How do I download and start using OpenBoard?

Updated

OpenBoard is available as a free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and you can start using it immediately after installing — no registration or account is required. This guide covers what you need before downloading, how to get the installer, and how to verify your setup works, based on information published on openboard.ch.

What you need before downloading

OpenBoard runs on all three major desktop platforms, so the main prerequisite is simply a supported operating system:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux

You do not need an interactive whiteboard to use the software. According to the official site, OpenBoard can be used:

  • With an interactive whiteboard,
  • In a dual-screen setup with a pen-tablet display and a beamer,
  • Or on your computer alone, without any additional hardware.

That last point matters if you are evaluating the software before your classroom hardware arrives — you can install and test it on a normal laptop first.

Step 1: Download OpenBoard from the official site

  1. Go to openboard.ch.
  2. Use the Download link in the site navigation.
  3. Choose the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

The site states the software is free and that no registration is required, so you should not be asked to create an account or provide payment details to obtain it.

Step 2: Install and launch

The official site describes installation as easy: "Simply download and start using it right away." In practice, that means running the installer for your platform and then opening the application from your applications menu or desktop.

If you want to confirm the software is genuinely open source before installing, note that OpenBoard is released under the GPLv3 License and maintained by the community on GitHub. You can inspect the source there if that matters for your institution's software approval process.

Step 3: Verify it works

Once OpenBoard is open, a quick check confirms your setup is functional:

  • Try writing or annotating with whatever input you have — a pen tablet, an interactive whiteboard, or even a mouse. The site explicitly lists mouse input as an option, so a failed pen connection does not mean the install failed.
  • If you are using a dual-screen configuration, confirm the pen-tablet display and beamer are both detected by your operating system before troubleshooting inside OpenBoard.

Where to get help

The site navigation includes a Documentation section alongside Download, GitHub, and Help. If something does not work after installation, those are the official starting points rather than third-party tutorials.

Common questions

Is OpenBoard really free? Yes. The official site describes it as free and open source, released under GPLv3.

Do I need to register? No. The site states no registration is required.

Which platforms are supported? Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Who maintains it? OpenBoard is maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, with contributions from the University of Lausanne. It was originally forked from Open-Sankoré 2.0, which was itself based on Uniboard, with the fork intended to refocus on core classroom teaching functionality and ease of use.

Can I use it without an interactive whiteboard? Yes — it also runs on a plain computer with no additional hardware.