Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix OneNote Stuck in Eraser Mode

Partner Editor Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Microsoft OneNote application permanently remains in eraser mode, preventing normal drawing or writing.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to write or draw using a stylus, mouse, or touch input in OneNote.
Observed behavior: The cursor or input tool is permanently stuck in eraser mode and will not switch back to the standard pen or text tool.

Before you start

Before making any system changes, check if the physical shortcut button on your stylus is stuck, and ensure you have synced and backed up any open OneNote notebooks.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Input with a Mouse or Finger

Determine if the issue is hardware-specific to your stylus by testing alternative input methods.

Navigate to the Draw tab

Open your OneNote application and select the 'Draw' tab from the top ribbon menu.

Select a pen tool

Click on any of the colored pen icons to activate the drawing tool.

Test with alternative input

Attempt to draw on the page using your computer mouse or your finger (if using a touchscreen). If this works normally, your physical stylus likely has a stuck eraser button or hardware failure.

Solution 2

Reset or Repair the OneNote Application

Use the built-in system tools to clear out corrupted configuration settings that might be causing the eraser glitch.

Solution 3

Reset Configuration via Registry Editor

Rename the OneNote registry keys to force the application to build a fresh, uncorrupted configuration file upon restart.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Surface Pen keep erasing automatically in OneNote?

Your Surface Pen may default to erasing if the physical side button is jammed, the pen's battery is critically low, or there is a Bluetooth connectivity issue. Replacing the battery or unpairing and re-pairing the pen often resolves this.

How do I manually switch back to the pen tool in OneNote?

To switch from the eraser back to the pen tool manually, navigate to the 'Draw' tab on the top ribbon and click on any of the colored pen icons. If it immediately switches back to the eraser, try restarting the application.

Can incomplete Office updates cause the eraser bug?

Yes, corrupted or incomplete Microsoft Office updates can cause various input glitches. You can resolve this by checking for the latest Office updates in your account settings or running the built-in Office Repair tool.

Does this issue happen on both OneNote for Windows 10 and the desktop app?

Yes, the stuck eraser issue can occur on both versions, but the troubleshooting steps differ slightly. Registry edits generally apply to the Microsoft 365 OneNote desktop application, while app resets are more effective for the OneNote for Windows 10 UWP app.

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