How to Customize the Microsoft Whiteboard Window (Windows 11)

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This tutorial covers:

  1. How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Click
  2. How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click
  3. How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard
  4. How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Click
  5. How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Double Click
  6. How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click
  7. How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard
  8. How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Click
  9. How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Double Click
  10. How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click
  11. How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard
  12. How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Mouse
  13. How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click
  14. How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard
  15. How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Mouse
  16. How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click
  17. How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard
  18. How to Zoom In With Click
  19. How to Zoom In With Keyboard Shortcuts
  20. How to Zoom In With Menu
  21. How to Zoom In With "Fit to Screen"
  22. How to Center to Selection
  23. How to Zoom Out With Click
  24. How to Zoom Out With Keyboard Shortcuts
  25. How to Zoom Out With Menu
  26. How to Zoom Out With "Fit to Screen"
  27. How to Pan Across the Canvas With Mouse
  28. How to Pan Across the Canvas With Keyboard
  29. How to Change the Color of a Whiteboard
  30. How to Change the Background of a Whiteboard
  31. How to Enhance Inked Shapes 


Instead of scrolling down, take a look through these presentation slides:

Follow along with this video tutorial:




How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Click

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app and in the upper right click the "Minimize" or "-" button.

The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Minimize" button in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard window minimizes.

 

 

How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Hover the mouse over the Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar.

The image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background. The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen.

 

  • Step 2: Right click the small window that appears above the app icon.

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

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click "Minimize".
The top image displays a menu above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon with the cursor clicking the "Minimize" option in the menu. The bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard window closes.



How to Minimize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. On the keyboard press the Tab key.

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: Press the Alt key and then press the Enter key. 

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt" and "Enter" appear at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, press the down arrow key and on the "Minimize" option press the Enter key.
The top image displays a menu in the upper left of the Microsoft Whiteboard window, and a black rectangle surrounds the "Minimize" option in the menu. A graphic of the keyboard "Enter" key appears to the right of the menu, and the bottom image displays the empty Desktop as the Microsoft Whiteboard window minimizes.



How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Click

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. In the upper right click the "Maximize" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Maximize" button in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the maximized Whiteboard window that occupies the entire screen.



How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Double Click

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Double click the top of the window.
The top image displays the cursor double clicking the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the maximized Whiteboard window that occupies the entire screen.



How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. Hover the mouse over the Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar.

The image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background. The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen.

 

 

  • Step 2: Right click the small window that appears above the app icon.

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

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click the "Maximize" option.
In the top image, the cursor clicks the "Maximize" option in the menu that appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar. The bottom image displays the maximized Whiteboard window that occupies the entire screen.



How to Maximize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard app. On the keyboard press the Tab key.

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: Press the Alt key, then press the Enter key.

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt" and "Enter" appear at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, press the down arrow key and on the "Maximize" option press the Enter key.
The top image displays a black rectangle surrounding the "Maximize" option in the menu in the upper left of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. A graphic of the keyboard "Enter" key appears to the right of the menu, and the bottom image displays the maximized Whiteboard window that occupies the entire screen.



How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Click

  • Step 1: Maximize the Microsoft Whiteboard window. In the upper right click the "Maximize" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Maximize" button in the upper right of the maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the restored, smaller Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background.



How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Double Click

  • Step 1: First maximize the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Double click the top of the window.
The top image displays the cursor double clicking the top of the maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the restored, smaller Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background.



How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click

  • Step 1: Maximize the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Hover the mouse over the Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar.

The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The rest of the computer screen displays the maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

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

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

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click the "Restore" option.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Restore" option in the menu that appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar, which is at the bottom right of the screen. The bottom image displays the restored, smaller Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background.



How to Restore the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard

  • Step 1: First maximize the Microsoft Whiteboard window. On the keyboard press the Tab key.

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears in the upper left of the open and maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: Press the Alt key and then press the Enter key.

