How to Edit Objects in Microsoft Whiteboard (Windows 11)

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This tutorial covers:

  1. How to Switch to Select Mode With Click
  2. How to Switch to Select Mode With Keyboard Shortcut
  3. How to Select an Object With Click
  4. How to Select an Object With Keyboard
  5. How to Select Multiple Objects With the Shift Key
  6. How to Select Multiple Objects With Lasso and Click
  7. How to Select Multiple Objects With Lasso and Keyboard
  8. How to Select All Objects With Keyboard Shortcut
  9. How to Add an Object to a Multi Selection With Click
  10. How to Add an Object to a Multi Selection With Keyboard
  11. How to Deselect an Object With Click
  12. How to Deselect an Object With Keyboard
  13. How to Remove an Object From a Multi Selection With Click
  14. How to Remove an Object From a Multi Selection With Keyboard
  15. How to Resize an Object With Mouse
  16. How to Resize an Object With Keyboard
  17. How to Decrease the Size of an Inserted Shape
  18. How to Insert an Unproportional Shape
  19. How to Resize an Object Proportionally 
  20. How to Rotate an Object With Mouse
  21. How to Rotate an Object With Keyboard
  22. How to Bring an Object Forward With Click
  23. How to Bring an Object Forward With Keyboard Shortcut
  24. How to Send an Object Backward With Click
  25. How to Send an Object Backward With Keyboard Shortcut
  26. How to Edit the Alt Text of an Object
  27. How to Delete an Object With Click
  28. How to Delete an Object With Keyboard
  29. How to Delete All Objects With Right Click
  30. How to Delete All Objects With Keyboard Shortcut
  31. How to Copy an Object With Click
  32. How to Copy an Object With Keyboard Shortcut
  33. How to Copy an Object With Menu
  34. How to Paste an Object With Right Click
  35. How to Paste an Object With Keyboard Shortcut 
  36. How to Move an Object With Mouse
  37. How to Move an Object With Keyboard
  38. How to Edit the Text of an Object With Click
  39. How to Edit the Text of an Object With Double Click
  40. How to Edit the Text of an Object With Keyboard
  41. How to Change Text Color
  42. How to Change Text Format
  43. How to Lock an Object
  44. How to Unlock an Object With Click
  45. How to Unlock an Object With Right Click
  46. How to Unlock an Object With Keyboard
  47. How to Change the Color of a Shape Object
  48. How to Change the Border Color of a Shape Object
  49. How to Change the Color of a Sticky Note Object  

In a hurry? Click through this tutorial presentation:

Follow along with this video tutorial:


 

 

How to Switch to Select Mode With Click

  • Step 1: First open a whiteboard and click the "Select" or arrow button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Select" button at the bottom of the open Microsoft Whiteboard window. The bottom image displays the cursor as a hand icon while in Select mode.



How to Switch to Select Mode With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Open a whiteboard and on the keyboard press Alt + S.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + S" on the canvas. The bottom image displays the cursor as a hand icon while in Select mode.



How to Select an Object With Click

  • Step 1: First switch to Select mode, and click an object on the canvas.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the triangle shape object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the selected triangle shape object surrounded by a grey square outline.



How to Select an Object With Keyboard

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears in the upper right of the canvas. The keyboard focus is on the blue triangle shape on the leftmost side of the canvas.
 

 

  • Step 2: Continue pressing the Tab key until the keyboard focus is on the desired object. Press either the Enter or Spacebar key to select the object.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Enter" or "Spacebar" at the top of the canvas, and the keyboard focus is on the orange sticky note to the right of the blue triangle. The bottom image displays the selected orange sticky note surrounded by a grey square outline.



How to Select Multiple Objects With the Shift Key

  • Step 1: First switch to Select mode. Hold the Shift key, then click and drag with the mouse until the blue selection field covers the objects.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Shift" key as the cursor clicks and drags towards the left of the canvas, and a blue selection field covers the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object. The bottom image displays the multi selection where the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.



How to Select Multiple Objects With Lasso and Click

The cursor clicks the "Inking" button at the bottom of the canvas. The canvas displays a blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction and text object.

 

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

The cursor clicks the "Lasso select" button in the menu above the Inking menu at the bottom of the canvas. The canvas displays a blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object.

 

  • Step 3: Click and drag with the mouse in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, until the blue selection field covers the objects.
The top image displays the Lasso cursor clicking and dragging in a clockwise direction so that the blue selection field covers the four objects on the canvas. The bottom image displays the multi selection where the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction and text object are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.



