New ways to annotate Google Docs

What’s changing

We’re excited to announce a new feature, markups in Google Docs, which gives you more flexibility when providing feedback in a document. The new markups experience lets you add handwritten annotations to documents with a stylus or your finger when using an Android device.

Markups can be useful in numerous scenarios, such as:

• Colleagues giving each other handwritten feedback on diagrams, charts, reports or proposals.
• Educators giving students feedback on their essays, reports, short stories and more.
• A homeowner providing ideas or updates on construction plans from their contractor.

In order to add annotations, you must use an Android device. From there, you can:

• Enter the markups mode and annotate using pen or highlighter tools
• Hide/show markups
• Erase markups
• Insert suggested markups

On iOS devices, you can:

• View a document with markups
• Erase markups
• Hide/show markups

On desktop, you can: 

• View a document with markups
• Erase markups
• Hide/show markups

Getting started

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
• End users: To turn on markups, open a document > select the markups tool from the contextual toolbar > draw with your finger or stylus. 

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 27, 2024
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 11, 2024

Availability

• Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts

Source: Gimasys