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What is a Web Viewer, and how do I use it?

Written by Imran Ahmed

How do I use the Web Viewer?

A Web Viewer is an embedded browser within your Space. It lets teachers and The Web Viewer is an embedded browser that allows you to open and interact with webpages directly inside your Space. Everyone in the Space can interact with the same webpage without opening a separate browser tab.

💡Pro Tip: You can also open multiple Web Viewers in the same Space. Each Web Viewer works independently.

How do I add a Web Viewer to my Space?

To add a Web Viewer into your Space:

  1. Click the Web Viewer icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

  2. The Web Viewer will appear in the center of your whiteboard.

  3. Enter the URL or search query that you’d like to open, and then use the Web Viewer to browse it.

Everyone in the Space can interact with the webpage through the Web Viewer.

Note: The Web Viewer can also be accessed from the Apps and Tools library. For more information, read our guide: How to access the App Library?

How do I make the Web Viewer full screen?

You can expand the Web Viewer to full screen using the button in the top-right corner.

  1. Open the Web Viewer in your Space.

  2. Click the Full Screen button in the top-right corner of the Web Viewer.

  3. When you click it, the Web Viewer will expand to fill the screen, exactly like a screen share would.

The webpage remains interactive while in full screen, so you and other participants can continue to use it.

To exit full-screen, simply click the Exit Fullscreen button in the top-right corner of the Web Viewer, or the Go to Boards button in the bottom-left corner.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use multiple Web Viewers?

Yes. You can open multiple Web Viewers in the same Space. Each Web Viewer will act as a separate browser, with its own set of tabs. This allows you and other users to work on different webpages at the same time if necessary.

Can students access my Web Viewers when I’m not in the Space?

Yes. Web Viewers are automatically set to be always available, so students can access them even when you’re not in the Space.

For more information on how to configure these settings, see our guide: How can students access my Web Viewers when I'm not around?

Can I make a Web Viewer visible only to me?

Yes. You can change the privacy of Web Viewers so that they’re only to you. Click the three-dot menu at the top-right corner of the Web Viewer, and select Make private.

For more details on this process, see our guide: How can I make apps visible only to me?

Can I annotate over a Web Viewer?

Yes. You can use Pencil Spaces’ annotation tools (e.g., pen, highlighter, laser pointer, shapes, stickies, etc.) over the Web Viewer, even when it is in full-screen mode.

For more information on how this works, read our guide: How to annotate on screen share?

How do I exit the full-screen Web Viewer?

To exit an app that’s full-screen, click the Exit Fullscreen button in the top-right corner, or click the Go to Boards button in the bottom-left corner.

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