You can use an Apple Pencil with Google Docs on an iPad, but Docs isn’t a handwriting app: it doesn’t let you draw or ink directly on a page the way Notes or GoodNotes do. What the Pencil can do is tap, select and scroll, and on iPadOS you can often write text by hand with Scribble, which converts handwriting to typed text. This guide explains what works, how to set it up, and the best workarounds for adding handwritten notes and drawings to a Google Doc.
Quick Answer
Turn on Scribble in Settings > Apple Pencil, open your document in the Google Docs app, tap the pencil (edit) button, and write in the document; iPadOS converts your handwriting to text where Scribble is supported. For drawings, sketch in another app and insert the image into Docs.
What the Apple Pencil Can Do in Google Docs
| Task | Works? |
|---|---|
| Tap, select text, scroll, use menus | Yes |
| Handwriting to text with Scribble | Often, depending on app and iPadOS version |
| Draw or annotate directly on the page | No |
| Insert > Drawing | Not in the iPad app (web only on a computer) |
| Pressure-sensitive inking | No |
Set Up Scribble
- Pair your Apple Pencil with the iPad.
- Go to Settings > Apple Pencil and turn on Scribble.
- Open a document in the Google Docs app and tap the pencil (Edit) icon.
- Write with the Pencil where you want text. If Scribble works in your version, the handwriting converts to type.
Scribble gestures: scratch out to delete, circle to select, draw a vertical line to add or remove a space, and touch and hold to insert text.
If writing doesn’t convert, tap to place the cursor and use the keyboard’s dictation or Scribble toolbar, or type instead.
Add Handwritten Notes or Drawings
- Draw or write in an app that supports ink, such as Notes or Freeform.
- Export or share the drawing as an image (or take a screenshot and crop it).
- In Google Docs, tap + > Image > From photos and choose it.
On a computer, Docs has Insert > Drawing for simple shapes and diagrams, drawn with a mouse or trackpad.
Annotate a Google Doc With the Pencil
- Download the document as a PDF: in the Docs app, tap the three dots > Share & export > Save as or Send a copy > PDF.
- Open the PDF in Files, Books or a notes app, and mark it up with the Pencil.
- Share the annotated PDF or upload it to Drive.
This is the best way to handwrite feedback on a Google Doc from an iPad.
Use Comments Instead
For feedback that stays in the document, select text and tap Add comment, then use Scribble or dictation to fill it in. See how to add a comment in Google Docs.
For presentations, see drawing on Google Slides on iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Slides or Sheets support the Apple Pencil?
Like Docs, they support tapping and selecting. Slides on iPad doesn’t support freehand drawing either.
Can I use Google Docs in Safari with the Pencil?
Yes, but the app is usually smoother. Scribble may work in Safari text fields.
Summary
- Google Docs doesn’t support drawing with the Apple Pencil.
- Turn on Scribble to handwrite text where supported.
- Insert drawings as images from Notes or Freeform.
- Annotate a PDF copy for handwritten feedback.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.