Erasing with Apple Pencil is always app-based — you select an eraser tool in the software rather than flipping the stylus over, though Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil Pro add gesture shortcuts that switch into eraser mode.
One wrong assumption sends new owners pressing the wrong end of the Pencil against the screen, expecting it to rub out marks. It won’t. The Apple Pencil has no physical eraser — nothing on the back, nothing on the tip. Erasing works through the app you’re drawing or writing in, and the fastest method depends entirely on which Apple Pencil model you’re holding. Here’s the exact workflow for each version, with the settings paths and gesture tricks that actually save time.
How Erasing Works In Apple’s Markup Tools
Every Apple Pencil erasing method starts inside the app’s tool palette. In Apple’s own Markup system — available in Notes, Photos, screenshots, PDFs, and similar apps — you tap the eraser tool in the Markup toolbar to begin. From there, you choose between two eraser types: Pixel Eraser scrubs marks away as your Pencil passes over them, while Object Eraser removes an entire object with a single tap.
Tap the eraser icon again to toggle between the two modes. On supported iPad models, holding the Apple Pencil up to 12 mm above the display previews exactly where the eraser will hit — a hover feature that turns guesswork into precision. Settings > Apple Pencil includes an option to disable this hover behavior if you prefer a static cursor.
Erasing With Apple Pencil (1st Generation): No Gestures, Only Tools
The original Apple Pencil relies purely on the app’s on-screen tools. There is no double-tap shortcut and no squeeze gesture — the flat side of the first-generation model serves only for charging and pairing. To erase, you select the eraser from whatever drawing or note-taking app you’re using, scrub the target area, and switch back to your pen when finished.
Third-party apps like Procreate and GoodNotes place their eraser prominently in the toolbar; the step is identical across nearly every app. Tap the eraser icon, adjust its size if the app allows, and erase. That’s the entire process for this model.
Apple Pencil (2nd Generation): Double-Tap To Switch Tools
Double-tapping the flat edge near the tip of the second-generation Pencil is the fastest eraser shortcut on this model. In supported apps, that double-tap switches the active tool between the current brush and the eraser — tap twice to erase, tap twice to return to drawing. The Pencil’s on-screen button icon changes to an eraser symbol when the switch lands.
ForeFlight’s support documentation confirms this gesture works across its annotation areas: Documents, Plates, Flight Attachments, and ScratchPads. The same double-tap behavior also extends to other apps like Notability and GoodNotes, but compatibility is entirely app-dependent — some apps interpret the double-tap differently or ignore it entirely. Check the app’s own tool palette; if you see an eraser icon highlighted when you double-tap, the shortcut is live.
Apple Pencil Pro: Squeeze To Erase
The newest Apple Pencil Pro adds a squeeze sensor along its barrel. Squeezing and holding the Pencil switches to the eraser tool; releasing returns to whatever tool you were using. It’s a one-handed shortcut that avoids tapping any on-screen icon.
You customize this in Settings > Apple Pencil > Squeeze. The options include Squeeze to Erase, Squeeze to Switch to the Last Tool Used, and Squeeze to Show Color Palette. If squeeze-to-erase stops working, the most common cause is having the Navigate tool active in the current app — switch back to a drawing or writing tool and the squeeze should function again. Notability’s documentation also warns that Auto-deselect in iPad Pencil settings can disable the squeeze function entirely; turning it off restores the gesture.
