How to Highlight Text in a PDF Document

While you are reading a PDF document, you may want to highlight text just as you would in a hard-copy document. To highlight a PDF from a browser, Adobe Reader or Acrobat or Preview (for Macs), follow these instructions.

Method 1 of 4: From a Browser 

1. Click on Save. Since most PDFs can’t be modified from within web browsers, you’ll have to save a copy to your computer to highlight. 

2. Save the file in an easy-to-find location, open it, and highlight using a method below.

Method 2 of 4: Adobe Reader (Free) 

1. Open your PDF using Adobe Reader. This is the free edition of Adobe Acrobat that allows you to preview, fill out, and make other small modifications to PDF files. Double-clicking a PDF file in Windows will usually open it in Reader as the default (unless you have a professional or alternative version). 

2. Click the Highlight Text button. This shows the letter “T” (for “text”) highlighted in yellow.

3. Click and drag your mouse over the text you wish to highlight.

Method 3 of 4: Adobe Acrobat Pro 

1. Open your PDF using Acrobat.

2. Click the Highlight Text button. This shows the letter “T” (for “text”) highlighted in yellow.

3. Click and drag your mouse over the text you wish to highlight.

 

Method 4 of 4: Preview (for Mac users)

1. Open your PDF using Preview. 

2. Go to Tools>Annotate>Highlight Text or press ^ Control+⌘ Command+H 

3. Click and drag your mouse over the text you wish to highlight.

Tips

• Digitally highlighting text is similar to highlighting in real life; click where you want to begin, drag over the desired text, and release when you’ve reached the end of the desired text. Repeat over other lines as desired.