Go from free-form ink to Office shapes, text, or a mathematical expression in a couple of strokes.

You can also scribble the title of a slide with your pen. When you do this, PowerPoint automatically offers to convert the ink to standard text.

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This is a subscriber-only feature These features are available to Microsoft 365 Subscribers on Windows and iOS.

This is a subscriber-only feature The Ink to Math feature is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers on Windows right now.

To convert ink you've drawn elsewhere on your slide

  1. Draw or write in digital ink.

  2. Select your ink by tapping on it, or using the Lasso selection tool.

  3. On the Draw tab, choose Ink to Text, Ink to Shape, or Ink to Math.

    The Ink conversion buttons on the Draw tab

    Or just click the Convert Your Ink button.  Click the action button to convert the ink on the spot.

  4. If the result isn't what you hoped for, select the More Suggestions button The More Suggestions button to the right of your converted shape to see other options.

Requirements for the Ink Conversion options

To use these conversion features, you must turn on Office "connected experiences":

Open any Microsoft 365 desktop application on Windows, go to File > Account, and under Account Privacy, select Manage Settings. This opens the account Privacy Settings dialog box where you can select your privacy options.

The Account panel showing the Account Privacy, Manage Settings button

For Ink-to-Text conversions, right-to-left languages are not currently supported. 

See Languages supported for ink-to-text conversion for a complete list of supported languages.

Task, checklist, planning symbol

This is a subscriber-only, Microsoft 365 feature.

Write a title with your penApplies to:

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365  Current Channel: Version 1806 or later  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview): Version 1808 or later  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: Version 1808 or laterFind your Office version

Convert ink to text or shapes in the body of a slideApplies to:

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365  Current Channel: Version 1804  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview): Version 1808 or later  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: Version 1808 or laterFind your Office version

PowerPoint for iOS Version 2.19  

Convert ink to math in the body of a slideApplies to:

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365  Monthly Channel: Version 1901 or later  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview): Version 2008 or later  Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: Version 2008 or laterFind your Office version

Operating system:

Windows 10, version 1511  Find your Windows version

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