How to Use Apple Freeform App on iPhone? A tutorial for using Freeform, Apple’s collaborative whiteboard, on your iPhone running iOS 16.2. Apple debuted the Freeform app earlier this year at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), alongside iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. However, the app was missing from the first versions of these programmes.
However, the Freeform app is now accessible with iOS 16.2 (or iPadOS 16.2). All you need to know about using this app on your iPhone is right here.
What is Freeform?
If you didn’t get the memo, here’s a quick rundown of the app. Freeform is essentially an Apple ecosystem collaborative whiteboard. It’s a versatile canvas where you can discuss ideas, create mood boards, and collaborate on designs in real-time.
On a single board, you can collaborate with up to 100 individuals. While working on a Freeform board, you can also connect with collaborators over iMessage or FaceTime. Of course, you may use it as a whiteboard without cooperation as well.
You may add photographs, movies, PDFs, papers, web links, stickies, and other media to make it an ideal digital whiteboard. There is also a range of colours, brush styles, shapes, and other options. You can also scan papers directly from the app and put them on the board, annotating them as you go.
When working with others, you can easily see where they are on the board and what they’re doing by using individual cursors. Users can access the software via their iPhones, iPads, or Macs.
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How to Use Apple Freeform App on iPhone?
Step-by-Step Guide to Use Apple Freeform App on iPhone. Now that you have a general idea, let’s get started.
- As previously stated, Freeform is only available on iOS 16.2 or later. If you haven’t already done so, go to Settings > General > Software Update to update your iOS. The Freeform app will appear on your home screen as soon as you install iOS 16.2. To open it, tap it.
- When you initially open it, an onboarding message will show. To continue, use the ‘Continue’ button.
- An empty board will be displayed. All of the sketching and creation tools are at the bottom of the screen, while options for collaboration and managing your board are at the top.
Sharing the Board:
- Tap the ‘Share’ icon in the top toolbar to invite others to collaborate.
- You may receive a prompt stating that you must log in to iCloud in order to share the board. From the prompt, select ‘Go to Settings’.
- The iCloud Settings app will launch. In the ‘App Using iCloud’ area, tap ‘Show All’.
- Then, scroll down to ensure that the ‘Freeform’ option is turned off. Turn it on by tapping it.
- Return to the Freeform app. The board may take a few seconds to sync with iCloud. You’ll be able to share it after it’s synced. Tap the ‘Share’ button one more.
- The Share Sheet will be displayed. You can adjust the default sharing permissions before sharing the board. Select the ‘Only invited individuals can edit’ checkbox.
- The permissions change screen will appear. You can control who has access to the board (invited individuals or anybody with a link) and whether they can make changes or merely see it. You can also make it impossible for others to invite anyone. Tap ‘Done’ after making your desired modifications.
- Then, choose how you want the invitation to be sent. The simplest option is to use the ‘Messages’ app.
- The invitation will appear in the message box, and you can add the recipients in the ‘To:’ section.
- If you use another app, a link to share will be generated instead. In the ‘To:’ section, enter the Apple IDs of the users you wish to invite, then tap ‘Share Link’.
- People must accept your invitation to collaborate.
Using the Board:
- It is simple to use a Freeform board. To access board options, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
- To alter the name of your board, press ‘Rename’. You may also print the board, save it as a PDF, duplicate or favourite it, and determine whether the grid is visible or hidden.
- To view all of your boards, select the ‘Back’ button at the top.
- From left to right, the toolbar at the bottom holds the following tools: Stickies, Shapes, Text, Draw, and Insert Photos, Videos, Documents, or Web-Links.
- Tap the ‘Stickies’ icon to put a sticky note. On the board, a sticky note will appear. The blue dots in the corner allow you to resize it. Double-tap the sticky note to write on it.
- Tap the sticky note once to access customization options. At the bottom, you’ll see options for changing the colour, font size or erasing the note.
- Tap the ‘Shapes’ option to insert a shape.
- Then, from the overlay menu, choose the shape you want to add.
- You can access shape-specific tools by tapping the element on the canvas, just like with a sticky note. In fact, it works similarly for all other elements, such as text, drawings, and so on.
- Similarly, tap the ‘Text’ option to enter text and hit the ‘Draw’ option to access drawing tools.
- Drawing tools are comparable to those found in notes, markup, and other Apple applications.
- Drawing tools are comparable to those found in notes, markup, and other Apple applications.
- Tap the ‘Photo’ icon to input photographs and videos, insert documents from Files, scan a document, insert a link, or use the Camera to take a photo or video.
- Tap the ‘Collaboration’ icon to see the board’s cooperating options.
- The pop-up menu for collaboration will appear. By tapping the ‘Message’ or ‘Audio’/’Video’ buttons, you can communicate with others or have FaceTime audio or video chats with the collaborators.
- Users can also disable the participant cursors on the board by unchecking the ‘Participant Cursors’ checkbox.
- Tap ‘Manage Shared Board’ to change the sharing options.
- The people who currently have access to the board are listed here. Tap someone’s name to remove them.
- Then, from the Participant Detail screen, select ‘Remove Access’. You can also change their permissions.
- Tap ‘Share with More People’ to invite more people.
- Tap ‘Sharing Options’ to adjust the permissions for the entire board.
- Then you may modify who has access to the board, what kind of permissions they have, and whether others can invite others.
- Tap ‘Stop Sharing’ to end the partnership.
- Then, from the confirmation window, hit ‘Stop Sharing’ once more. Other participants will no longer be able to access the board, and it will be erased from their devices.
- A collaborative whiteboard may not be groundbreaking, as several apps provide similar functionality. However, customers who enjoy the native iOS UI and capabilities will undoubtedly enjoy Freeform.
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