How to Download the Whiteboard App for Microsoft Teams

In most cases you do not need to download anything to use Whiteboard in Microsoft Teams. Whiteboard is built into Teams meetings, chats and channels and opens inside the Teams client. Microsoft also offers a separate Whiteboard app for some platforms if you want to open your boards outside Teams. This guide covers both options and how to confirm that each one works.

Before you start

• Account: Use the same Microsoft account you use for Teams. Features and sign-in options can differ between work or school accounts and personal Microsoft accounts.
• Organization settings: In a company or school, an administrator can turn Whiteboard on or off and can restrict which apps users may install. If Whiteboard is missing, it may be disabled for your account.
• Service, not local software: Whiteboard is a cloud service. Boards are saved to storage linked to your account rather than as files inside the app, so plan on having an internet connection. Do not assume offline editing works without checking your version.
• Privacy: Who can view or edit a board depends on how it is shared and on your organization's policies. Confirm these settings before you add sensitive information.
• Source: Install the standalone app only from your platform's official app store. Avoid third-party sites that advertise a free Whiteboard download.

Step-by-step instructions

Use Whiteboard in a Teams meeting (no download)

• 1. Join the meeting in the Teams desktop app or in Teams on the web.
• 2. Select Share in the meeting controls.
• 3. Choose Microsoft Whiteboard from the share options.
• 4. Wait for the board to load. Other participants can see it, and they may be able to draw on it depending on the meeting settings.

Button names and layout differ between the classic and new Teams clients and between desktop and web. If the Share panel looks different, look for a Whiteboard entry among the sharing options rather than a specific menu position.

Add Whiteboard to a chat or channel

• 1. Open the chat or channel where you want a board.
• 2. Select the option to add a tab, usually shown as a plus sign next to the existing tabs.
• 3. Search for Whiteboard and select it.
• 4. Create a new board or choose an existing one, then save the tab.
• 5. If Whiteboard is not offered as a tab, open Apps in Teams and search for Whiteboard to see whether it is available to your account.

Install the standalone Microsoft Whiteboard app

• 1. Open the official app store for your device: Microsoft Store on Windows, or the App Store or Google Play on mobile devices.
• 2. Search for Microsoft Whiteboard.
• 3. Check that the publisher is Microsoft before installing.
• 4. Install and open the app.
• 5. Sign in with the same account you use in Teams.

If your operating system has no Whiteboard app in its store, use Whiteboard through Teams or open it in a web browser after signing in to your Microsoft 365 account. Installing the standalone app is reversible: you can remove it with your system's normal uninstall method. Because boards are stored with your account rather than inside the app, uninstalling should not remove them. Before deleting a Whiteboard tab from a shared channel, check what happens to the board so you do not remove content other people rely on.

Check the output

• Saving: Open a test board, add a pen stroke or a sticky note, close it, and reopen it to confirm the change was saved.
• Sync between apps: In the standalone app, signed in with the same account, check that boards you created in Teams appear in your board list.
• Meeting sharing: Ask another participant to confirm that they can see the board and, if intended, edit it.
• Export: If you need a copy outside Whiteboard, use the export option in the app's menu and confirm that the exported image opens and that small text and handwriting are readable. Large or dense boards may be harder to read once exported, so zoom in on the important areas before relying on the file.

Common problems and next steps

Whiteboard is missing from the Share options in a meeting. Update Teams, or try Teams on the web to rule out a client problem. If it is still missing, Whiteboard may be disabled by your administrator, or it may be restricted for guests and external participants.

You can see the board but cannot edit it. Editing can be limited by the meeting organizer's settings or by your organization's policies for external and anonymous attendees. Ask the organizer to check participant permissions.

You cannot find or install the app in the store. Devices managed by an organization may block store installs, and availability can vary by region and platform. Use Whiteboard inside Teams or in a browser, or ask your IT team to provide the app.

Your Teams boards do not appear in the standalone app. This usually means you are signed in with a different account. Sign out and sign in again with the account you use in Teams.

You want to share a physical whiteboard instead. Some Teams versions and meeting room devices offer an option to share content from a camera pointed at a physical board. Availability depends on your client and device. If you use it, allow camera permission for Teams, check that the correct camera is selected, and keep the whole board in frame. Even lighting without glare and a higher camera resolution make handwriting easier to read.

If Whiteboard is still unavailable, contact your Teams administrator and include the account you use, the Teams client (new or classic desktop, web or mobile) and where Whiteboard is missing. These details help them check whether a policy or license setting is the cause.