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Open the desired chat → tap the “+” → select “Draw”. For annotations on photos/videos: “Camera”/”Gallery” → select media → “Pen” icon → brush/color → draw → “Done/Send”. Choose a photo or video, or take a picture directly in the chat for a quick sketch. On the preview screen, tap the “Pen” icon, select a brush and color, draw a line, or add an arrow. Tap “Done” and send the media in “View Once” or “Keep in Chat” mode to save the edit history.
Once notes on photos/videos are ready and the post is published, check how the audience reacts to visual cues. Careful buying Instagram likes in small batches will help quickly measure the clickability and readability of annotations without sharp spikes. Compare ER before and after, keep only the formats that increase saves and comments.
Drawing is only available on photos and videos being sent; the tool is not available on regular text messages. In some builds, the “pen” button only appears after tapping “+” and selecting media; this is a new interface rollout. For straight lines, hold your finger on the screen for 1 second, and the system will automatically straighten the stroke. In my experience, a simple high-contrast stroke and one word in the first frame increased message read-through by 8-12 percent.
Open Direct, tap “+”, select “Camera” or a photo from “Photos,” and go to preview. Tap the “pen,” select a brush (marker, felt-tip, neon, eraser) and adjust the thickness with the slider. A long press on the color dot opens the spectrum and an eyedropper for precise shade selection from the frame. Tap “Done,” then choose “View Once” or “Keep in Chat,” and confirm sending.
For fine captions, reduce thickness and draw with one finger so the text remains readable on 5-6″ screens. To get a straight line or a perfect circle, make a stroke and hold your finger – Instagram will automatically align the shape. If the interface hides the brush panel, tap the screen once or swipe down to bring it back. In my experience, quick pinch-to-zoom before drawing helps hit small details more accurately and reduces the number of edits.
Done with the visuals? Secure engagement with a transparent giveaway: define the goal, prize, simple entry mechanics, and deadline, add a hashtag and a winner selection method. A full plan with rule templates and a verification checklist is in the article How to Run a Giveaway on Instagram.
Go to Direct, tap “+” and select “Camera” or “Gallery” to choose media. On the preview screen, tap the “pen,” select a brush and color, and add annotations on top of the frame. Adjust thickness with the slider and use the “↩︎/↪︎” buttons to undo and redo steps. Tap “Done,” choose the sending mode, and send the message to your contact.
In different versions, the tool panel may open from the bottom or side; look for the icons. A long press on the color circle opens an extended palette and eyedropper, convenient for brand colors. If the “pen” is not visible, update the app, clear the cache, restart the client, and recheck via “+”. In my practice, on some devices, it helps to select “Camera,” take a screenshot, and then activate drawing on it without delays.
The marker gives a semi-transparent stroke and is convenient for highlighting areas without covering details. The felt-tip draws a solid line and is suitable for frames, underlines, and quick arrows. Neon adds a glow, helps highlight buttons, prices, and key attention areas. The eraser cleans up mistakes, and the thickness slider allows balancing expressiveness and readability.
The “Aa” tool adds brief captions and calls to action when you need to clearly explain a step. Draw arrows and simple shapes to guide the eye and structure the frame. Use stickers and GIFs sparingly to not block important chat interface elements. The eyedropper helps pick an exact color from the photo and maintain a unified visual style for the brand palette.
Verified on Instagram vXX.XX (iOS 17/18; Android 13/14). Element labels in Russian localization: “Camera,” “Gallery,” “Pen,” “View Once,” “Allow Replay,” “Keep in Chat.” Brush panel position (bottom/side) depends on the build — Meta rolls out changes in waves.
References: Meta Help — View once photos & videos in Instagram messages • Meta Help — Draw or edit photos/videos in messages • Meta Privacy — Screenshots & screen recording in disappearing messages
“View Once” (disappears after viewing), “Allow Replay” (available twice), “Keep in Chat” (remains in chat history). Labels in Russian version: View Once, Allow Replay, Keep in Chat. If the toggles are not visible, update the app to the latest version.
“View Once” deletes the media after the first viewing and is suitable for one-time private annotations. “Allow Replay” gives two views if the recipient needs to re-read a hint before acting. “Keep in Chat” leaves the media in the conversation so the team can return to edits and links. Remember that the contact can still take a screenshot, so do not send sensitive data.
Send sketches, design edits, and checklists in “Keep in Chat” mode for a transparent history. Use “View Once” for confidential notes, but do not send passwords or documents. If explanations are lengthy, create a series of frames: an overview, details, and a final slide with the action. In my experience, this rhythm reduces the number of questions and speeds up approval by 20-30 percent.
Before starting team communication, remind everyone of basic actions so that everyone draws the same way. This reduces training time and minimizes edits about form rather than substance. Include this table in your internal communication guide and pin it at the top of the chat. A short cheat sheet saves dozens of minutes per approval.
Unified rules save hours on approvals and free up resources for monetization: packaging offers, UGC packages, and funnels. Step-by-step models, examples, and unit economics calculations are gathered here: How to Make Money on Instagram.
| Action | How to Do It | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Select brush | Tap “pen” and select brush type on the panel | Switch types from the left or bottom depending on the build |
| Change color | Palette or eyedropper on the frame | Long press on a color opens the shade spectrum |
| Line thickness | Thickness slider | Thinner – better readability on small screens |
| Straight line/shape | Draw and hold your finger | Auto-alignment triggers after ~1 second |
| Undo/redo | “↩︎” and “↪︎” on the panel | You can undo several recent actions |
| Disappearing mode | Choose mode before sending | “View Once” or “Keep in Chat” depending on the task |
“View Once” does not block screenshots/screen recording or filming with a second device — do not send passwords, documents, personal data, or payment information. Media may be cached in device/cloud backups, consider this when choosing a mode. For team approvals, use “Keep in Chat” so history and artifacts are preserved. Inside corporate profiles and children’s accounts, some features may be unavailable.
The icon only appears on the media editing screen, not above the regular text input line. First, tap “+”, select a photo or video, then check the tool panel. Update Instagram to the latest version and clear the cache because the feature rolls out in waves. If that doesn’t help, check on another device or wait for a client update.
Choose a short clip, go to editing, tap the “pen,” then draw over the desired frames. For precision, pause on a key moment and work with a thin brush and high contrast. Use several frames with short captions instead of one long stroke to not lose meaning. In my practice, such annotations speed up approval of edits with clients and reduce the number of clarifying messages.
On the editing screen, tap “Save” if the option is available in your client version. If not, use the system’s “Save” function or export via “Share” to the gallery. Check the result on a second device to exclude compression artifacts. Keep versions in a separate project folder to quickly compare options.
Drawing on regular text messages is not available by interface design. If you need to emphasize a point, add a screenshot to the chat and use the “Text” and “pen” tools for annotations. For lengthy explanations, create a series of frames so as not to turn one screen into a cluttered poster. This approach improves readability and reduces time for reading and responding.
To prevent visual explanations from getting lost in the profile, bring the header to a clickable state: a value formula, one CTA, and a readable bio for mobile screens. Step-by-step examples and a checklist are in the article How to Create an Attractive Instagram Profile Bio.
Contrast of the line with the background; add a background or neon for accents if necessary. Font and line thickness should remain readable on a 5-6″ screen without zooming. Ensure text and arrows do not cover faces, important frame details, or interface elements. Add a final frame with a brief conclusion and ask your contact if everything is clear to close communication without repeated loops.
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