Document Editing Problems

How to Draw on Student Submissions in Microsoft Teams Assignments

Rana Garcia Oct 14, 2026 868 views

Question details

Teachers want to draw or annotate directly on files submitted through Microsoft Teams assignments, including PDF, JPEG, and Word formats, rather than relying solely on typed feedback.

How to Draw on Student Submissions in Microsoft Teams Assignments

Product: Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A teacher is reviewing student assignments in Microsoft Teams and wants to provide visual feedback by drawing directly on the submitted files.
Observed behavior: The default Microsoft Teams assignment viewer restricts the ability to natively draw on certain file types like PDFs and JPEGs, forcing teachers to either provide typed feedback or find workarounds.

Before you start

Ensure you have a desktop application installed that supports annotating PDFs, Word documents, and images, as the Microsoft Teams built-in web viewer has limited drawing capabilities.

Solution 1Recommended

Annotate Word Submissions Using the Desktop App

Open Word documents directly in the desktop word processing application to utilize its full drawing capabilities.

Microsoft Teams allows Word documents to seamlessly sync with your desktop application, letting you use comprehensive drawing tools without manually downloading and re-uploading the file.

Open the submission

Navigate to the assignment in Microsoft Teams and click to view the student's Word document submission.

Launch desktop app

Click on the 'Open in Desktop App' option at the top of the Teams viewer to launch the file in your local Word software.

Use drawing tools

Navigate to the 'Draw' tab on the ribbon menu, select a pen tool, and begin drawing or writing your feedback directly on the page.

Save and sync

Save the document locally. Your drawn annotations will automatically sync back to the student's submission in Microsoft Teams.

Annotate Word Submissions Using the Desktop App

Automatic Syncing: When opening files this way, there is no need to re-upload the document; Teams automatically updates the attachment with your drawings.

Solution 2

Annotate PDF and JPEG Submissions

Download non-Word file formats to annotate them locally using specialized software, then attach them as feedback.

All-in-One Annotation Tool

Easily Annotate Word, PDF, and Image Assignments with WPS Office

WPS Office is a complete, lightweight suite that allows teachers to effortlessly open, read, and draw on multiple file types. Whether a student submits a Word document, PDF, or image, you can use its built-in drawing tools to provide clear visual feedback without needing multiple separate apps.

1. Download the submission: Download the student's PDF, Word, or JPEG file from Microsoft Teams to your computer.
2. Open in WPS Office: Right-click the downloaded file, choose 'Open with', and select WPS Office.
3. Draw your feedback: Navigate to the 'Comment' or 'Insert' tab to access freehand drawing tools, shapes, and text boxes to mark up the document.
4. Save and attach: Save your annotated file and attach it in the Microsoft Teams assignment feedback section.

All-in-one suite to view and edit Word, PDF, and image formatsRich PDF annotation features for highlighting, commenting, and freehand drawingFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .docx and .docLightweight interface making grading student assignments fast and seamless

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I not draw directly on PDFs inside the Teams app?

The built-in document viewer in Microsoft Teams is primarily designed for previewing files and has limited editing functions. For freehand drawing or highlighting on PDFs, you must download the file and use a dedicated PDF editor.

Do students see my drawing annotations immediately?

If you annotate a Word document using the 'Open in Desktop App' feature, it syncs back to Teams automatically. However, for downloaded PDFs or JPEGs, students will only see your annotations after you re-upload the file as feedback and officially return the assignment.

Can I annotate Teams assignments on a mobile device or tablet?

Yes, you can use mobile apps to annotate assignments. While the Teams mobile app offers some native markup features, downloading the files and using a robust mobile editor like WPS Office provides much better tools for drawing on PDFs and images.

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