The fastest way to highlight a PDF depends on what software you already have

Most computers come with a PDF reader that can highlight text. On Windows, Microsoft Edge opens PDFs by default and lets you highlight directly — select the text, tap the highlighter icon in the toolbar, and choose your color. On Mac, Preview does the same thing: open the PDF, click the highlighter tool in the toolbar, drag across text, and pick a color from the menu that appears.

If you use a different PDF reader, the process is similar but the buttons are in different places. Adobe Reader (the free version) has a highlight tool in the toolbar on the right side. Firefox and Chrome both let you highlight PDFs opened in the browser, though the tools are simpler than dedicated software. The key difference is whether your reader saves highlights to the file itself or only stores them on your device.

Highlights saved to the PDF file travel with it — anyone who opens that file sees your marks. Highlights stored only in your reader stay private to you. If you share the PDF with others, check your software's settings first to understand what they will see.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Edge and Mac Preview both highlight PDFs without installing anything extra, and both save highlights to the file itself.
  • Adobe Reader's free version highlights PDFs and saves marks to the file, but the paid version (Acrobat) adds more colors and tools like sticky notes.
  • Browser-based readers like Firefox and Chrome highlight PDFs you open online, but highlights usually do not save to the file permanently.
  • Before sharing a highlighted PDF, check whether your reader saves marks to the file or keeps them private to your device.

Highlighting in Microsoft Edge on Windows

Open the PDF in Edge and look for the toolbar at the top of the page. Click the highlighter icon (it looks like a marker pen) or press Ctrl+Shift+H. The toolbar expands to show color options — yellow, green, blue, pink, and orange. Select your color, then click and drag across the text you want to mark. Release the mouse and the text stays highlighted in that color.

To remove a highlight, right-click on the highlighted text and select "Remove highlight" from the menu. If you want to change the color of an existing highlight, you cannot edit it directly — you have to delete it and create a new one in the color you want. Highlights save to the PDF file automatically, so when you close and reopen the document, your marks are still there.

Highlighting in Mac Preview

Open the PDF in Preview and click the highlighter tool in the toolbar (it looks like a marker). If you do not see the toolbar, press Shift+Command+A to show it. The toolbar displays color swatches — click the color you want, then drag across text to highlight it. Preview saves highlights to the file, so they persist when you close and reopen the document.

To change or remove a highlight in Preview, click on the highlighted text and the color picker appears. Select a new color to change the highlight, or click the eraser tool to delete it. Preview also lets you add text notes to a PDF: click the text box tool (looks like a "T" in a box), click where you want the note, and type. These notes also save to the file.

Highlighting in Adobe Reader (free version)

read Adobe Reader from adobe.com if you do not have it. Open a PDF and look for the toolbar on the right side of the screen. Click the "Markup" or "Comment" button (the exact label depends on your version), then select the highlighter tool. Choose a color and drag across text to highlight it. Adobe Reader saves highlights to the PDF file.

The free version of Adobe Reader offers fewer color choices than the paid version (Acrobat), and it does not include sticky notes or drawing tools. If you need more colors or want to add typed comments directly to the PDF, you would need to upgrade to Adobe Acrobat, which is a paid subscription. For basic highlighting, the free version is sufficient.

Highlighting PDFs in your web browser

Firefox and Chrome both let you highlight PDFs opened in the browser. In Firefox, open a PDF and look for the toolbar at the top right. Click the highlighter icon, choose a color, and drag across text. In Chrome, the process is similar — click the highlighter icon in the toolbar and select your color before dragging across text.

Browser-based highlighting usually does not save to the PDF file itself. Instead, the marks stay in your browser's local storage, which means they disappear if you clear your browser data or open the same PDF on a different device. If you need highlights to travel with the file, use Edge, Preview, or Adobe Reader instead. Browser highlighting is useful for temporary marking while you read, but not for permanent annotation.

When to use paid PDF software instead

Adobe Acrobat (the paid version) and other premium PDF editors like PDFtk or Nitro offer features that free readers do not: more highlight colors, the ability to add typed text boxes and sticky notes, drawing tools, and better control over who can edit or view your marks. If you regularly work with PDFs that require detailed notes, signatures, or form-filling, paid software saves time.

For most people, the highlighting tools in Edge, Preview, or free Adobe Reader are enough. You get multiple colors, the ability to save marks to the file, and no cost. Paid software makes sense if you need to add typed comments, draw on PDFs, or share documents where only certain people can see your annotations.

Sharing a PDF with highlights — what others will see

When you send a highlighted PDF to someone else, they see your marks if they open the file in a reader that displays them. Edge, Preview, and Adobe Reader all show highlights created in those programs. The person receiving the file cannot edit your highlights unless they have the paid version of Acrobat, but they can see them and add their own marks on top.

If you want to share a PDF without showing your highlights, you have two options: save a copy of the original file without marks and send that instead, or export the PDF as an image (which removes all interactive markup). Most free readers do not have an export-to-image option, so you would need paid software or a browser-based converter for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I highlight a PDF on my phone or tablet?

Yes. On iPhone and iPad, the built-in Books app and PDF readers like Adobe Reader let you highlight text. On Android, Adobe Reader and other PDF apps include highlighting tools. The process is the same as on a computer — tap the highlighter icon, choose a color, and tap and drag across text. Highlights save to the file on most apps.

What if I highlight a PDF and then the file gets updated?

If someone sends you an updated version of a PDF you already highlighted, your old highlights stay in your copy of the file. The new version is a separate file, so your marks do not transfer to it. You would need to highlight the updated version separately, or manually copy your notes over if the content changed significantly.

Can I search for text I highlighted?

Most PDF readers do not have a built-in search function for highlights specifically. You can search for the text itself using Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac), but not for "show me all my highlights." Some paid PDF software includes a highlights panel that lists all your marks, but free readers typically do not.

Why do my highlights disappear when I close the PDF?

This usually means your reader is not saving highlights to the file. Check your software's settings to see whether it saves marks automatically. If it does not, switch to Edge, Preview, or Adobe Reader, which all save highlights by default. Browser-based readers like Chrome often do not save highlights unless you specifically configure them to.

Can I print a PDF with my highlights showing?

Yes. Open the PDF in any reader that displays your highlights, then print normally — the highlights will appear in the printed copy. The color and appearance depend on your printer and settings. If you want to print without highlights, most readers let you toggle them off before printing, or you can print to a new PDF file and highlight that version instead.