How to Change the Size of the Eraser in Microsoft Paint

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A step-by-step guide to adjusting the eraser tool size in MS Paint on Windows

Co-authored by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: September 2, 2024 Fact Checked

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Increasing Eraser Size

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Using the On-Screen Keyboard

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Q&A

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Do you want to change the size of the eraser in Microsoft Paint? You can make the eraser bigger or smaller by using the program's size presets or with your full-sized keyboard. If you don't have a keyboard with a number pad, you can always use the On-screen Keyboard app. This wikiHow will show you how to increase or decrease the size of the eraser in MS Paint using your Windows computer.

How to Adjust Eraser Size in Paint

On your keyboard, press "CTRL" and "+" (NumPad) at the same time to increase the size of your eraser or "-" and (NumPad) to decrease it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Increasing Eraser Size

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1
Open Microsoft Paint. You can use Microsoft Paint to draw and color or edit images.
- Paint should be an included app in your Windows device. If you don't have it, you can download it from the Microsoft Store.
This looks like a pink eraser, underneath the pencil icon.

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This will be the icon with different lines of varying thickness.
4
Select a preset size. You can select from four preset sizes. Clicking them will change your eraser to its size.
- If you want to make your eraser bigger or smaller than the preset sizes, skip to the next step.
5
Use your full-sized keyboard to set a manual size. To increase your eraser size, press CTRL and + (Number Pad) at the same time. To decrease your eraser size, press CTRL and - (Number Pad) at the same time.
- The Number Pad is the right-most section of a full-sized keyboard. This won't work with the + or - at the top of your keyboard.
- If you don't have a full-sized keyboard or numeric keypad, see Using the On-Screen Keyboard to complete this method.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the On-Screen Keyboard

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1
Open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard. Click the Start menu and type on-screen keyboard. Click the "On-Screen Keyboard" app.
- You'll notice that the On-Screen Keyboard stays visible even when Paint is the active window.
By default, the On-Screen Keyboard does not have the numeric keypad enabled.
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Check the "Turn on numeric keypad" box and click OK. The numeric pad will appear on the right side of the On-Screen Keyboard.^{[1]
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- Make sure you have Paint open behind your On-screen Keyboard.
4
Set an eraser size. You'll need to use your keyboard and mouse simultaneously.
- To increase the size, hold the CTRL key on your keyboard and click + on the On-screen Keyboard. This is the + key on the number pad to the right of Del.
- To decrease the size, hold the CTRL key on your keyboard and click - on the On-screen Keyboard. This is the - key on the number pad to the right of PgDn.
- Do this as many times as needed to reach your desired eraser size.

Community Q&A

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Question

It didn't work. What do I do?

GrassyMania B

Community Answer

Try to hold down the control key and the + key on your keyboard. Make sure you are holding them both down at the exact same time, or it won't work.

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Question

What do I do if Ctrl and + doesn't work when making the eraser bigger in MS Paint?

Community Answer

Make sure that the + key you pressed is the one on the numpad, located at the very right of your keyboard. Do not press the + key on the number row located along the top of your keyboard under the function keys.

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Question

How do I get the options button?

Community Answer

Have you opened on-screen keyboard? If you have not opened on-screen keyboard, go to Start (Windows key) and type "Screen Keyboard" without the quotation marks. The Options button is in the bottom right.

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Tips

To reset the eraser size back to default, then you can close and then reopen Paint. You cannot save an eraser size.

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The On-Screen Keyboard will save its settings, so you don't have to enable the keypad again if you close it.

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