Design faster with the Tools Tab
Design faster and stay focused with instant access to Shapes, Lines, Sticky Notes, Draw, Text, and Tables—all in one place. No more searching through menus. The Tools Tab streamlines your workflow, making creation smoother and more intuitive.
Use the Tools Tab
- Open a new or existing design (excluding Canva Docs).
- Select the Tools Tab in the Object Panel on the left.
- Choose a tool: Shapes, Lines, Sticky Notes, Draw, Text, or Tables.
- A submenu will appear—select an element to add it to your design
If the Tools Tab is not visible, first ensure that you are not working in Canva Docs, where it is unavailable. If the tab still does not appear, try refreshing your page or restarting the app to apply any updates.
For users on Whiteboards, the Tools Tab opens automatically if there is existing content. However, if the Whiteboard is blank, the Design Tab will open instead. You can manually switch to the Tools Tab at any time to access its features.
An upcoming update will introduce a feature that preserves recently used tools, making it easier to access frequently used elements without having to search for them again.
Where’s the Draw Tab? The Draw function is now inside the Tools Tab, alongside other essential design tools.
The Tools Tab isn't just a new location—it’s your shortcut to core design functions. Click the links below for detailed guides on using each tool:
- Draw in Canva: Lines, Shapes, Diagrams & More
- Connect Lines to Elements
- Add & Edit Shapes
- Use Brush Gestures with Mouse & Trackpad
- Add & Use Sticky Notes
- Add & Edit Text
- Add & Delete Tables, Rows, & Columns
Can I resize shapes directly in the Tools Tab?
Shapes can be resized after they have been added to the design.
Will this update change how I use my favorite tools?
The update consolidates design tools into a single location for better workflow efficiency while keeping all existing functionality intact.
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