When you need to draw attention to the most important parts of a document, the highlighting tool is your best friend. Whether you're studying, reviewing a report, or working on a project, it helps you stay organized and keeps key information front and center.
In this guide, we’ll talk about how to highlight in PDF using our platform PDF Guru and its intuitive tools.
How to highlight text in a PDF file using PDF Guru
We offer two ways to highlight content in your documents. If you need to highlight specific text in your PDF file, follow these simple steps:
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- Navigate to our PDF Editor.
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- Click the + button to import the PDF file, or just drag it to the upload area.
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- Once the document is loaded, click Select text, then click and drag to select the text you want. A small pop-up should appear.
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- Choose the highlighter icon and adjust the blue sliders to extend the highlighted area.
How to highlight sections of your document
We also have another PDF highlighter tool that allows you to select entire sections of your document, rather than just text. It's especially useful when you're working with non-editable PDF files.
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- While in the PDF editor, select the Highlight tool from the menu. You may need to click More tools for it to show up.
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- Then, drag your mouse to cover the area you want to highlight.
This way to highlight PDF documents is especially useful when you're working with non-selectable text or images.
How to remove highlights from a PDF
With our PDF highlighter, fixing mistakes is simple. Whatever type of method you choose, just right-click the marked area and choose Delete from the options.
How to change highlight color in PDF
PDF Guru allows you to customize your highlights by changing color and opacity. Here's how:
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- While you're highlighting your PDF, right-click on it and choose Properties.
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- In the Appearance tab, select your desired color and hit OK.
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- Then, set Opacity to the level that works best for you.
Can you highlight a PDF on your phone?
Absolutely! And not just on your phone — our tool works seamlessly on any device or operating system. Plus, your files are automatically saved to your online account for easy access anytime, anywhere.
Why can't you highlight text in PDF?
If you can’t highlight text in a PDF file, it’s probably because it's part of an image, like in a scanned document, and not selectable. What can be done? Go to the toolbar, select More tools, and click on Highlight. You can use it to mark any part of the document, even areas without text.
More annotation tricks for PDF documents
Beyond just highlighting important text, you can add other annotations to your PDF. It’s an easy way to suggest updates or keep track of reminders — just like sticking notes on your fridge, but far more dynamic.
Let’s dive into the first option and continue exploring ways to spotlight what needs your attention.
How to highlight PDFs with comments
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- Go to the Annotate PDF tool.
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- Upload your file to the window.
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- Go to More tools and choose Note.
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- Place it where you want and type your comment.
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- Use the formatting and arrangement options in the right panel to customize it.
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- Review your final document, click Done, and follow the download instructions.
Want to learn more about annotation as a solution? Take a look at our complete guide — How to annotate a PDF file. It’s packed with simple tools and tips to make working with PDFs a breeze.
How to underline or strike out text
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- While in editing mode, find Select text and drag to highlight the text — the options menu will appear automatically.
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- Choose Underline or Strikethrough.
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- Reposition the blue circles to adjust the selection.
How to highlight documents with shapes
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- Go to More tools and choose Add Shapes.
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- Select the desired shape from the drop-down menu.
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- Click and drag to draw the shape where needed.
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- Use the right panel to customize the shape's style.
How to draw in a PDF
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- Find Pencil in the top menu.
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- Click and drag to draw wherever needed.
Final thoughts
Now that you know the different ways to highlight on a PDF file — like underlining text, adding comments, or drawing shapes — how do you like to do it?