How to Use the Pen to Erase Ink in Windows 11
Digital ink erasing in Windows 11 lets you wipe away pen marks on your screen much like a pencil eraser on paper. On supported pens, such as the Surface Pen, flipping the stylus over switches to the eraser automatically. You don’t pick a tool first.
Turn the pen upside down and drag the top end across the handwriting or sketch you want to clear. The ink under the pen disappears as you go. This works in apps that support Windows ink, such as Microsoft Whiteboard and Snip & Sketch (that feature now lives in the Snipping Tool on current Windows 11), and you don’t need extra software. Support varies by app, so if one app ignores the eraser, test in another before changing settings.
To erase ink in Windows 11, flip your pen over and drag the top end across the handwriting or drawing. On supported pens such as the Surface Pen, the eraser activates automatically with no tool to pick.
How to set up the eraser in Settings
The simplest way to turn on the eraser is in the Settings app. Once it’s on, the top of your pen erases ink in supported apps without you switching tools. The short version of the path is Settings Bluetooth & devices Pen & Windows ink Additional pen settings, then tick the box for the top-of-pen eraser. The steps below walk through it.
If you don’t see it, check the troubleshooting section further down.
- Open the Windows Settings app. Click the Start menu and choose Settings, or press Win+I to open it directly. The Settings window should open with a list of categories on the left.
- Click Bluetooth & devices in the left menu. The page on the right now lists your connected devices and related options.
- Select the Pen & Windows ink tile on the right. The pen settings page opens. If the tile is missing, Windows probably doesn’t detect pen hardware on this device.
- Click to expand Additional pen settings. A list of extra pen options drops down.
- Check the box that says Use the top of the pen to erase ink when it’s available. The box should now show a tick. To undo the change later, come back here and clear the box.
Close the Settings app when you finish. The setting should take effect straight away, so you shouldn’t need to restart. To test it, open Microsoft Whiteboard, write a few words, flip the pen over and drag the top across them.
Mastering the ‘Scratch Out’ Gesture
If your pen has no physical eraser, you can still remove ink in Windows 11 with the ‘Scratch Out’ gesture. Scribble back and forth over the ink or handwritten text you want to remove, as if crossing it out. Not every app supports this gesture, so if nothing happens, try it in another app that accepts pen input.
Troubleshooting Pen Connectivity
If your pen eraser fails to work, first confirm that the eraser box in Pen & Windows ink is ticked and that the app you're testing supports ink. Then try these steps:
- Check Battery: A low battery often disables the top button first. Replace or charge the pen's battery, then test the eraser again.
- Re-pair: Go to Bluetooth settings, remove the device, and pair it again. Once it reconnects, check that the Pen & Windows ink page still shows your settings.
- Update Drivers: Open Device Manager, find your Human Interface Devices, and update the pen driver. Right-click the pen entry and choose Update driver. Running Windows Update can also pull in newer pen drivers.
How to set up the eraser using the Registry Editor
This is an advanced method. You open the registry, find the pen settings key, and add or change a value by hand. The Registry Editor is available in both Home and Pro editions. A wrong edit can cause problems, so back up first: in Registry Editor, choose File Export and save a copy of the key you're about to change.
- Open the Windows Registry by searching for it in the Start menu. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes. The Registry Editor window opens with a folder tree on the left.
- Go to this location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Pen\SysEventParameters. You can expand the folders in the left pane one by one until you reach it. - If you do not see the
SysEventParametersfolder, right-click the Pen folder, select New, and create a key namedSysEventParameters. The new key should appear under Pen. Select it so the right pane shows its contents.
- Right-click in the empty space on the right side, select New, then select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it
EraseEnable. The new value should appear in the right pane. - Double-click
EraseEnable, set the Base to Decimal, and enter1in the Value data box. Click OK to save it.
- Restart your computer to save the changes. Close the Registry Editor first.
- After you sign back in, open Pen & Windows ink in Settings and check that the eraser option is now available. Then test the eraser in an ink-enabled app. To undo the change, delete the value you created in the registry and restart again.
Reference: Microsoft Support
Summary
In Windows 11, you can remove ink with your pen's physical eraser, with the 'Scratch Out' gesture, or by turning the option on in Settings or the Registry Editor. Start with the Settings method. Use the Registry only if the option is missing and you've ruled out battery, pairing and driver problems.
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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.
[…] Windows lets you pair the pen with your device via Bluetooth. Once your pen is connected, you can use it to write or click on your screen. You can also customize your pen settings, such as choosing your writing hand or what happens when you hold down the pen’s shortcut button. […]