2.12. Eraser does not make area transparent
| 2. Common Causes of GIMP Non-Responsiveness |

### 2.12. Eraser does not make area transparent

How to tell: You are trying to use the eraser to remove all color but instead of a transparent area appearing it turns into the background color (usually white).

How to fix: Check the active layer in the Layers Dialog: right click on it to open a menu and see if Add Alpha Channel is enabled. If it is, then your layer has no alpha channel: click that menu item to add an alpha channel. With that fixed, you will be able to erase to transparency.

2.11. Eraser and brushes no longer work |  | 2.13. Unexpected colors when trying to use a brush or eraser

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