How to Make the Eraser Bigger in MS Paint

Last Updated: July 28, 2021 Tested

Microsoft Paint includes a few presets for changing the size of the eraser, but there's actually a hidden key combination to make it any size you'd like. Unfortunately, this key combination doesn't work for many laptops that lack a numeric keypad. Luckily, you can use the Windows On-Screen Keyboard to perform the shortcut to increase the size of the erase.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Make the Eraser Bigger in MS Paint

1
Select the Eraser tool in Paint. You can select the eraser from the Home tab in Paint. Paint will need to be the active window in order for this to work.
2
Use the Size button to select from four preset sizes. The Size button is located in Home tab to the left of the color palette. If these sizes don't suit your needs, you can select a manual size.

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3
Select a manual size. If the presets don't suit your needs, then you can use Ctrl++ to make it bigger, or Ctrl+- to make it smaller.^{[1]
X
Research source} (Note: You have to use the + and - buttons on the keypad. You can't use the ones on the number row at the top.)
- If your computer does not have a numeric keypad, then you can use the On-Screen Keyboard.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Use the On-Screen Keyboard

1
Open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard. Open Start
, and type Keyboard into the search bar. Then, click on "On-Screen Keyboard".
- You'll notice that the On-Screen Keyboard stays visible even when Paint is the active window.
2
Click the "Options" button on the On-Screen Keyboard. By default, the On-Screen Keyboard does not have the numeric keypad enabled. You can enable this in the Options menu.
3
Check the "Turn on numeric keypad" box and click OK. The numeric pad will appear on the right side of the On-Screen Keyboard. ^{[2]
X
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4
Click the "Ctrl" key, then click the "+" or "-" key on the numeric keypad. You will notice that the "Ctrl" key stays highlighted until you click the "+" or "-" key. You must click "+" or "-" on the numeric key pad, not the one next to Backspace.
5
Continue to click the "Ctrl" and then "+" or "-" until the eraser is larger/smaller. Each time you click the two keys, the eraser will increase or decrease by one pixel. This means you will have to perform this combination of clicks several times until you notice a difference in the size of the eraser. Try clicking "Ctrl" and then "+" ten times to see a noticeable difference.
- If the size of the eraser is not changing, make sure that Paint is the active window when you try to change the size.
- You need to click the "Ctrl" key on the On-Screen Keyboard each time before you click the "+" or "-".

Community Q&A

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.
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.
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.

Warnings

Be careful with increasing the size of the eraser tool. You may accidentally erase something that you don't want to erase.

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