Annotate Keynote presentations live on Mac with a graphic pen tablet

Title: How to draw with a graphic pen tablet during a Keynote presentation on Mac?


Hi everyone,


I recently switched from Windows to macOS and use my Mac for teaching physics. On Windows, I used Microsoft PowerPoint to present slides while writing out equations in real time using a graphic pen tablet.


I am trying to replicate this workflow in Apple Keynote on my MacBook. However, I noticed that Keynote does not seem to have a live pen/annotation tool while in presentation mode.


My questions for the community:

1. Is there a built-in way to annotate or write on slides live in Keynote using a USB pen tablet?

2. If Keynote doesn't support live drawing during a presentation, what apps or workarounds do other teachers recommend for lecturing with a stylus on Mac Because all the note taking apps are not working seamlessly and There is no pressure sensitivity in those apps. My pen tablet actually supports 16K pressure levels.


Mac Specs: MacBook Neo (macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 )

Device: External Graphic Pen Tablet


Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted on Aug 31, 2026 2:55 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 1, 2026 12:02 PM

Despite not liking Richard.Taylor's response, he's correct.


Keynote on Mac does not have any live drawing tool option, although Keynote on iOS does... and there's a hybrid option that might come close enough...


Using the Keynote Remote feature, you can use an iOS device (iPad or iPhone) to control the presentation playback, including using a stylus or finger to annotate live slides - in this way the iPhone/iPad almost replaces the tablet, with the advantage that you can directly see what you're annotating. Plus you're not tethered to the Mac, so you can walk around with the phone/iPad in hand and keep presenting, if that's your thing, which is something you can't easily do with a USB tablet.


If using an iPad or iPhone is not an option for you, then neither is Keynote (at least not in its current form, until and unless Apple add live annotation in the Mac version). That points you back to PowerPoint. The Mac version of PowerPoint, like its Windows counterpart, does support live annotation, although I don't know how well it responds to a pressure-sensitive tablet/stylus.


There are some third-party options that might work - they're generally application agnostic and work by creating an overlay on the screen which you draw into. I've never used them in a presentation, though, to know how well they work. Check the App Store for ScreenBrush or DeskScribble (and others).

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 1, 2026 12:02 PM in response to Sumit_Yadav_Snbplc

Despite not liking Richard.Taylor's response, he's correct.


Keynote on Mac does not have any live drawing tool option, although Keynote on iOS does... and there's a hybrid option that might come close enough...


Using the Keynote Remote feature, you can use an iOS device (iPad or iPhone) to control the presentation playback, including using a stylus or finger to annotate live slides - in this way the iPhone/iPad almost replaces the tablet, with the advantage that you can directly see what you're annotating. Plus you're not tethered to the Mac, so you can walk around with the phone/iPad in hand and keep presenting, if that's your thing, which is something you can't easily do with a USB tablet.


If using an iPad or iPhone is not an option for you, then neither is Keynote (at least not in its current form, until and unless Apple add live annotation in the Mac version). That points you back to PowerPoint. The Mac version of PowerPoint, like its Windows counterpart, does support live annotation, although I don't know how well it responds to a pressure-sensitive tablet/stylus.


There are some third-party options that might work - they're generally application agnostic and work by creating an overlay on the screen which you draw into. I've never used them in a presentation, though, to know how well they work. Check the App Store for ScreenBrush or DeskScribble (and others).

Aug 31, 2026 7:20 AM in response to Sumit_Yadav_Snbplc

This doesn't answer your Mac question, but I can tell you that in physics presentations I use my iPad and an Apple Pen (knockoff😏) I use it wired by HDMI, because that's more dependable in strange places, but with a very long cable I can walk around and underline, write equations, and sketch.


Of course there are rumors and hints of a touchscreen Mac coming, and that could change what's possible. It's also possible that the next OS or two will be more compatible with pens. No one here knows if or when that might happen, if ever. And I don't know if I want one. Just thinking…

Sep 1, 2026 6:45 AM in response to Sumit_Yadav_Snbplc

Sumit_Yadav_Snbplc wrote: Currently, I don't have Apple iPad and Corresponding Apple Pencil. So Please suggest a genuine Method to record the Lectures and Run My online course Smoothly.
Please reply ASAP. It's a request from our side to you.

I think that I gave you my version of your number 2:

2. If Keynote doesn't support live drawing during a presentation, what apps or workarounds do other teachers recommend for lecturing with a stylus…

I responded exactly as you had asked. It would have saved me some time if you had said up front that you didn't really want that.


Annotate Keynote presentations live on Mac with a graphic pen tablet

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.