Transform your blank canvas into a flow chart, collaborative brainstorming session, or mind map using the Whiteboard item menu.

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Whiteboards availability and limits vary by plan and user role. Learn more

Add and customize items

To add an item to your Whiteboard:

1. From the main menu at the bottom of the Whiteboard, click an item to select it.
   • The item's style menu opens. From the item's menu, you can select options like size, color, or line weight. You can also do this later using the item's floating toolbar.
2. To add the item to the canvas, click on the canvas.
   • Some items are added differently. There's more detail below.

The main menu and the items' floating toolbar will get your Whiteboard started. This article also covers the other menus and tools you'll use to build and perfect your Whiteboard. 

To customize the item, you must use the Select item tool.

To use the Select item tool:

• At the bottom of the Whiteboard on the left of the item menu, click the Select item tool. Or press the keyboard shortcut V.
• Click the item to open its floating style menu.

These are the items you can add to your Whiteboard:

Task

Add tasks and Docs to your Whiteboard and edit them without leaving the canvas.

Tasks have the same functionality as other Whiteboard items, you can duplicate, connect, and draw on them!

Keyboard shortcut: Shift + T

Add a task or Doc: Click the Tasks or Docs tab to search for a task or Doc by name, ID, or URL, or browse recently viewed tasks. Click the name of the task or Doc to add it to the Whiteboard.

Resize a task or Doc: To resize a task or Doc, drag its border. 

Edit a task: You can edit task details like title or assignee by clicking that part of the task.

Edit a Doc: The Doc is fully editable.

Open the task's Space, Folder, or List: In the breadcrumb in the upper-left corner, click the name of the Space, Folder, or List.

Open the Doc's Space, Folder, or List: In the upper-left corner, click the first breadcrumb. If the breadcrumb is All Docs, Docs Hub will open. 

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Task:

Draw

Freehand draw and highlight in multiple line widths and colors. Quickly erase single or multiple items.  Use a laser to point out details while collaborating or presenting.

Keyboard shortcut: D

Draw has these options: 

• Line width: Click the Draw tool to select a line width.
• Color: Select a line color.
• Line style: Select one of these line styles:
  • Drawn: Hand-drawn line.
  • Dashed: Dashed line.
  • Dotted: Dotted line.
  • Solid: Solid line.

Highlighter has these options:

• Line width: Click the Draw tool to select a line width.
• Color: Select a line color.

To use draw or highlighter: Click anywhere on the canvas and drag. 

To use the eraser: Select the eraser and click on a line. Or click and drag to erase anything the cursor touches.

To use the laser: Select the laser and a color. Click and drag.

Shapes

Select from a variety of shapes and colors. Quickly create flow charts by duplicating and connecting shapes.

Keyboard shortcut: R

There are four fill styles. When you select a color, you'll see the last fill style chosen. You can change this in the floating toolbar.

Add a shape: Click anywhere on the canvas.

To duplicate and connect: 

1. Click the shape.
2. A bounding box displays.
3. Hover over a blue dot outside the shape.
4. The dot becomes a plus icon.
   

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Shapes:

Arrow

Use arrows to connect any items and represent relationships. Add arrows in various sizes and colors, with or without text.

Keyboard shortcut: A

Add an arrow: Click anywhere on the canvas and drag.

Add straight, editable line segments:

1. Press L and drag the cursor.
2. Click the line.
3. Small circles display on the line.
   • Drag from a circle on either end to lengthen or move the start or end point.
   • Drag from the middle circle to create an angle.

To move the arrow ends, lengthen, or create a curve:

1. Click the arrow.
2. Small circles display on the arrow.
   • Drag from a circle on either end to lengthen or move the start or end point.
   • Drag from the middle circle to create a curve.
     

To add text: Double-click the arrow and start typing. 

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Arrow:

Sticky Note

Add sticky notes in a range of colors.

Keyboard shortcut: N

To add a sticky note: Click anywhere on the canvas.

To duplicate and connect: 

1. Click the note.
2. A bounding box displays.
3. Hover over a blue dot outside the bounding box.
4. The dot becomes a plus icon.
5. Click the plus icon.

To add text: When you first add a Sticky Note, a cursor displays, and you can just start typing. 

To add text to an existing Sticky Note, double-click the Note to display the cursor. 

