Use a stylus with your Chromebook

If your touchscreen Chromebook works with a stylus, you can use the stylus to take notes and screenshots, draw, or act as a laser pointer or magnifying glass.

If your Chromebook comes with a built-in stylus, click the button on the side of the Chromebook. The stylus will pop out.

Note: You can’t use Bluetooth styluses with Chromebooks. Sometimes, capacitive styluses don’t work well.

Take notes

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus .
2. Tap Create note .
3. In the window that appears, use your stylus to take notes.

To change which app you use to take notes:

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus Settings .
2. In the "Note-taking app" drop-down, choose an app.

Tips: 

• Learn how to download other note-taking apps that work with your stylus.
• Learn to take notes with the Cursive app and your stylus.

Draw or sketch

1. From the corner of your screen, click the Launcher .
2. Open Canvas .
3. Use the app to draw with your stylus.

Learn how to download other drawing apps that work with your stylus.

Take a screenshot

Take a partial screenshot

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus .
2. Using your stylus, tap Capture region.
3. Using your stylus, touch and hold somewhere on the screen, then drag.
4. Release to finish the screenshot.

Take a full-page screenshot

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus .
2. Tap Capture screen.

Use the stylus as a laser pointer or magnifying glass

If you’re showing off your artwork or giving a presentation, you can use your stylus as a laser pointer. To see something up close, you can use your stylus to make part of your screen bigger.

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus .
2. Tap Laser pointer mode or Magnifying glass mode.
3. Touch the stylus to the screen and move it around.
4. Optional: To turn off, tap Laser pointer  or Magnifying glass .

Change settings & download apps

1. On your desktop, tap Stylus .
2. Tap Settings .
3. Change how and when the stylus options pop up:
   • To show or hide the stylus icon, turn Show stylus tools in the shelf on or off.
   • To see the stylus tools when you take your stylus out of your Chromebook, turn on Open stylus tools when the stylus is removed.

Optional: To find & download more apps that work with your stylus, click Find more stylus apps.

Tip: Some Chromebooks are also compatible with Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) styluses. Find out if your device is compatible.