How to Open and Close the Microsoft Whiteboard App (Windows 11)

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This tutorial covers:

  1. What is the Microsoft Whiteboard App?
  2. How to Open Microsoft Whiteboard With Search
  3. How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar With Search
  4. How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar With Right Click
  5. How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar From Start
  6. How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to Start
  7. How to Open a Blank Whiteboard
  8. How to Open a Blank Whiteboard With Close
  9. How to Open a Blank Whiteboard by Default
  10. How to Open a Whiteboard Template With the "Templates" Window
  11. How to Open a Whiteboard Template With Preview
  12. How to Open a Whiteboard Template With Menu
  13. How to Open an Image
  14. How to Open a PDF
  15. How to Open the Timer
  16. How to Open the Ruler With Menu
  17. How to Open the Ruler With Keyboard Shortcut
  18. How to Open the Source Code
  19. How to Refresh a Whiteboard
  20. How to Open the "Find" Window
  21. How to Delete a Whiteboard
  22. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Click
  23. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Right Click
  24. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Hover
  25. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Hover and Right Click
  26. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Keyboard Shortcuts
  27. How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Keyboard and Mouse

 

Instead of scrolling down, click through this presentation tutorial:

See a demonstration in this tutorial video:


 

 

What is the Microsoft Whiteboard App?

As a cloud-based or online app, Microsoft Whiteboard enables multiple users to collaborate on digital whiteboards in real time. Microsoft Whiteboard is a creative brainstorming environment with sticky notes, pens, and shapes. Use Microsoft Whiteboard for team building meetings, organizing tasks, sharing opinions, and more.

 

 


How to Open Microsoft Whiteboard With Search

  • Step 1: Go down to the taskbar and click the Start (four blue squares) button. 

The computer screen displays the empty Desktop. The cursor clicks the Start (four blue squares) button on the left side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

  • Step 2: In the Start window that opens, click in the search bar at the top and type "whiteboard".
The cursor clicks in the search bar at the top of the open Start window.



  • Step 3: On the search results screen, click "Microsoft Whiteboard App" on the left or right side, or click "Open".
On the left side of the search results screen, a blue rectangle surrounds the "Microsoft Whiteboard App" button under the text of "Best Match". On the right side of the search results screen is a blue rectangle surrounding the "Microsoft Whiteboard App" button and below this button is another blue rectangle surrounding the "Open" button.




How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar With Search

  • Step 1: Go down to the taskbar and click the Start (four blue squares) button.

The computer screen displays the empty Desktop. The cursor clicks the Start (four blue squares) button on the left side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the Start window that opens, click in the search bar at the top and type "whiteboard".

 The cursor clicks in the search bar at the top of the open Start window.

 

 

  • Step 3: On the search results screen, click "Pin to taskbar".

On the middle right side of the search results screen, the cursor clicks the "Pin to taskbar" option.

 

  • Step 4: Go down to the taskbar and click the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon to open the app.
The cursor clicks the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the right side of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen.



How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar With Right Click

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Go down to the taskbar and right click the open Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.

The computer screen displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The cursor right clicks the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the right side of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Pin to taskbar".
A menu appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar. The cursor clicks the "Pin to taskbar" option in the menu.



How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to the Taskbar From Start

  • Step 1: Go down to the taskbar and click the Start (four blue squares) button.

The computer screen displays the empty Desktop. The cursor clicks the Start (four blue squares) button on the left side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the Start window that opens, right click the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon (if Microsoft Whiteboard is not already pinned to Start, see the following section).

The cursor right clicks the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the lower right side of the open Start window.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click "Pin to taskbar".

A menu appears below the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the Start window. The cursor clicks the "Pin to taskbar" option in the menu.

 

  • Step 4: Go down to the taskbar and right click the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.
The cursor right clicks the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the right side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.



  • Step 5: In the menu that opens, click "Microsoft Whiteboard" to open the app.
A menu appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar. The cursor clicks the "Microsoft Whiteboard" option in the menu.




