Highlight PDF
Highlight text in a PDF in yellow, green, blue or pink.
or drop files here
Runs on your device — your files are not uploaded.
Free: files up to 200 MB, up to 50 files. No daily limit.
To highlight a PDF, open it in Highlight PDF, select the text you want to mark and pick a highlight colour; underline and strikethrough work the same way.
How to highlight text in a PDF in 3 steps
- 1
Choose a PDF file.
- 2
Drag across the text you want to highlight. Pick another colour in the panel.
- 3
Select Save, then download your PDF.
What can Highlight PDF do?
- Runs in your browser: your file never leaves your device.
- The full editor is one click away: change existing text, add images, shapes, links, notes and signatures.
- Undo and redo every step, and come back to unsaved edits within 2 hours.
- Works on phones with a bottom toolbar and pinch to zoom.
How do I highlight a PDF online?
To highlight a PDF, drag across the text you want to mark and the highlight appears in the colour you picked. Choose yellow, green, blue or pink in the panel. Underline and strike out work the same way, and you can add a comment to any of them.
Are the highlights saved in the file?
Yes, highlights are saved as standard PDF annotations, so they stay in the file and any PDF reader shows them. You can remove them later with Remove annotations. For sticky notes, drawings and shapes, use Annotate PDF.
This page opens the PDFDaily editor with the right tool already selected, and every other editing tool in Edit PDF is one click away.
Frequently asked questions
How do I highlight text in a PDF?
Open the PDF in Highlight PDF and drag across the words you want to mark. The highlight is added in the colour selected in the panel.
What highlight colours can I use?
Yellow, green, blue and pink. Select a highlight later to change its colour.
Can I underline or strike through text in a PDF?
Yes. Pick underline or strike out in the toolbar and drag across the text, the same way as highlighting.
Can I add a comment to a highlight?
Yes. Select the highlight and type in the Comment box.
Do PDF highlights show in Adobe Reader?
Yes. They are saved as standard PDF annotations, so Adobe Reader, Preview and browsers show them.
Is Highlight PDF free and private?
Yes. It runs in your browser, so there is no daily limit and the PDF never leaves your device.
Related tools
Last updated October 23, 2026