--- title: Freehand mode and control points in Mind Maps description: You can shape your branches using Freehand mode or, even further, with control points. This is especially effective when you want to make more creative and playful maps --- [Skip to content](https://support.ayoa.com/control-point-and-freehand-mode#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://support.ayoa.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![ayoa\_logo-svg](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/ayoa_logo-svg.svg)](https://ayoa.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://support.ayoa.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Sign in to AYOA](https://app.ayoa.com/) [Sign in to AYOA](https://app.ayoa.com/) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Centre](https://support.ayoa.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Mind Maps](https://support.ayoa.com/mind-maps?hsLang=en) 3. [How to use Mind Maps on the Web / Desktop](https://support.ayoa.com/mind-maps?hsLang=en#how-to-use-mind-maps-on-the-web-desktop) July 28, 2025 # Freehand mode and control points in Mind Maps ## You can design your branches using Freehand mode and with control points. This is especially effective when you want to make more creative and playful maps **Freehand and Control Points** are available only in the **Mind Map view**. ### Freehand Mode 1\. To switch to the Freehand mode, first open a Mind Map ![View of the full map.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Screenshot_1-png-Aug-24-2023-02-05-19-9868-PM.png)   2\. In the top toolbar, click on the **Branch draw** tool. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_2-png-Aug-24-2023-02-48-07-2388-PM.png?width=250&height=107&name=Screenshot_2-png-Aug-24-2023-02-48-07-2388-PM.png) 3\. From the drop-down menu, select **Freehand**. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_4-png-Aug-24-2023-02-48-51-2490-PM.png?width=250&height=314&name=Screenshot_4-png-Aug-24-2023-02-48-51-2490-PM.png) 4\. With this option, you can now **drag** **the cursor** along the canvas and the Branch will follow.  ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/ex1-gif-Aug-24-2023-02-49-01-8895-PM.gif) \*To use Freehand with **box branches**, press **Shift** and then **draw** the branch.   ### Control points 1\. To enable control points, go to the **Settings** in the top right corner of the Map and set **Auto-Layout** to **OFF**. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_5-png-Aug-24-2023-02-49-57-0958-PM.png?width=350&height=625&name=Screenshot_5-png-Aug-24-2023-02-49-57-0958-PM.png)   2\. When hovering or clicking on the branch, you will see a **dot** the same colour as the branch. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_6-png-Aug-24-2023-02-51-01-6412-PM.png?width=400&height=199&name=Screenshot_6-png-Aug-24-2023-02-51-01-6412-PM.png)   3\. To change the shape of the branch, simply **click** on the **dot** and **move** to the chosen position. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/ex2-gif-Aug-24-2023-02-51-22-1904-PM.gif)   4\. To add more dots, hold the **Shift** button and **click** on the branch. Each time you click a new dot will be added. ![](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/ex3-gif-Aug-24-2023-02-51-27-6095-PM.gif)   5\. 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