How to Annotate and Mark Up a Screenshot on Your Phone

After taking a screenshot, you can draw on it, add text, highlight areas, and crop it before sharing — a useful skill for asking for tech help or sharing information.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Annotate a screenshot on iPhone
2.Add text labels to a screenshot on iPhone
3.Annotate a screenshot on Android (Google Pixel or Samsung)
4.Crop and share the annotated screenshot

Annotate a screenshot on iPhone

~38s

After taking a screenshot (press the side button + volume up simultaneously), a small thumbnail preview appears in the bottom left corner. Tap it immediately before it disappears (or open it from Photos later). The Markup editor opens. At the bottom: a pen for drawing, a highlighter, a pencil, an eraser, and a lasso for selecting. Tap the pen tool and draw directly on the screenshot. Tap the + button for additional tools: text, a signature, magnifier circle, or shapes (arrows, circles, rectangles).

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: The arrow shape tool is one of the most useful — draw an arrow pointing to what you want to highlight. Tap the shapes icon → arrow icon → drag to place and resize.

Add text labels to a screenshot on iPhone

~24s

In the Markup editor: tap the + button at the bottom right → tap "Text." A text box appears on the screenshot. Double-tap it to edit and type your label (for example, "Error is here" or "Tap this button"). Drag the text box to position it. Change font size and color by tapping the A icon at the bottom left. Tap "Done" when finished, then share from the Photos app.

Annotate a screenshot on Android (Google Pixel or Samsung)

~38s

On most Android phones, after taking a screenshot, a toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen for a few seconds. Tap the pen/edit icon to open the annotation editor. Draw, add text, or use shape tools. On Samsung Galaxy phones: after a screenshot, tap the pen icon in the screenshot toolbar → Samsung's screenshot editor opens with drawing tools, text, and a crop tool. On Google Pixel: tap the screenshot thumbnail → tap the pencil icon to open the Markup tool.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If the screenshot toolbar disappears before you tap the edit icon, find the screenshot in your Gallery or Photos app → tap "Edit" → look for a Markup or Annotate option.

Crop and share the annotated screenshot

~27s

After marking up your screenshot, use the crop tool to trim any unnecessary parts (especially if the screenshot shows personal information you don't want to share). On iPhone: the crop tool is available in the Markup editor bottom bar. On Android: crop tools are typically available in the same editing interface. After cropping, tap Done or Save. Share directly from the markup editor or from your photo library — tap the share icon and choose Messages, email, or any other app.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Annotate and Mark Up a Screenshot on Your Phone

Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

Taking a screenshot is only the first step. What makes screenshots truly useful is the ability to annotate them — circle what you want someone to look at, add a text label, draw an arrow pointing at something, or crop out personal information before sharing.

Both iPhone and Android have built-in annotation tools that open immediately after taking a screenshot. Once you learn these, you can take a screenshot of a confusing error message, circle the problem area, and send it to family or tech support in seconds.

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