Insert sketches, photos, and scans from your iPad on Mac

With the Continuity Camera and Continuity Sketch features, you can draw a sketch, take a photo, or scan a document using your nearby iPad and have it appear instantly on your Mac, exactly where you want it—for example, in an email, note, or folder. You can also mark up a file on your Mac with your iPad using Continuity Markup.

You can use Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup with an iPad and Mac.

👁 An iPad showing a sketch, next to a Mac where the sketch appears in a note.

Before you begin

Make sure of the following:

Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on.
You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
Both devices meet minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup.

If you’re using a VPN, make sure its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Depending on where the photo or scan is inserted, you can mark it up or adjust other aspects, such as crop it or apply a filter.

Insert a sketch, photo, or scan from your iPad

You can draw a sketch on your iPad and have it appear on your Mac with Continuity Sketch, or take a photo or scan a document on your iPad and have it appear on your Mac with Continuity Camera.

On your Mac, Control-click where you want to insert the sketch or photo—for example, in an open window, like a note or email message.
You can also Control-click the desktop or a folder in a Finder window.
Choose an option from the pop-up menu.
You may need to click “Insert from iPhone or iPad” before seeing the options.
Do any of the following:
- Add a sketch: On your iPad, draw a sketch using your finger.
  On iPad, you can also use Apple Pencil.
- Take a photo: On your iPad, take a photo, then tap Use Photo or Retake.
- Scan a document: On your iPad, scan a document. Your iPad detects the edges of the document and autocorrects any skewing of the image. If you want to adjust the area included in the scan, drag the frame or its edges. When you’re ready, tap Keep Scan or Retake. You can continue to scan documents until you’re done, then tap Save.

Depending on where the photo or scan is inserted, you can mark it up or adjust other aspects, such as crop it or apply a filter.

Note: Scans you take on your iPad aren’t saved on the device.

Use your iPad to mark up a file on your Mac

Use your iPad to add text, make drawings, rotate, and crop images, PDF documents, and more on your Mac, called Continuity Markup.

On your Mac, click the desktop to open the Finder.
Control-click the file you want to mark up, choose Quick Actions, then choose Markup.
The file opens.
In the toolbar, click or click 👁 the Markup button
(the button may have an arrow next to it), then choose your device.
Use the Markup tools to draw, add text or shapes, and more.
On iPad, you can also use Apple Pencil.
When you’re done, tap Done on your iPad.
To save your changes, click Done on your Mac.

If Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, or Continuity Markup aren’t working

Make sure you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
Make sure your device meets minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera.

URL: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/insert-sketches-photos-and-scans-on-mac-ipadf5c30f27/ipados