{"id":199969,"date":"2026-06-12T12:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midatlanticconsulting.com\/blog\/?p=199969"},"modified":"2026-06-12T12:37:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:37:03","slug":"how-to-use-the-new-drawing-tool-in-ios-27-messages-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midatlanticconsulting.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/how-to-use-the-new-drawing-tool-in-ios-27-messages-app\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use the new Drawing tool in iOS 27 Messages app"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this brief tutorial, we show you how to use the revamped Drawing iMessage app to handwrite or sketch something personal and send it to friends and family from your iPhone and iPad.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Apple Messages app has had a Digital Touch feature<\/a> for a long time that lets you send colorful, glowing, animated drawings and heartbeats. It has stayed in iOS 27 as well.<\/p>\n

Additionally, rotating your iPhone to landscape mode showed a hidden drawing option even on older versions of iOS<\/a>. This has been revamped in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Things are simpler now, thanks to a dedicated Drawing<\/strong> tool, visible in the list among other iMessage apps<\/a>. Unlike the old tool, the new one works in both landscape and portrait orientations and has more sketching options.<\/p>\n

You can use it to draw something with one finger using the usual Markup tools, namely Pen, Highlighter, Crayons, Paintbrush, and more. You can also add shapes, signature, text, sticker, and loupe effects to get extra creative. If you have used Markup tools<\/a> to annotate your photo, you’ll feel right at home.<\/p>\n

Note that as of writing, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are in the developer beta<\/a>, with a general release expected in the fall.<\/p>\n

Another thing you should know is that the new Drawing app isn’t available on macOS 27 Golden Gate, even though it’s perfectly possible to draw small things like signatures<\/a> and annotations in Preview<\/a> using the MacBook’s trackpad.<\/p>\n

Send drawings and handwritten messages from iPhone on iOS 27<\/h2>\n

1)<\/strong> Update your iPhone to iOS 27 or your iPad to iPadOS 27 (both are currently in beta).<\/p>\n

2)<\/strong> Open the Messages app<\/strong> and go inside an iMessage, RCS, or MMS (SMS) conversation.<\/p>\n

3)<\/strong> Tap the plus button<\/strong> and select Drawing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Tap <\/p>\n

4)<\/strong> Select one of the various tools at the bottom. Swipe left to see them all. Then, draw or handwrite with one finger on the canvas. Tap the plus button to add shapes, signature, etc.<\/p>\n

5)<\/strong> Finally, tap the checkmark icon<\/strong> followed by the send button.<\/p>\n

\"Drawing <\/p>\n

The recipient will receive your drawing as an image, which they can view on the conversation screen or save to their Photos app by touching & holding the image or using the share icon.<\/p>\n

New in iOS 27:<\/strong><\/p>\n