Skyinanacortes

Q: How do I use the drawing function in notes?

Apple has great claims about an ability to make drawings in the Notes App.  It is alleged that there is a drawing icon on the bottom right of the screen.  My ipad with IOS 9.1 has no such icon.  What is the trick?

iPad, iOS 9.1

Posted on Oct 23, 2015 1:34 PM

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Q: How do I use the drawing function in notes?

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  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Oct 23, 2015 2:45 PM in response to Skyinanacortes
    Level 8 (39,746 points)
    Oct 23, 2015 2:45 PM in response to Skyinanacortes

    Do you see a circled "+" in the lower right?  Click it if you see it to reveal the drawing icon.

     

    Have you chosen to upgrade your Notes from iOS 8?  You cannot see the new features until you upgrade.

     

    http://help.apple.com/ipad/9/#/iPad99e3f0bb

  • by MichelPM,Solvedanswer

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 23, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Skyinanacortes
    Level 6 (13,769 points)
    iPad
    Oct 23, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Skyinanacortes

    I believe if you have an older iPad model (iPad Air 1 or earlier and 1st generation iPad Mini, those iPad models WILL NOT get the drawing functionality.

    My iPad 3 has the new Notes app and NO drawing capability.

    Older iPad users lose, again...

    Why Apple couldn't implement the drawing functionality in the updated Notes app is beyond me.

    I have third party note apps that you can draw in. What couldn't Apple do to give this drawing functionality across the board for all iDevice users that can still support iOS 9?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Oct 23, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Skyinanacortes
    Level 8 (39,746 points)
    Oct 23, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Skyinanacortes

    From this article:

    Upgrade your notes with iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

     

     

    • The new sketching feature in Notes is only available on iPhone 5 and later, iPad (4th generation), all iPad Air models, iPad mini 2 and later, and iPod touch (6th generation).
  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 23, 2015 4:29 PM in response to sberman
    Level 6 (13,769 points)
    iPad
    Oct 23, 2015 4:29 PM in response to sberman

    I was close enough.

    Again, I have third party notes apps that include drawing capabilities.

    Why did Apple have to limit the drawing functionality of their new Notes app to certain models when third party developers can include fundamental drawing tools functionality across all iDevices and, usually, with a minimum iOS version?

    What did Apple do differently to not be able include this simple functionality, in the Notes app, across ALL iOS 9 supported devices?

    This is a puzzlement for me when third party developers can do something Apple, apparently, can't?

  • by hpwong,

    hpwong hpwong Nov 7, 2015 7:42 AM in response to Skyinanacortes
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 7:42 AM in response to Skyinanacortes

    I have both iPhone 6 Plus & iPad Air 2.

    Using iOS 9.1

    I don't have the drawing function either.

    ANyone with similar experience & found a solution ?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Nov 7, 2015 1:41 PM in response to hpwong
    Level 8 (39,746 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 1:41 PM in response to hpwong

    hpwong wrote:

     

    ANyone with similar experience & found a solution ?

    Of course.

     

    You have to upgrade your Notes as described in the article I attached above.

  • by corn620,

    corn620 corn620 Apr 2, 2016 5:56 PM in response to Skyinanacortes
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 2, 2016 5:56 PM in response to Skyinanacortes

    That is not correct.   I have an iPad Pro with 9.2 OS and have not found such an icon on my "Notes" as well.