New. Click the Line tab, then select Scribble. Once finished, click Save and Close to insert it onto the page.

Yes, but you must convert it to a Google Docs document first. Once that is done, you can use the drawing tool as you would on any Google Doc. Now save your Google Doc as a PDF and sync it to your Google Drive.

If it was made using a third-party app, you cannot use the drawing tool to edit it. However, if it was made using the drawing tool, you can click the image to select it, and then the Edit button underneath to edit it.

You might like