A graphic of the keyboard "Alt" and "Enter" keys appears in the upper left of the open and maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, press the Enter key on the "Restore" option.
The top image displays a black rectangle surrounding the "Restore" option in the menu in the upper left of the open and maximized Microsoft Whiteboard window, with a graphic of the keyboard "Enter" key to the right of the menu. The bottom image displays the smaller, restored Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background.



How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Mouse

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Hover the mouse over any edge or corner of the window, until the cursor becomes a double sided arrow.

A blue rectangle surrounds the double sided arrow cursor at the bottom left corner of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: Click, hold, and drag the mouse to resize the window. Release the mouse to stop resizing the window.
The top image displays the double sided arrow cursor at the bottom left corner of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window, with a blue arrow pointing towards the right. The bottom image displays the resized, smaller Whiteboard window.




How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Hover the mouse over the Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar.

The image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background. The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen.

 

 

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

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

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click "Size".

The cursor clicks the "Size" option in the menu that appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

  • Step 4: At the top of the Whiteboard window, click, hold, and drag the four arrows cursor to move the window. Release the mouse to stop resizing the window.

The top image displays the four arrows cursor at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window, and a blue arrow points upward. The bottom image displays the resized, larger Microsoft Whiteboard window.




How to Resize the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. On the keyboard press the Tab key.

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: Press the Alt key and then press the Enter key.

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt" and "Enter" appear at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, press the down arrow key and on the "Size" option press the Enter key.

A black rectangle surrounds the "Size" option in the menu in the upper left of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. A graphic of the keyboard "Enter" key appears to the right of the menu.

 

  • Step 4: At the top of the Whiteboard window, click, hold, and drag to resize the window. Release the mouse to stop resizing the window.
The top image displays the four arrows cursor at the top of the Microsoft Whiteboard window, and a blue arrow points upwards. The bottom image displays the resized, larger Whiteboard window.



How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Mouse

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Click, hold, and drag the top of the window in any direction to move the window. Release the mouse to stop moving the window.
The top image displays the cursor at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the Whiteboard window that was moved in a downward direction.



How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Hover and Right Click

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Hover the mouse over the Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar.

The image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window in the foreground and the Desktop in the background. The cursor hovers over the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon on the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen.

 

 

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

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

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click the "Move" option.

The cursor clicks the "Move" option in the menu that appears above the Microsoft Whiteboard app icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

 

  • Step 4: At the top of the Whiteboard window, click, hold, and drag the four arrows cursor to move the window. Release the mouse to stop moving the window.
The top image displays the four arrows cursor at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the Microsoft Whiteboard window that was moved upwards.



How to Move the Whiteboard Window With Keyboard

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. On the keyboard press the Tab key.

 A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: Press the Alt key and then press the Enter key.

 A graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt" and "Enter" appear at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, press the down arrow key and on the "Move" option press the Enter key. 

A black rectangle surrounds the "Move" option in the menu in the upper left of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window, and a graphic of the keyboard "Enter" key appears to the right of the menu.

 

  • Step 4: At the top of the Microsoft Whiteboard window, click, hold, and drag to move the window. Release the mouse to stop moving the window.
The top image displays the four arrows cursor at the top of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the Microsoft Whiteboard window that was moved upwards.



How to Zoom In With Click

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard template. In the lower right click the "Zoom in" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Zoom in" button at the bottom right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed in whiteboard template with "27%" appearing in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom In With Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Method 1: First open a whiteboard template, and on the keyboard press Alt + Plus, or the "Alt" and "+" keys.

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + +" in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed in whiteboard template with "27%" appearing in the center of the canvas.

 

  • Method 2: Open a whiteboard template and on the keyboard hold down Shift and press the up arrow key.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Shift" and the "up arrow" key in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed in whiteboard template with "26%" appearing in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom In With Menu

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard template. In the lower right side click the "Zoom level" button.

The cursor clicks the "Zoom level" button in the bottom right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a higher zoom percentage.
The top image displays a menu above the "Zoom level" button and the cursor clicks the "200%" option in the menu. The bottom image displays the zoomed in whiteboard template and "200%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom In With "Fit to Screen"

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard template, and resize the app window to a larger size.