How to Pin Microsoft Whiteboard to Start

  • Step 1: Go down to the taskbar and click the Start (four blue squares) button.

The computer screen displays the empty Desktop. The cursor clicks the Start (four blue squares) button on the left side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the Start window that opens, click in the search bar at the top and type "whiteboard".

 The cursor clicks in the search bar at the top of the open Start window.

 

 

  • Step 3: On the search results screen, click "Pin to Start".

The cursor clicks the "Pin to Start" option in the middle right side of the open Start window.

 

  • Step 4: Click the Start button twice, and in the Start window that opens, click the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon to open the app.

The cursor clicks the Start (four blue squares) button twice on the left side of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen. In the Start window that opens, the cursor clicks the pinned Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.




How to Open a Blank Whiteboard

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, click the "Start with blank canvas" button. 
The Microsoft Whiteboard app window is in the background, and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Start with blank canvas" button in the upper right of the "Templates" window.



How to Open a Blank Whiteboard With Close

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, click the "Close" or "X" button in the upper right corner.
The Microsoft Whiteboard app window is in the background and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "X" button in the upper right corner of the "Templates" window.



How to Open a Blank Whiteboard by Default

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, on the lower left side click the "Show for new whiteboards" option to turn this setting off. Either click anywhere outside the "Templates" window, or click the "Close" button to exit the "Templates" window.

The Microsoft Whiteboard app is in the background, and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Show for new whiteboards" option in the bottom left of the "Templates" window, and the cursor clicks the "X" button in the upper right corner of the "Templates" window.

 

  • Step 3: Click the "My whiteboards" or house button in the upper left of the window.

The cursor clicks the "My whiteboards" or house button in the upper left of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 4: Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button. Microsoft Whiteboard opens a new blank canvas.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.




How to Open a Whiteboard Template With the "Templates" Window

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, hover over any of the templates, and click the "Use this template button".

The Microsoft Whiteboard app window is in the background, and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Use this template" button at the bottom of one of the displayed templates.

 

  • Step 3: Click anywhere inside the canvas that opens, to insert that template into the canvas.
The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. A blue rectangle highlights the template cursor that clicks into the canvas and inserts the template.



How to Open a Whiteboard Template With Preview

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Click the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

In the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, the cursor clicks the "+ New Whiteboard" button.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, hover over any of the templates and click the "Preview" button.

The Microsoft Whiteboard app is in the background and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Preview" button in the middle of a displayed template.

 

  • Step 3: In the Preview window, click the "Use this template" button.

The Microsoft Whiteboard app window is in the background and the open "Preview" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Use this template" button in the bottom left corner of the "Preview" window.

 

  • Step 4: Click anywhere inside the canvas that opens, to insert that template into the canvas.

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. A blue rectangle highlights the template cursor that clicks into the canvas and inserts the template.




How to Open a Whiteboard Template With Menu

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. The cursor clicks the "Add template" button on the right side of the toolbar at the bottom of the window.

 

  • Step 2: In the "Templates" window that opens, hover over any of the templates and click the "Use this template" button. 

The Microsoft Whiteboard app window is in the background, and the open "Templates" window is in the foreground. The cursor clicks the "Use this template" button at the bottom of one of the displayed templates.

 

 

  • Step 3: Click anywhere inside the canvas that opens, to insert that template into the canvas.

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. A blue rectangle highlights the template cursor that clicks into the canvas and inserts the template.




How to Open an Image

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard. Go down to the bottom toolbar and click the "More options" or "..." button.

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. The cursor clicks the "More options" or "..." button on the right side of the toolbar at the bottom of the window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click the "Add image" button.

A menu appears above the "More options" button in the toolbar at the bottom of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The cursor clicks the "Add image" option in the menu.

 

  • Step 3" In the "Open" window that opens, click an image and click the "Open" button.
    The cursor clicks an image of the earth in the "Open" window. The cursor clicks the "Open" button at the bottom of the "Open" window.

     

 

How to Open a PDF

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard. Go down to the bottom toolbar and click the "More options" or "..." button.

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. The cursor clicks the "More options" or "..." button on the right side of the toolbar at the bottom of the window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click the "My device" button.

