How to Use the Pen to Erase Ink in Windows 11
Stylus erasing in Windows 11 clears handwritten notes and sketches instantly when you flip your pen over, removing the need to click an on-screen eraser button.
Most modern styluses, including the Microsoft Surface Pen, feature a physical eraser tip on the back end that works naturally in apps like Microsoft Whiteboard and OneNote.
Windows 11 lets you turn this erase feature on or off and change how the eraser behaves so writing and drawing feel right for you.
Before You Start: Pair Your Pen with 🪟 Windows 11
Make sure the pen pairs with the Windows 11 device via Bluetooth . Unpaired pens require following this guide first: How to Pair Pen with Windows 11.
Step 1Open Windows Settings
Windows Settings is the central place to change how your computer works, and you can open it in a couple of seconds. Press the Win plus I on your keyboard at the same time, or click the Start button and pick Settings from the menu. Both shortcuts open the main settings window instantly so you can get right to changing your pen options.
- Click the Start menu button (Windows icon at the bottom left), then click Settings .
- Or press Win+I on your keyboard at the same time.
Here’s what the Settings icon looks like:
Step 2Go to Pen & Windows Ink Settings
Navigating inside Settings requires these actions:
- On the left menu, click Bluetooth & devices.
- On the right side, find and click Pen & Windows Ink.
Step 3Enable "Use the top of the pen to erase ink"
The Windows 11 pen eraser lets you wipe away digital ink by simply flipping your stylus over, just like a real pencil. Find the option labeled 'Use the top of the pen to erase ink' in your pen settings and check the box next to it. This turns on the eraser tip so you can correct your notes and drawings without clicking extra buttons on screen.
Locate the setting labeled 'Use the top of the pen to erase ink (when this option is available)'.
Select the checkbox next to it to activate the feature.
Clearing the checkbox later turns the feature off.
Closing the Settings app finishes the process.
Optional: Use Windows Registry Editor to Turn This Feature On or Off
You can also use the Windows Registry Editor to turn this feature on or off. [Verification Required: Registry path should be confirmed]
How to Open Registry Editor
Registry Editor (a database for low-level Windows settings) opens through a quick keyboard shortcut and a run command. Press the Windows key and R together on your keyboard to open the Run box, type regedit, and press Enter. Be careful with this tool, because making mistakes inside the registry can cause serious problems with your system.
Press the Windows key and R together, type 'regedit', and then press Enter.
Go to the following registry key (the database folders used by Windows to store system settings):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Pen\SysEventParametersCreating the SysEventParameters folder becomes necessary if it is missing:
- Right-click on the Pen folder.
- Select New Key.
- Name the new key SysEventParameters.
Proceeding inside the SysEventParameters folder requires these steps:
- Right-click on the right side area.
- Choose New DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it EraseEnable.
- Double-click EraseEnable, set the Base to Decimal, and enter:
1to turn ON the erase feature.0to turn OFF the erase feature.
The DigitalPen.UsePenInputService setting within the Windows Registry manages pen input. Changing this value to 0 halts the pen input service, preventing the pen from drawing ink. Restarting the computer after making this change allows the pen to erase ink in Windows 11 again.
Summary
Utilizing the top of the pen as an eraser provides a rapid method for fixing errors in notes or drawings across Windows 11.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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