The image displays the open and maximized Microsoft Whiteboard app window. The canvas displays a whiteboard template of many colorful sticky notes arranged in a square grid.

 

  • Step 2: In the lower right click the "Fit to Screen" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Fit to Screen" button in the lower right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed in whiteboard template as "17%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Center to Selection

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard template. Click to select any object, such as a sticky note.

The cursor clicks a sticky note object in the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: In the lower right click the "Center to selection" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Center to selection" button in the lower right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the canvas that zooms into the selected sticky note.



How to Zoom Out With Click

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard template. In the lower right click the "Zoom out" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Zoom out" button in the lower right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed out whiteboard template as "29%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom Out With Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Method 1: First open a whiteboard template and on the keyboard press Alt + Minus, or the "Alt" and "-" keys.

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + -" in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed out whiteboard template with "40%" appearing in the center of the canvas.

 

  • Method 2: Open a whiteboard template. On the keyboard hold Shift and press the down arrow key.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Shift + down arrow" in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed out whiteboard template as "40%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom Out With Menu

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard template. In the lower right click the "Zoom level" button.

The cursor clicks the "Zoom level" button in the lower right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click a lower zoom percentage.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "33%" option in the menu that appears above the "Zoom level" button. The bottom image displays the zoomed out whiteboard template as "27%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Zoom Out With "Fit to Screen"

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard template. Resize the window to a smaller size.

The image displays the open Microsoft Whiteboard window in the foreground with the Desktop in the background.

 

  • Step 2: In the lower right side click the "Fit to screen" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Fit to Screen" button in the lower right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the zoomed out whiteboard template as "13%" appears in the center of the canvas.



How to Pan Across the Canvas With Mouse

  • Step 1: First open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Click, hold, and drag the mouse in any direction to pan across the canvas. Release the mouse to stop panning across the canvas.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the canvas and a blue arrow points to the left. The bottom image displays the canvas where the view has panned to the right side.



How to Pan Across the Canvas With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Open the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Click inside the canvas, and on the keyboard press any of the arrow keys to pan across the canvas in that direction.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "down arrow" key in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the canvas where the view has panned downwards.



How to Change the Color of a Whiteboard

  • Step 1: First open a blank whiteboard. Go to the upper right and click the "Settings menu" or gear button.

The cursor clicks the "Settings menu" or gear button in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Format background".

A menu appears below the "Settings menu" button in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard window. The cursor clicks the "Format background" option in the menu.

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click to select a color.
A window appears on the right side of the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Under the "Color" section of the window, the cursor clicks the yellow color option and the whiteboard canvas becomes a yellow color.



How to Change the Background of a Whiteboard

  • Step 1: Open a blank whiteboard. Go to the upper right and click the "Settings menu" or gear button.

The cursor clicks the "Settings menu" or gear button in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Format background".

A menu appears below the "Settings menu" button in the upper right of the Microsoft Whiteboard window. The cursor clicks the "Format background" option in the menu.

 

 

  • Step 3: In the menu that opens, click to select a grid.
    A small window appears on the right side of the Microsoft Whiteboard window. Under the "Grid" section of the window, the cursor clicks the "square" option and the canvas displays a square grid pattern similar to graph paper.

     

 

 

How to Enhance Inked Shapes

  • Step 1: First open a blank whiteboard. Go to the upper right and click the "Settings menu" or gear button.

 The cursor clicks the "Settings menu" or gear button in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Enhance inked shapes" to toggle this option on.

The top image displays a menu below the "Settings menu" button in the upper right of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window, and the cursor clicks the "Enhance inked shapes" option in the menu. The bottom image displays the "Enhance inked shapes" option which is now turned on and the toggle switch to the right of the option is blue.

 

  • Step 3: Go down to the bottom toolbar and click the "Inking" button.

The cursor clicks the "Inking" button on the left of the toolbar at the bottom of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window.

 

  • Step 4: Draw any shape. The Microsoft Whiteboard app automatically converts the Ink object to a shape.

The top image displays an irregularly drawn triangle on the canvas. The bottom image displays that same triangle converted into a shape with straight, even lines on the canvas.

 

 

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