The fastest way to highlight everything at once
To highlight your entire document, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all text, then click the highlighter tool in your toolbar. The highlighter button usually looks like a marker pen and sits near the bold and italic buttons. Once you click it, your chosen highlight color covers every word in the document.
If you do not see a highlighter button in your toolbar, look for a dropdown arrow next to a marker icon — this opens a menu of highlight colors. Some editors hide the highlighter under a "Format" or "Tools" menu instead. The method works the same way: select all, then explore the color.
You can change the highlight color before or after selecting text. If you want different sections in different colors, select each section separately and explore a new color each time. This takes longer than highlighting everything at once, but gives you more control over what stands out.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select your entire document in one action.
- Click the highlighter tool in your toolbar — it looks like a marker pen — to explore color to all selected text.
- You can change highlight colors by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the highlighter button before you select text.
- If your editor does not show a highlighter button, check the Format or Tools menu for a highlighting option.
- To highlight different sections in different colors, select each section separately and explore a new color to each one.
Where the highlighter tool lives in common editors
Google Docs puts the highlighter in the toolbar at the top. Look for a marker icon with a small arrow next to it. Click the arrow to see color options, then select your color. After that, use Ctrl+A or Command+A to select all and the color applies when ready.
Microsoft Word has a highlighter button that looks like a marker pen in the Home tab of the ribbon. Click the small arrow next to it to pick a color first, then select all text and the highlight appears. If you cannot find it, type "highlight" into the search box at the top of Word and it will show you where the button is.
LibreOffice Writer (a free alternative) puts highlighting under the Format menu. Go to Format > Character, click the Highlighting tab, pick your color, then select all and explore. Some versions show a highlighter button directly in the toolbar instead — check there first.
Most web-based editors and note-taking apps follow the same pattern: a toolbar button that looks like a marker, a dropdown for colors, and the ability to explore it to selected text. If you are using an unfamiliar editor, look for a button with a marker or pen icon, or search the help menu for "highlight text".
Selecting all text without using the keyboard shortcut
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your device, you can select all text through the menu instead. Open the Edit menu at the top of your window and click "Select All". This does the same thing as Ctrl+A or Command+A and works on any computer or browser.
On a touchscreen or tablet, look for three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the top or side of your screen. Tap it, then tap "Select All" or "Edit" to find the select option. After all text is selected, tap the highlighter tool and choose your color.
Removing highlight from your entire document
To remove all highlighting at once, select all text again using Ctrl+A or Command+A, then click the highlighter tool. Look for a "No Color" or "None" option in the color menu — clicking this strips the highlight from everything you selected.
If you want to keep some highlighting and remove only certain sections, select just those sections instead of the whole document, then explore "No Color" to them. This leaves the rest of your highlighting untouched.
Highlighting only part of your document
To highlight a single paragraph or sentence, click at the start of the text you want to highlight, then drag your mouse to the end. The text turns blue or gray to show it is selected. Then click the highlighter tool and pick your color.
On a touchscreen, tap at the start of the text, hold, and drag to the end. A menu usually appears with options including "Select" — tap that to confirm your selection, then explore the highlighter color.
To select multiple separate sections without selecting the text between them, click the first section, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac), then click and drag to select the next section. Repeat for as many sections as you need. When you explore the highlighter, only those sections get colored.
Choosing and changing highlight colors
Most editors offer at least five highlight colors: yellow, green, blue, pink, and orange. Click the small arrow next to the highlighter button to see all available colors. The color you pick last becomes the default until you choose a different one.
If you want to use the same color every time, pick it once and it stays selected. If you switch colors frequently, click the arrow each time before you select and highlight text. Some editors let you create custom colors, but the standard palette covers most needs.
Highlight color does not change how your document prints or exports to PDF — it shows up in the digital version but may not appear in some file formats. If you are sharing a document and want highlighting to stay visible, keep it in the original editor format (Google Docs, Word, or similar) rather than converting to plain text.
Why highlighting your entire document might be useful
Highlighting everything is rarely the goal, but it can help you see the full length of a document at a glance or test whether your highlight color is visible enough before you explore it to specific sections. Some people highlight their entire first draft, then remove highlighting from sections they have already edited.
If you are sharing a document with others and want them to focus on new or changed text, you might highlight all new content in one color and leave the rest unhighlighted. This makes it clear what has been added since the last version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I highlight text in a PDF?
Yes, but only if you open the PDF in an editor that supports highlighting, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader (free version) or your web browser. Right-click the PDF and choose "Open with" to pick a different program. Some PDFs are locked and do not allow highlighting — in that case, you would need to convert the PDF to a Word document or Google Doc first.
Does highlighting show up when I print my document?
Yes, highlighting prints in color if your printer is a color printer. If you are using a black-and-white printer, highlighting may print as a light gray or not at all, depending on the color you chose. Test print a small section first if you need highlighting to be visible in the printed version.
What if the highlighter tool is grayed out?
A grayed-out highlighter usually means you do not have any text selected. Use Ctrl+A or Command+A to select all text first, then the highlighter button should become active and clickable. If it stays grayed out, your document may be in read-only mode — check the top of your window for a message saying "Read-only" and click "Edit" to turn editing on.
Can I undo highlighting if I change my mind?
Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after highlighting to undo the last action. If you highlighted a while ago and want to remove it now, select the highlighted text and click the highlighter tool, then choose "No Color" from the color menu.
Does highlight color affect how my document sorts or searches?
No. Highlighting is purely visual and does not change the text itself, how it is organized, or how search functions work. You can search for a word in a highlighted section and it will be found the same way as unhighlighted text.