Overview of Google Jamboard

Jamboard can be used to host live sessions, create and edit content, and control who can remotely access a "jam" (or whiteboard). The tablet app can be used to perform all of the editing tasks. The phone app and the web app have a subset of editing features. 
Note: Physical Jamboard kiosks have been discontinued by Google and can no longer be purchased. If you own a physical kiosk, you can continue to use it without issue.

Jamboard Tools

Tool How to use it Supported platform(s)

Draw

Draw

Choose a pen and color. Then use your finger or a stylus to draw. Learn more about drawing on a whiteboard. Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Erase

Erase

Choose the eraser to erase with your finger or a stylus.

Touch and hold the Erase tool to show the Clear Frame option. 

Note: The eraser only works with the drawings made using the pen. To delete an object, select it, then tap Moreand Delete.

Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Handwriting recognition

Handwriting recognition

Choose the Handwriting recognition tool and use your finger or the stylus to write text. The tool converts your handwriting into printed text. Learn more about using Handwriting recognition. Mobile (phone and tablet) app and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Shape recognition

Shape recognition

Choose the Shape recognition tool and use your finger or a stylus to draw a shape. The tool converts your drawing into a shape object. Learn more about adding shapes to a whiteboard.

Draw from one shape to another to add a line that connects the shapes.

Mobile (phone and tablet) app and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Autodraw

Autodraw

Choose the Autodraw tool to draw shapes and objects that can be recognized and transformed into actual images on the physical Jamboard. Learn more about adding drawings to a whiteboard. Physical Jamboard kiosk only.

Select

Select

Use the Select tool to grab objects and drawings made with the pen tools.

Choose the Select tool, then use your finger or the stylus to outline a drawing. You can then drag it to move it around the frame or pinch it to resize.

When using Select, you can also move objects around quickly by just tapping on them and dragging them. No drawing strokes will be generated when using the Select tool.

Web app and physical Jamboard kiosk only.

Laser pointer

Laser pointer

Choose the laser pointer and use your finger or stylus to temporarily highlight items on the board. 

Other users who are looking at the file from a phone or tablet can also see these areas highlighted. When content is being presented on video calls, users on the call can also see the highlights.

Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Add a Drive file

Add a Drive file

You can add a file to the Jamboard from Drive on the phone or tablet app. Learn more about adding Drive files to a whiteboard. Mobile (phone and tablet) app only.

Search web

Search web

Choose the Search web tool and enter text to search for information. Learn more about adding a screenshot of a webpage to a whiteboard. Physical Jamboard kiosk only.

Search images

Search images

Use the Search images tool to find copyright-free images online. Learn more about inserting images in a whiteboard. Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Insert sticker or stencil

Insert sticker or stencil

Choose the Insert sticker or stencil tool to add images from the gallery to your jam. Stickers you add to the frame exist as objects which you can resize and move around. Learn more about adding an image on a whiteboard. Physical Jamboard kiosk only.

Insert note

Insert note

Add a text note to your jam. Double-tap a note to edit the text or change the color. Learn more about adding notes to a whiteboard. Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

Take photo

Take photo

Choose the Take photo tool to add an image to your jam. Learn more about adding a photo to a whiteboard. Mobile (phone and tablet) app, web app, and physical Jamboard kiosk.

More information on these tools and additional tips can be found at Google's Jamboard Help Center.

For a walkthrough of common tasks, watch the recording of the U-M Intro to Jamboard IT4U webinar (23 minutes). Please note that a physical Jamboard kiosk is used during the demonstration, and kiosks are no longer available for purchase from Google.

Last Updated: 
Wednesday, October 12, 2022