A menu appears above the "More options" button in the toolbar at the bottom of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The cursor clicks the "My device" option in the menu.

 

  • Step 3: In the "Select PDF file to insert" window, click a PDF file and click the "Open" button.

In the open "Select PDF file to insert" window, the cursor clicks a PDF file titled "seoproposal" and click the "Open" button at the bottom of the window.

 

  • Step 4: In the window that opens, click to select the specific pages of the PDF, and click the "Insert" button.

The Microsoft Whiteboard app is in the background and the open "seoproposal.pdf" window is in the foreground. Below the two selected PDF pages, the cursor clicks the "Insert 2 of 2 pages" button at the bottom of the window.

 

  • Microsoft Whiteboard displays the PDF on the canvas.
The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays the inserted PDF pages on the canvas.




How to Open the Timer

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a template on the canvas. The cursor clicks the "Timer" button in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window.

 

  • Step 2: In the Timer window that opens, either type a time or click the "Minus 1 min" or "-" button to subtract one minute, or click the "Add 1 min" or "+" button to add one minute.

The top image displays the Microsoft Whiteboard app window with the "Timer" window in the upper right corner, and a blue rectangle highlights the edited time of "1:00" in the "Timer" window. The bottom pair of images displays a close up of the "Timer" window where the cursor clicks the "Minus 1 min" or "-" button and the "Add 1 min" or "+" button.

 

  • Step 3: Click the following buttons to perform the corresponding function. After using the Timer, click the "Timer" button again to close the Timer. 

-Click the "Start timer" button to start the Timer. 

The cursor clicks the "Start timer" button in the lower right of the open "Timer" window.

 

-Click the "Stop timer" button to stop the Timer. 

The cursor clicks the "Stop timer" button in the lower left of the open "Timer" window.

 

-Click the "Pause timer" button to pause the Timer and the "Resume timer" button to resume the Timer. 

The left image displays the cursor clicking the "Pause timer" button on the lower right corner of the open "Timer" window. The right image displays the cursor clicking the "Resume timer" button on the lower right corner of the open "Timer" window.

 

-Click the "Add 1 min" or "+1 min" button to add more time.

The cursor clicks the "Add 1 min" or "+1 min" button in the bottom center of the open "Timer" window.



How to Open the Ruler With Menu

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard. Go down to the bottom toolbar and click the "Inking" button.

The open Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a blank canvas. The cursor clicks the "Inking" or pen button on the left side of the toolbar at the bottom of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click the "Ruler" button.

A second toolbar appears above the "Inking" button on the bottom toolbar of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The cursor clicks the "Ruler" button in the second toolbar.

 

  • Step 3: Click, hold, and drag the ruler to move the ruler. Release the mouse to stop moving the ruler. For touch screen devices, use two fingers to rotate the ruler. Click the "Ruler" button again to remove the ruler.
The top image displays the cursor clicking and dragging the ruler to the right in the Microsoft Whiteboard app canvas, with a blue arrow pointing to the right. The bottom image displays a hand pressing two fingers on the ruler to rotate it in the Microsoft Whiteboard app canvas.



How to Open the Ruler With Keyboard Shortcut

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard. On the keyboard press Alt + R to open or remove the ruler.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + R" at the top of the Microsoft Whiteboard app canvas. The bottom image displays a large, gray, and vertical ruler on top of the Microsoft Whiteboard app canvas.



How to Open the Source Code

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + U" appears in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window that displays a template on the canvas.

 

  • Microsoft Whiteboard opens a separate window that displays the source code for that whiteboard. This source code can be copied but not edited.
The Microsoft Whiteboard app is in the background, and a separate window opens up in the foreground. The separate window displays the HTML source code of the whiteboard template.



How to Refresh a Whiteboard

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + R" appears in the middle right side of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window, which displays a whiteboard template on the canvas.

 

  • Microsoft Whiteboard reloads the current whiteboard.
The Microsoft Whiteboard app window displays a loading screen as the whiteboard is refreshed.



