# Allow Annotations to be started from custom UI without using annotation toolbar

**URL:** <https://devforum.zoom.us/t/allow-annotations-to-be-started-from-custom-ui-without-using-annotation-toolbar/135536>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Tags:** api, android\
**Created:** [July 21, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/allow-annotations-to-be-started-from-custom-ui-without-using-annotation-toolbar/135536 "2025-07-21T21:13:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vuzix\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vuzix\_joe](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/vuzix_joe)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/allow-annotations-to-be-started-from-custom-ui-without-using-annotation-toolbar/135536/1 "2025-07-21T21:13:28Z")

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Currently on Android, If you have the following settings, Annotations do not work.  
meetingSettings.setCustomizedMeetingUIEnabled(true);  
meetingSettings.hideAnnotationInScreenShareToolbar(true); meetingSettings.hideStopShareInScreenShareToolbar(true);

I have tried this sequence:

- check user permission for overlay permission: Settings.ACTION\_MANAGE\_OVERLAY\_PERMISSION
- Create MobileRTCShareView instance and add to the layout hierarchy
- sdk.getInMeetingService().getInMeetingShareController().startShareViewContent(shareView);
- sdk.getInMeetingService().getInMeetingAnnotationController().startAnnotation(); (ERROR here – SDKERR\_WRONG\_USAGE)

I would like to use my own UI to start annotations within a meeting without having to use the annotation/sharing toolbar.

I have only tested this implementation with the Android SDK 6.3.1 (26548) running on Android 13.