How to Draw on Android Photos | Markup & Annotate

Drawing on Android photos works through the built-in Markup tool in Google Photos or Samsung Gallery, plus third-party apps for advanced work.

Snapping a photo is only half the story. Whether you need to circle a detail for a contractor, annotate a screenshot for a coworker, or add a quick doodle before sharing — the ability to draw directly on your images is built into every modern Android phone, no extra app required. It just isn’t obvious where the tool lives. The route varies depending on which phone you carry, and a single wrong tap can permanently overwrite your original shot.

Using Google Photos Markup (Universal Android)

Google Photos is the default gallery and editor on most Android phones, including Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus, and Nokia devices. Its Markup tool adds pen, highlighter, and shape layers over any photo.

1. Open Google Photos (multicolored pinwheel icon) and tap the photo you want to edit.
2. Tap Edit — the icon with three horizontal sliders at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll the bottom toolbar to the right until you see Markup (a pencil drawing a line) and tap it.
4. Choose your tool: Pen, Highlighter, or Shape, then pick a color and line thickness.
5. Draw on the image. Tap Save as Copy at the bottom right to keep your original untouched.

The a new version appears in your timeline without overwriting the original. Tapping Done instead of Save as Copy replaces the original permanently — the most common mistake in Google Photos editing. This method works on any device running Android 7.0 (Nougat) or higher, and the app is free. Google One members get access to premium editing features, but Markup itself requires no subscription.

How to Draw on Photos With the Samsung Gallery App

Samsung phones ship with a separate Gallery app and a more powerful Photo Editor that includes Markup with pen, highlighter, and shape-snapping tools. This works on Galaxy S, Z, A, M, and Tab series running Android 11 or newer (One UI 3.0+).

1. Open Gallery (white flower on a burgundy background) and tap the photo.
2. Tap the Edit icon — a pencil at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the Markup icon (pencil drawing a line) or the sticker/pencil icon in the toolbar.
4. Select Pen or Highlighter, and adjust the color, size, and opacity using the sliders.
5. Draw on the image. To create a perfect circle, square, or line, draw the shape and hold your finger on the screen for a moment — the freehand sketch snaps into a clean geometric shape.
6. Tap Save as Copy to preserve the original, or Save to replace it.

Non-Samsung users cannot access the native Gallery Photo Editor. For everyone else, Google Photos or the third-party options below are the path forward.

Drawing Over Photos With PENUP (Samsung Exclusive)

Samsung’s PENUP app (com.sec.penup) serves as a community drawing platform, but it also includes a dedicated Photo Drawing mode that lets you place a photo as a reference layer and draw over it.

1. Open PENUP.
2. Tap Photo drawing at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Select from Gallery (or Take Picture).
4. Choose a photo and draw over it.

PENUP is free and available globally, though its community features are especially active in South Korea. Samusng App Store also offers up to six months free for Clip Studio Paint, a professional-grade alternative for serious drawing work.

Best Third-Party Drawing Apps for Android

When the built-in tools aren’t enough — for multi-layer work, custom brushes, or pressure sensitivity — these apps fill the gap:

All of these are available from the Google Play Store. Sketchbook is the strongest free option if you want a tool that matches real drawing software, while Krita offers a full open-source suite that mirrors its desktop version.

Why Saving as Copy Matters More Than You Think

The one tap that ruins a photo workflow is the difference between Save and Save as Copy. Both Google Photos and Samsung Gallery default to replacing the original file when you confirm edits. The only way to keep the untouched original is to use the Save as Copy option every time. If you tap Done without checking, the drawing merges into the original photo and cannot be undone. The workaround: before editing, duplicate the photo from the share or more-options menu if you’re worried about muscle memory.

Drawing on Android Photos: The Quick-Start Checklist

Here is the fastest route to a clean annotated image, step by step:

• Identify your phone. Samsung? Use Gallery, tap Edit, then Markup. Everyone else: use Google Photos, tap Edit, scroll to Markup.
• Pick your tool. Pen for freehand, Highlighter for emphasis, Shape for arrows and boxes.
• Draw. On Samsung, hold at the end of a shape to snap it into perfect geometry.
• Save as Copy. This keeps your original file untouched.
• Share the edited copy. It now lives in your gallery alongside the original.