How to Open the "Find" Window

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + F" appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window, which displays a template whiteboard on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the "Find" window that opens, type any text and press Enter to search for it. Click the "Previous result" or up arrow button to find the previous instance of that text. Click the "Next result" or down arrow button to find the next instance of that text. For keyboard shortcuts, press Shift + Ctrl +  G to find previous and Ctrl + G to find next.

The top image displays a blue circle highlighting the location of the "Find" window in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The bottom three images display the "Find" window with the text of "you" typed into the search bar, the cursor clicking the "Previous result" or up arrow button in the "Find" window, and the cursor clicking the "Next result" or down arrow button in the "Find" window.

 

 

  • Step 3: Click the "Show find options" or filter button, and click the "Match case" and "Match whole word" to toggle these options on or off. With "Match case" on, Microsoft Whiteboard finds text that exactly matches the upper and lowercase letters. With "Match whole word" on, Microsoft Whiteboard finds whole words that match regardless of upper or lowercase letters.

The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Show find options" or filter button in the "Find" window (which is in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window). The bottom pair of images displays a menu below the "Show find options" button; the left image displays the "Match case" and "Match whole word" options turned on, while the right image displays the "Match case" and "Match whole word" options turned off.

 

  • Step 4: Click the "Close" or "X" button to close the "Find" window. 

The cursor clicks the "Close" or "X" button in the far right side of the "Find" window, which is in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window.

 

 

  • On the keyboard press Esc to close the "Find" window.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard key "Esc" in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The bottom image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window without a "Find" window.



How to Delete a Whiteboard

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard. Go to the upper left of the window and click the "My whiteboards" or house button.

The cursor clicks the "My whiteboards" or house button in the upper left of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: Hover over a whiteboard and click the "More options" or "..." button.

The cursor clicks the "More options" or "..." button in the bottom right corner of a whiteboard preview in the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click "Delete" and in the window that opens click "Delete".
The top image displays a menu above the "More options" button, and the cursor clicks the "Delete" option in the menu. The bottom image displays a deletion confirmation window in the foreground and the cursor clicks the "Delete" button in the window.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Click

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Go to the upper right of the window and click the "Close" or "X" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Close" or "X" button in the upper right corner of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Right Click

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Go down to the taskbar and right click the open Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.

The computer screen displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The cursor right clicks the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the right side of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Close window".
The top image displays a menu above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar at the bottom right of the computer screen, and the cursor clicks the "Close window" option in the menu. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Hover

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Go down to the taskbar and hover the mouse over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.

The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the lower right of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen.

 

  • Step 2: A small window appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon. Click the "Close" or "X" button in the upper right of the small window.
The top image displays a small window above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the lower right of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and the cursor clicks the "X" button in the upper right of the small window. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Hover and Right Click 

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Go down to the taskbar and hover the mouse over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon.

The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the lower right of the taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: A small window appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon. Right click the small window.

A small window appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the lower right of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The cursor right clicks the small window.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click "Close".
In the top image, a menu appears where the small window was right clicked, and the cursor clicks the "Close" option in the menu. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Method 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app and on the keyboard press Alt + F4 (some computers accept this shortcut as Fn + Alt + F4).

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + F4" at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.

 

  • Method 2: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app and on the keyboard press Tab to enter keyboard focus. Now press Alt and then press Enter. In the menu that appears in the upper left corner, press the down arrow key until the cursor is on the "Close" option and press Enter.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Tab" and "Alt + Enter" at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The center image displays a menu in the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard app window, and the "Close" option in the menu is highlighted. A graphic of the keyboard key "Enter" appears to the right of the menu. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app closes.



How to Close Microsoft Whiteboard With Keyboard and Mouse

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app and on the keyboard hold down Tab and Alt.

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Tab + Alt" appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard app window.

 

  • Step 2: Release the Tab key and continue holding the Alt key. In the small window that opens, click the "Close" or "X" button in the upper right.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "X" button in the upper right of the small Microsoft Whiteboard app window that appears in the center of the computer screen. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard app window closes.




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