why are my drawing tools greyed out on Outlook 365

Question

why are my drawing tools greyed out on Outlook 365. I can't use the pen or markers to circle anything

Answer 1

Hello Jason Bohman, thanks for posting this in the community.

When the drawing tools in Outlook 365 are greyed out, it usually means the email is not set to HTML format or Outlook is not in a supported editing mode. The Draw tab only works when you are composing a new email in HTML, and it will not appear when you are reading a message or replying in plain text or rich text. Try creating a new email, open Format Text, change the format to HTML, and check if the tools become active. In Outlook for Windows, the Draw tab also appears only on devices that support touch or pen input, so it may stay disabled if you are using a mouse-only device.

Kind regards,

John Oli

Answer 2

In Outlook, the inking tools (pen, markers) are controlled by the Draw tab and the current editing mode. They are grayed out when Outlook is not in a mode that supports inking.

For Outlook on Windows desktop:

1. Make sure the cursor is in the body of the message in a new email (not in the To/Subject lines).
2. Insert a drawing surface if required: on the Draw tab, choose to insert a drawing canvas in the message body. Inking tools only work on that canvas.
3. Confirm that the Draw tab is enabled on the Ribbon. If it is missing or disabled, enable it via File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Draw (as described for other Office apps) and then return to your message.
4. Once the drawing canvas is active, select a pen on the Draw tab and the tools should become available.

If using Word-style editing inside Outlook (e.g., composing in Word editor), the same rules as Word apply: the Draw tab only works in supported views and when the insertion point is in an editable area.

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References:

• Draw and write with ink in Office