How to Select Multiple Objects With Lasso and Keyboard

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + Q" at the top of the canvas. The bottom image displays the selected "Lasso" option at the bottom of the screen as the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction and text box objects appear in the center of the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: Click and drag the mouse in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, until the blue selection field covers the objects.
The top image displays the Lasso cursor clicking and dragging in a counterclockwise direction as the blue selection field covers the four objects on the canvas. The bottom image displays the multi selection where the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction and text object are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.



How to Select Multiple Objects With Keyboard Shortcut

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + A" in the lower left of the canvas. The bottom image displays the multi selection where all the text boxes and sticky notes of the whiteboard template are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.



How to Add an Object to a Multi Selection With Click

  • Step 1: First select multiple objects. Hold the Ctrl key and click an object. Microsoft Whiteboard adds the clicked object to the multi selection.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Ctrl" key as the cursor clicks the text object that is not currently part of the multi selection. The bottom image displays the multi selection where the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction and text object are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.



How to Add an Object to a Multi Selection With Keyboard

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears at the top of the canvas. The keyboard focus selects the text object that is not part of the multi selection that includes the blue triangle, orange sticky note, and green check mark reaction.


 

  • Step 2: Continue pressing Tab until the keyboard focus is on the desired object. Hold Ctrl, then press either the Enter or Spacebar key to add that object to the multi selection.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Enter" or "Spacebar" keys at the top of the canvas. The bottom image displays the multi selection where the blue triangle, orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object are surrounded by a grey rectangle outline.




How to Deselect an Object With Click

The top image displays the cursor clicking outside the selected blue triangle shape object. The bottom image displays the unselected blue triangle shape object.



How to Deselect an Object With Keyboard

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Esc" key at the bottom right of the canvas, and the orange sticky note object is selected. The bottom image displays the unselected orange sticky note object.



How to Remove an Object From a Multi Selection With Click

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Ctrl" key as the cursor click the green check mark reaction that is part of the multi selection with the blue triangle, orange sticky note, and text object. The bottom image displays the multi selection of the blue triangle, orange sticky note, and text object, but the green check mark reaction is unselected and not part of the multi selection.



How to Remove an Object From a Multi Selection With Keyboard

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears in the upper left of the canvas. The keyboard focus is on the blue triangle that is part of a multi selection with an orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object.

 

  • Step 2: Continue pressing Tab until the keyboard focus is on the desired object. Hold Ctrl, and press either Enter or Spacebar to remove the object from the multi selection.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + Enter or Spacebar" below the multi selection. The bottom image displays the unselected blue triangle object that is not part of the multi selection of the orange sticky note, green check mark reaction, and text object.



How to Resize an Object With Mouse

  • Step 1: First select an object. Hover the mouse over one corner, or sizing handle, of the object until the cursor becomes a double sided arrow.

The cursor hovers over the upper right corner of the selected green check mark reaction. A blue circle surrounds the cursor which becomes a double sided arrow.

 

  • Step 2: Click and drag outward to increase the size of the object, or click and drag inward to decrease the size of the object.
The top image displays the cursor dragging outward as the selected green check mark reaction becomes bigger. The bottom image displays the cursor dragging inward as the green check mark reaction becomes smaller.




How to Resize an Object With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Select an object. On the keyboard hold Shift and press the up arrow key to increase the size of the object. Hold Shift and press the down arrow key to decrease the size of the object.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Shift + up arrow" as the blue triangle shape becomes larger. The bottom image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Shift + down arrow" as the selected blue triangle shape becomes smaller.



How to Decrease the Size of an Inserted Shape

The cursor clicks the "Add shape or line" button in the lower right of the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a shape.

The cursor clicks the "Oval" shape in the menu above the "Add shape or line" button at the bottom of the canvas.

 

  • Step 3: Hold Shift, then click and drag the mouse to insert a shape that is smaller than the default size.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Shift" key as the cursor clicks and drags the canvas. The bottom image displays a small oval inserted onto the canvas.



How to Insert an Unproportional Shape

The cursor clicks the "Add shape or line" button in the lower right of the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a shape.

The cursor clicks the "Add tube" button in the menu that appears above the "Add shape or line" button at the bottom of the canvas.

 

  • Step 3: Hold Ctrl, then click and drag to resize the shape while inserting it.
A graphic of the keyboard "Ctrl " key appears in the upper right of the canvas. The cursor clicks and drags to insert a blue tube shape whose width is longer than its height.



How to Resize a Shape Proportionally

  • Step 1: First insert a shape. Hover the mouse over one corner, or sizing handle, of the shape until the cursor becomes a double sided arrow.

