alongrailTasks

Make a simple flowchart in draw.io and save it as a PNG (2026)

4 min read

What you’ll have at the end

A flowchart of three boxes, each with its own name and joined by arrows, saved on your computer as a PNG picture you can put in a document, an email or a slide. Nothing is stored in an account: draw.io's own page says the free app stores nothing on its servers.

Before you start

You’ll need

  • A computer with an up-to-date web browser
  • The names of the three steps you'd like in your flowchart

What it costs. draw.io's own site says it is free, with no sign-up and no credit card.

You don't need an account. draw.io's site says it is free, with no sign-up and no credit card. Please have in mind the three steps you'd like to show, in order. This guide uses Order received, Pack the order and Ship the order as examples.

Please use a computer for this guide.

Steps

  1. 1. Open draw.io

    Go to app.diagrams.net. A blank page with a grid opens, with shapes on the left. If draw.io first asks where to save your diagrams, please choose Device.

  2. 2. Add the first box

    On the left, under General, click the rounded rectangle, the second shape in the first row. A box appears in the middle of the page, already selected.

  3. 3. Name the first box

    With the box still selected, type the name of your first step, for example Order received. Then click an empty part of the page to finish.

  4. 4. Click the blue arrow below the box

    Move your pointer over the box. Four blue arrows appear around it. Click the one below the box. A small panel of shapes opens.

  5. 5. Click the first shape in the panel

    Click the first shape in the panel. draw.io adds a copy of your box below the first one, joined to it by an arrow. The copy keeps the first box's name for now.

  6. 6. Name the second box

    With the new box selected, type the name of your second step, for example Pack the order. What you type replaces the copied name. Then click an empty part of the page.

  7. 7. Click the blue arrow below the second box

    Move your pointer over the second box, and click the blue arrow below it.

  8. 8. Click the first shape in the panel

    Click the first shape in the panel. A third box appears below the second, joined to it by an arrow.

  9. 9. Name the third box

    With the new box selected, type the name of your third step, for example Ship the order. Then click an empty part of the page.

  10. 10. Open File, Export as, PNG...

    At the top, click File. Point to Export as, then click PNG.... The Image window opens.

  11. 11. Click Export

    Leave the settings as they are and click Export. If you'd like to open and change the flowchart in draw.io later, keep Include a copy of my diagram ticked.

  12. 12. Name the file and click Save

    Type a name for your file in Save as, and keep the .drawio.png ending. Make sure Where shows Device, then click Save. Your browser saves the PNG to your computer.

If something looks different

  • If you don't see the four blue arrows when you point at a box, look under Options in the panel on the right and make sure Connection Arrows is ticked.
  • If clicking an arrow adds a line but no new box, there may already be a box in that direction. draw.io's help says it then joins the two boxes instead of adding a copy.
  • If typing doesn't change a box's name, double-click the box, select its text, and type the new name.
  • Your browser may ask where to save the file, or save it straight to your Downloads folder. Either way, the picture is the same.

Sources

Alongrail isn't affiliated with draw.io.