Two Eraser Modes You Need To Know
Apple’s Markup system separates erasing into two distinct tools that behave differently, and mixing them up is the single most common mistake among new users.
| Eraser Mode | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Eraser | Scrubs individual marks stroke by stroke, like a whiteboard eraser sweeping across pixels. | Small corrections, overlapping strokes, or removing parts of a line while leaving the rest intact. |
| Object Eraser | Removes an entire object — a shape, a line, a text box — with a single tap on it. | Clearing large elements, deleting whole annotations, or cleaning up complex drawings quickly. |
| Size Options | Pixel Eraser includes a size picker in Markup’s toolbar; smaller sizes give fine control, larger sizes erase faster. | Adjusting precision based on the mark’s thickness or the zoom level of the canvas. |
| Hover Preview | On supported iPads, holding the Pencil up to 12 mm above the display shows where the eraser will land. | Knowing exactly which pixels the tool will scrub before touching the screen. |
App Compatibility: Where Erasing Works (And Where It Doesn’t)
Erasing with Apple Pencil is not universal — your success depends entirely on the app you’re using. Apple’s own Markup system supports Pixel Eraser and Object Eraser in Notes, Photos, screenshots, and PDFs. ForeFlight enables the double-tap eraser shortcut in its annotation areas. Notability supports squeeze-to-erase for Apple Pencil Pro, but only while a drawing or writing tool is active. Third-party apps like Procreate, GoodNotes, and Adobe Fresco also include eraser tools, but their gesture support varies.
The general rule: open the app’s tool palette. If you see an eraser icon, the app supports Pencil erasing through its own tools. If you don’t, the app probably relies on undo/redo instead, and no gesture or tool selection will change that. Apple Communities discussions confirm this variability — users frequently assume the eraser gesture works everywhere when it actually depends on the app’s implementation.
Common Apple Pencil Erasing Mistakes
Three errors show up repeatedly in user forums, and each one has a simple fix.
| Mistake | Why It Happens | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flipping the Pencil over expecting a physical eraser | Traditional pencils have an eraser on the opposite end; the Apple Pencil does not. | Use the app’s on-screen eraser tool or a gesture shortcut — never tap the Pencil’s back end against the screen. |
| Gesture works in one app but not another | Double-tap and squeeze are app-specific features; not every app supports them. | Check the app’s tool palette for an eraser icon; if there is none, the gesture won’t activate erasing there. |
| Pixel Eraser removes the wrong part of a drawing | Pixel Eraser scrubs strokes individually; overlapping marks require multiple passes or switching to Object Eraser. | Tap the eraser tool to toggle to Object Eraser, then tap the whole object you want removed. |
| Squeeze gesture on Pencil Pro does nothing | The Navigate tool is active, or Auto-deselect is on in iPad Pencil settings. | Switch to a drawing or writing tool; if that doesn’t work, turn off Auto-deselect in Settings > Apple Pencil. |
Erasing Checklist: Set Up Your Pencil And Your App
If you want the fastest erasing setup for your Apple Pencil, run through this sequence once and you’ll be set for every session. Apple’s official iPad drawing guide covers the Markup workflow in detail, and the steps below match that documentation exactly.
1. Identify your Pencil model. First-generation has a smooth barrel with a Lightning connector cap. Second-generation has a flat magnetic charging edge. Pencil Pro has a matte barrel with a squeeze sensor and a barrel that shows “Apple Pencil Pro” when paired.
2. Enable the gesture you want. On Pencil (2nd gen), Settings > Apple Pencil lets you assign the double-tap. On Pencil Pro, Settings > Apple Pencil > Squeeze offers three options — choose Squeeze to Erase for the shortest path to the eraser.
3. Open your app and find the tool palette. Every app places the eraser in its own toolbar; look for the eraser icon (usually a pink eraser or a small square with a dashed outline).
4. Choose Pixel Eraser or Object Eraser. In Markup, tap the eraser icon to toggle. In third-party apps, you may see a drop-down menu or a separate toolbar section.
5. Test the gesture. Double-tap or squeeze to confirm the Pencil switches to the eraser tool. If nothing happens, check the app’s settings or the gesture’s assignment in iPad Settings.
6. If the gesture fails completely, fall back to the manual tool. Tap the eraser icon by hand. No gesture is required to erase — shortcuts are convenience, not necessity.
References & Sources
- Apple Support. “Draw with Apple Pencil on iPad.” Covers Markup tools, eraser types, hover functionality, and Settings paths.