You want to use inking tools like a pen, highlighter, or eraser inside an email message, but you cannot find the Draw tab in the ribbon. Classic Outlook has a dedicated Draw tab with pens, a highlighter, and an eraser. The new Outlook for Windows moved these tools to a different location and removed some options. This article explains exactly where to find each inking feature in both versions and what has changed.
Key Takeaways: Inking Tools in New Outlook vs Classic Outlook
- Draw tab on the ribbon: Classic Outlook shows it by default; new Outlook hides it — use Insert > Draw instead.
- Highlighter tool: Classic Outlook has a dedicated highlighter pen; new Outlook offers only a standard pen with adjustable thickness.
- Ink to Shape and Ink to Math: Both are available only in classic Outlook; new Outlook does not support these features.
What the Draw Tab Does in Classic Outlook
Classic Outlook (the desktop version included with Microsoft 365 and Office 2019/2021) includes a full Draw tab on the ribbon when you open a new email message, a reply, or a forwarded message. The Draw tab gives you a set of digital inking tools: pens, a highlighter, an eraser, a lasso selector, a ruler, and the Ink to Shape and Ink to Math conversion tools. You can change the pen color, thickness, and transparency. These tools work on any touchscreen device, with a mouse, or with a stylus.
The Draw tab appears only inside the message composition window, not in the main Outlook window or in the reading pane. To see it, you must be actively composing an email. Classic Outlook also saves your last-used pen settings for the current session.
Where Inking Tools Are in New Outlook
The new Outlook for Windows (the modern, web-based version) does not have a Draw tab on the ribbon. Instead, the inking tools are located under the Insert tab. When you compose a new email, click the Insert tab on the ribbon, then click the Draw button in the Illustrations group. This opens a floating inking toolbar with a subset of the classic Draw tab tools.
The new Outlook inking toolbar includes a pen, an eraser, a lasso select tool, and a touch writing option. There is no separate highlighter tool, no ruler, no Ink to Shape, and no Ink to Math. The pen offers four preset thicknesses and a limited color palette. You cannot create custom pens or save presets.
How to Open the Draw Toolbar in New Outlook
- Start composing a new email
Click New Mail in the top-left corner of the new Outlook window. - Click the Insert tab
On the ribbon above the email body, click the Insert tab. It is between the Message tab and the Options tab. - Click the Draw button
In the Illustrations group on the Insert tab, click the Draw button. A floating toolbar appears above the email body. - Select a pen or eraser
Click the pen icon to choose a color and thickness. Click the eraser to remove ink strokes. Click the lasso to select and move ink.
Comparison of Inking Features: New Outlook vs Classic Outlook
The following table shows every inking feature and whether it exists in each version.
| Feature | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Draw tab on ribbon | Yes, by default | No, use Insert > Draw |
| Pen tool | Yes, with custom color and thickness | Yes, with 4 preset thicknesses and limited colors |
| Highlighter pen | Yes, separate tool | No |
| Eraser | Yes, stroke eraser and point eraser | Yes, stroke eraser only |
| Lasso select | Yes | Yes |
| Ruler | Yes, angle and position adjustable | No |
| Ink to Shape | Yes | No |
| Ink to Math | Yes | No |
| Touch writing mode | Yes, toggle on Draw tab | Yes, in floating toolbar |
| Custom pen presets | Yes, save up to 3 pens | No |
Common Issues and Limitations
I Cannot Find the Draw Tab in Classic Outlook
The Draw tab may be hidden if the ribbon is minimized or if you are not in a composition window. Click the email body to start composing, then right-click the ribbon and select Customize the Ribbon. In the right panel, check the box next to Draw and click OK. If Draw is not listed, your version of Outlook may not support it — check that you are using Outlook for Microsoft 365 or Outlook 2019 or later.
The Draw Button Is Grayed Out in New Outlook
The Draw button on the Insert tab becomes active only when you have clicked inside the email body. If the cursor is in the To, Cc, or Subject field, the button remains gray. Click anywhere in the message body area, then click Insert > Draw again.
My Handwriting Is Not Converting to Text in New Outlook
New Outlook does not include Ink to Text or Ink to Shape conversion. These features are exclusive to classic Outlook. In new Outlook, your ink strokes remain as drawings. To insert typed text, use the keyboard. To convert handwriting in classic Outlook, select the ink strokes and click Ink to Text on the Draw tab.
Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: Which Inking Experience Is Better
The following table compares the overall inking experience in both versions.
| Criteria | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Number of tools | 10+ tools and options | 4 tools |
| Customization | Full color and thickness control | Preset options only |
| Conversion features | Ink to Text, Ink to Shape, Ink to Math | None |
| Learning curve | Requires finding the Draw tab | Toolbar appears after Insert > Draw |
| Touch and stylus support | Full support | Full support |
Classic Outlook offers a significantly richer inking experience with conversion tools and full customization. New Outlook provides basic drawing capabilities for quick annotations but lacks advanced features. If you rely on Ink to Shape or Ink to Math, you must use classic Outlook. If you only need occasional hand-drawn lines, new Outlook works fine.
You can now locate the Draw tab in classic Outlook or the Insert > Draw toolbar in new Outlook. Try using the pen tool in your next email to add a quick diagram or annotation. If you need the highlighter or conversion tools, switch to classic Outlook by going to the new Outlook title bar and toggling the Try the new Outlook switch off.