The cursor hovers over the lower right corner of the blue tube shape. A blue circle surrounds the cursor which becomes a double sided arrow.

 

  • Step 2: Hold Shift, then click and drag to resize the shape proportionally.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Shift" key as the cursor drags diagonally downward to the right. The bottom image displays the resized, large blue tube shape with even proportions on the canvas.



How to Rotate an Object With Mouse

  • Step 1: Select an object. Hover the mouse over one corner, or sizing handle, of the shape until the cursor becomes a circular arrow. Click and drag to rotate the object.
The top image displays the double sided arrow cursor hovering over the upper right corner of the blue arrow shape on the canvas. The bottom image displays the cursor clicking and dragging to rotate the arrow shape in a clockwise direction.



How to Rotate an Object With Keyboard Shortcut

  • Step 1: First select an object. On the keyboard press Alt + left arrow key to rotate the object counterclockwise. Press Alt + right arrow key to rotate the object clockwise.
The left image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + left arrow" as the blue arrow shape rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The right image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Alt + right arrow" as the blue arrow shape rotates in a clockwise direction.



How to Bring an Object Forward With Click

  • Step 1: Select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "More" or "..." button.

The cursor clicks the "More" button in the menu above the selected blue tube shape that is behind the red sticky note.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Bring to Front".
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Bring to Front" option in the menu above the selected blue tube shape behind the red sticky note. The bottom image displays the red sticky note behind the blue tube shape that is now in the front.



How to Bring an Object Forward With Keyboard Shortcut

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + Shift + ]" to the left of the blue tube shape that is behind the red sticky note. The bottom image displays the red sticky note behind the blue tube shape which is now in the front.



How to Send an Object Backward With Click

  • Step 1: Select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "More" or "..." button.

The cursor clicks the "More" button in the menu above the selected blue tube shape that is in front of the red sticky note on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Send to Back".
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Send to Back" option in the menu above the selected blue tube shape that is in front of the red sticky note. The bottom image displays the blue tube shape behind the red sticky note.



How to Send an Object Backward With Keyboard Shortcut

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + Shift + [" to the left of the selected blue tube shape that is in front of the red sticky note. The bottom image displays the blue tube shape behind the red sticky note.



How to Edit the Alt Text of an Object

  • Step 1: Select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "Edit Alt text" button.

The cursor clicks the "Edit Alt text" button in the menu above the selected orange note grid object.

 

  • Step 2: In the window that opens, type any text and click the "Save" button.
The cursor clicks the "Save" button at the bottom of the "Alt text" window below a text box. The text box contains the text of "This is an orange note grid without text".



How to Delete an Object With Click

  • Step 1: First select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "Delete" or trash can button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Delete" button in the menu above the selected blue pentagon shape. The bottom image displays the empty canvas as the blue shape object is deleted.



How to Delete an Object With Keyboard

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Delete" key below the selected text object. The bottom image displays the empty canvas as the text object is deleted.



How to Delete All Objects With Right Click

  • Step 1: In a whiteboard with multiple objects, right click anywhere on the canvas.

The cursor right clicks the lower left of the canvas, which displays a whiteboard template with many sticky notes and text boxes.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Clear canvas".

The cursor clicks the "Clear canvas" option in the menu that appears where the canvas was right clicked.

 

  • Step 3: In the window that opens, click "Confirm".
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Confirm" button in the "Clear this canvas?" window. The bottom image displays the empty canvas as all the objects are deleted.



How to Delete All Objects With Keyboard Shortcut

  • Step 1: On the keyboard press Ctrl + A to select all objects, then press the Delete key.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Delete" key in the lower right side of the canvas, which displays all the sticky notes and text boxes of a whiteboard template in a multi selection. The bottom image displays the empty canvas as the whiteboard template objects are deleted.



How to Copy an Object With Click

  • Step 1: First select an object. In the menu that opens, click the "Copy" or double squares button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the blue triangle shape object to select it. The bottom image displays the cursor clicking the "Copy" button in the menu above the selected blue triangle shape.



How to Copy an Object With Keyboard Shortcut

A graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + C" appears below the selected orange sticky note in the center of the canvas.



How to Copy an Object With Menu

  • Step 1: First select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "More" or "..." button.

The cursor clicks the "More" button in the menu above the selected green check mark reaction on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Duplicate".
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Duplicate" option in the menu above the selected green check mark reaction on the canvas. The bottom image displays two green check mark reactions on the canvas.



