Which platforms and hardware does OpenBoard support?

OpenBoard runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it works with an interactive whiteboard, a dual-screen setup (pen-tablet display plus a beamer), or a plain computer with no extra hardware. You can write and annotate with a pen tablet, an interactive whiteboard, or even a mouse. It is free, open source under GPLv3, and requires no registration to download and start using.

Supported operating systems

OpenBoard is cross-platform. The official site lists three supported platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux

Because the same application is available on all three, you can stay with the operating system you already prefer rather than switching to match the software.

Supported hardware setups

OpenBoard is designed primarily for schools and universities, and it adapts to several classroom configurations. The site describes three ways to use it:

The dual-screen arrangement pairs a touchscreen or pen-tablet display with a second display such as a projector, so you can write on one surface while the class sees the output on another.

How you write and annotate

Input is not limited to a single device. According to the site, you can write and annotate your course using:

• a pen tablet
• an interactive whiteboard
• a mouse

The project notes that the writing experience is under continuous improvement, so handwriting quality and responsiveness are active areas of development rather than fixed features.

What you need to get started

The requirements are deliberately minimal:

1. Download OpenBoard for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
2. Install and launch it — the site describes installation as easy, with no registration required.
3. Start using it right away, with or without additional hardware.

There is no account creation step and no registration gate described on the site.

Where OpenBoard comes from

OpenBoard was forked from Open-Sankoré 2.0, which was itself based on Uniboard. The fork was created to refocus the software on its original core purpose — a teacher's work in the classroom — with an emphasis on ease of use. It is currently maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, with logistical and financial contributions from the University of Lausanne, which developed the original Uniboard software in 2003.

Choosing the right setup for your situation

• If you already have an interactive whiteboard, use OpenBoard with it directly.
• If you have a touchscreen or pen-tablet display plus a projector, the dual-screen setup lets you write on the tablet while projecting to the class.
• If you have neither, you can still run OpenBoard on an ordinary computer and annotate with a mouse — useful for preparation, remote teaching, or smaller sessions.

In all three cases the software is the same; only the input and display hardware change.