Guide
Draw on Keynote and PowerPoint slides from your iPhone or iPad
Keynote and PowerPoint each have a slideshow pen. PadCanvas gives you one that works the same in both, from the iPhone or iPad in your hand, with spotlight and zoom as well.
Quick answer
Start your Keynote or PowerPoint slideshow on the Mac, choose that display in PadCanvas, and draw on your iPhone or iPad. The ink, arrows, text and spotlight appear over the slide. PadCanvas changes slides for Google Slides in Chrome only, so change Keynote and PowerPoint slides with the keyboard, a clicker or Apple’s Keynote Remote. Turn on fading ink so marks clear themselves before the next slide.
Set it up before you present
- Open your deck and start the slideshow on the display your audience sees.
- In PadCanvas on the Mac, choose that display. If you use presenter view, pick the screen showing the slides, not your notes.
- Connect your iPhone or iPad (Connect → Scan QR code, or a USB cable for the steadiest link) and click Allow on the Mac.
- Draw a test line, then tap Clear.
What to use on a slide
- Pen and arrows to circle a number or point at a chart.
- Spotlight to dim everything except the line you’re talking about.
- Text for a quick label.
- Zoom to enlarge a detail. It uses Live view, so you can see what you’re zooming into.
- Fading ink (in Settings) so marks clear themselves after a few seconds.
Changing slides
PadCanvas draws on top of the slideshow, so the slides stay under Keynote’s or PowerPoint’s control. Change them with the keyboard or trackpad, a presentation clicker, or Apple’s Keynote Remote on an iPhone for Keynote. Drawings stay on screen until you clear them or they fade, so clear before you move on, or turn on fading ink.
Presenting in Google Slides instead? PadCanvas can change those slides from your device: see the Google Slides guide.
PadCanvas or the app’s own pen?
| Option | Where you draw | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Keynote Remote (Keynote for iPhone and iPad) | On an iPhone or iPad, and it changes slides too | Keynote only |
| PowerPoint’s slideshow pen | On the Mac, with the trackpad or mouse | PowerPoint only |
| PadCanvas | On an iPhone, iPad or a browser, with spotlight, zoom and text | Any app on the Mac, including both |
Presenting on a video call
Share your entire display in Zoom, Google Meet or Teams, not just the Keynote or PowerPoint window, so your audience sees the drawing layer too. More in the video calls guide and PadCanvas for presenters.
Questions
Can I draw on PowerPoint slides from my iPhone?
Yes. Start the slideshow on your Mac, connect your iPhone to PadCanvas, and draw. The marks appear over the slide for everyone watching.
Does PadCanvas change Keynote or PowerPoint slides?
No. PadCanvas changes Google Slides in Chrome. For Keynote and PowerPoint, use the keyboard, a clicker or Keynote Remote; your drawings stay on screen until you clear them.
Does it work with presenter view?
Yes. In PadCanvas, choose the display that shows the slides, so you draw where your audience is looking.
Will my drawing show up when I share my screen?
Yes, if you share the whole display. Sharing only the Keynote or PowerPoint window can leave the drawing out.
Try it on your own screen
Seven days free, then £4.99 a year. PadCanvas for iPhone and iPad is included (UK App Store).
Requires an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) with macOS 14 or later, and an iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 16 or later. Apple Pencil works on compatible iPads.