How to Paste an Object With Right Click

The cursor right clicks the lower right of the canvas, which displays a blue triangle, an orange sticky note, a green check mark reaction, and a text object.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Paste".
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Paste" option in the menu where the canvas was right clicked. The bottom image displays two copies of the text object on the canvas.



How to Paste an Object With Keyboard Shortcut

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard keys "Ctrl + V" at the top of the canvas. The bottom image displays two copies of the blue triangle shape object.



How to Move an Object With Mouse

  • Step 1: Select an object. Click, hold, and drag the mouse in any direction to move the object.
The top image displays the cursor clicking and dragging the selected blue triangle shape object toward the upper right of the canvas. The bottom image displays the blue triangle shape that moved toward the center of the canvas.



How to Move an Object With Keyboard

The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "right arrow" key below the selected orange sticky note on the canvas. The bottom image displays the orange sticky note moved to the right side of the canvas.



How to Edit the Text of an Object With Click

  • Step 1: Select an object, and in the menu that opens click the "Edit text" or pencil button. Type any text.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Edit text" button in the menu above the selected blue triangle shape object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the blue triangle shape with the text of "This shape has been edited".



How to Edit the Text of an Object With Double Click

  • Step 1: First double click an object, then type any text.
The top image displays the cursor double clicking the orange sticky note on the canvas. The bottom image displays the orange sticky note with the text of "This note has been edited".



How to Edit the Text of an Object With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Select an object and press either Enter or Spacebar twice. Type any text.
The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Enter" or "Spacebar" keys above the selected orange sticky note on the canvas. The bottom image displays the orange sticky note with the text of "This note has been edited".



How to Change Text Color

  • Step 1: First select a text object, and in the menu that opens, click the "Text color picker" button.

The cursor clicks the "Text color picker" button in the menu above the selected text object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a color.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Dark red" color option in the menu above the selected text object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the text object with dark red text.



How to Change Text Format

The cursor clicks the "Format text" button in the menu that appears above the text object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click the "Bold" button for bold text, the "Italic" button for italic text, and the "Underline" button for underlined text.
The image displays the cursor clicking the "Bold" button with bold font below it, the cursor clicking the "Italic" button with Italic font below it, and the cursor clicking the "Underline" button with underlined font below it.



How to Lock an Object

  • Step 1: First select an object and in the menu that opens, click the "More" or "..." button.

The cursor clicks the "More" option in the menu above the selected orange sticky note object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Lock". The locked object cannot be selected, resized, moved, or deleted.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Lock" option in the menu above the selected orange sticky note object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the locked orange sticky note object on the canvas.



How to Unlock an Object With Click

The cursor right clicks the locked orange sticky note object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click the "Unlock" button.
The top image displays the cursor clicking the "Unlock" button in the menu above the locked orange sticky note object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the unlocked and selected orange sticky note object on the canvas.



How to Unlock an Object With Right Click

  • Step 1: First right click a locked object or anywhere in the canvas. 

The cursor right clicks the locked orange sticky note object on the canvas.

 

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click "Unlock all".
    The cursor clicks the "Unlock all" option in the menu that appears where the locked orange sticky note object was right clicked.

 

 

 How to Unlock an Object With Keyboard

  • Step 1: Press the Tab key until the keyboard focus is on the locked object. 

A graphic of the keyboard "Tab" key appears in the upper left of the canvas, and the keyboard focus is on the blue triangle shape object.

 

  • Step 2: Press the Enter or Spacebar key, and in the menu that opens, click the "Unlock" button.
    The top image displays a graphic of the keyboard "Enter" or "Spacebar" keys above the locked blue triangle object, and the cursor clicks the "Unlock" button in the menu that appears above the locked object. The bottom image displays the unlocked and selected blue triangle shape object on the canvas.

 

 

 How to Change the Color of a Shape Object

The cursor clicks the "Shape color picker" button in the menu above the selected blue triangle shape object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a color.
The top image displays the cursor clicking a purple color in the menu above the selected blue triangle shape on the canvas. The bottom image displays a purple triangle shape object on the canvas.



How to Change the Border Color of a Shape Object

The cursor clicks the "Shape border color picker" button in the menu above the selected purple triangle shape object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens click to select a color.
The top image displays the cursor clicking a green border color in the menu above the selected purple triangle shape object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the purple triangle shape object with a green border on the canvas.



How to Change the Color of a Sticky Note Object

The cursor clicks the "Background color picker" button in the menu above the selected orange sticky note object on the canvas.

 

  • Step 2: In the menu that opens, click to select a color.
The top image displays the cursor clicking a grey color in the menu above the selected orange sticky note object on the canvas. The bottom image displays the grey sticky note object on the canvas.



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