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Sticky Note:

Text

Add a text box to create editable blocks of text for descriptions, notes, or labels. Or paste text onto your Whiteboard to automatically add a text box!

Keyboard shortcut: T

To add text: Click anywhere on the canvas. Start typing.

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Text:

Frame

Frame is a blank canvas where you can sketch out ideas. Quickly communicate your ideas as you collaborate with your team!

Keyboard shortcut: F

To add a frame: Click anywhere on the canvas. 

To use Frame: From the main menu, select any of the following tools and drag them into or out of the frame:

• Draw
• Shapes
• Arrow
• Sticky Note
• Text

Resize: To resize a frame, drag its border. 

Delete: Deleting a frame deletes the elements inside of it.

To delete the frame and keep the elements:

1. Select the frame.
2. Press Cmd + Shift + F.

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Frame:

Image

Upload a JPG, PNG, or SVG image file. You can use a drawing tool to annotate the image. 

Keyboard shortcut: U

To add an image: Select a file from your device. Or drag and drop a file onto the Whiteboard.

This table shows the floating toolbar options for Image:

Templates

Create or apply an existing Whiteboard template. 

AI images

Ask ClickUp AI to create images of anything! 

To add an image: Type a specific description of the image you want AI to create. 

This table shows the floating toolbar options for AI images:

Undo

Undo the last action.

Keyboard shortcut: Cmd + Z

Redo

Redo the last undone action.

Keyboard shortcut: Cmd + Shift + Z

Move an item

To move a Whiteboard item:

• At the bottom of the Whiteboard on the left of the main menu, click the Select item tool. Or press the keyboard shortcut V.
• Move the item to drag it.
• You can also use any Arrow key to move an item. 

Resize, reshape, and rotate an item

To resize, reshape, and rotate a Whiteboard item:

1. Click the item to see the bounding box.
   • To resize or reshape an item: On any side of the bounding box, click and drag.
   • To rotate an item: On any corner of the bounding box, hover and move until a curved arrow displays, then click and drag side-to-side.
     

Connect items with an arrow

Connect arrows to shapes to create dynamic connections. 

To connect shapes with an arrow:

1. At the bottom of the Whiteboard from the main menu, click the Arrow icon.
2. Place your cursor on top of the shape.
3. Start dragging the arrow toward the shape you're connecting to.
4. When a dotted grey line displays at the arrow's endpoint, release it. The arrow automatically snaps to the shape's border with the end pointing to the center of the shape.
   • To point to a different area of the shape: Slowly drag the end point towards the area of the connecting shape where you want it to connect.
     
   • To touch the endpoint to the interior of a shape: Drag the end point while holding Cmd and release to connect. 
     
   • To remove the connection: Drag the arrow to an empty part of the canvas. 

Move the canvas

To move the canvas:

• At the bottom of the Whiteboard, on the left of the item menu, click the Hand tool. Or press the keyboard shortcut H.
• Drag the canvas.
• Or, hold the Space bar and any Arrow. 

Zoom

The Zoom menu in the lower-left corner of the canvas has the following features:

• Minimap: Click the double-arrow icon to see every item on the canvas. The Minimap is great for navigating large or complex Whiteboards. 

•  
  • Jump to another location: On the Minimap, double-click the area.
  • Adjust the visible canvas area: Click and hold the Minimap. Drag around the Minimap while watching the canvas until you see the area you want to view.
• Zoom out: Click the minus icon to zoom out.
• Percentage: The percent that you're zoomed to.
• Zoom in: Click the plus icon to zoom in. 

Create a task

You can create a task from a Shape, Sticky Note, or Text box!

To create a task:

1. Type some text in the item. Or select an item with text.
2. Click the item to display the floating toolbar.
3. In the upper-right corner of the floating toolbar, select Task.
4. From the Convert to task modal, select a List.
   • You can click the note icon to set Custom Fields.
   • If a Custom Field is required, a red badge displays on the note icon. 
     
5. Click Convert to task. 

Collaborate

The following collaboration menu is in the upper-right corner of all Whiteboards: 

Click the ellipsis ... to edit the following settings:

Right-click item menu

Tools vary by item. Not all tools are available for all items.

Right-click an item to use the following tools:

You can also click the ellipsis ... in the upper-right corner of the item's floating toolbar.