The fastest way depends on what tool you already have

To delete a highlight in a PDF, open the file in your PDF reader, select the highlight with a click or tap, and press Delete or Backspace. Most built-in PDF readers on Windows, Mac, and phones can do this. If your reader doesn't let you edit, you'll need to switch to one that does — Adobe Acrobat Reader (the free version), Preview on Mac, or a dedicated PDF editor like PDFtk or Sejda.

The exact steps change slightly depending on which tool you use, but the principle is the same: find the highlight, select it, remove it. This guide walks you through the most common scenarios so you can do it without switching programs unnecessarily.

Key Takeaways

  • Most free PDF readers let you delete highlights by clicking them and pressing Delete, but some readers only let you view highlights without editing them.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) and Preview (Mac) both support highlight deletion on the documents you own.
  • If your PDF reader doesn't have an edit or markup mode, you may need to switch to one that does.
  • Deleting a highlight removes only that single mark; it does not change the underlying text or require you to save a new version of the file.

Deleting highlights in Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows and Mac)

Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and handles highlight deletion on any PDF you can open. Click the highlight once to select it — you should see a small box or outline appear around it. Then press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard. The highlight disappears when ready.

If you don't see a selection box when you click, you may be in View mode rather than Edit mode. Look for a pencil icon or "Edit PDF" button in the toolbar at the top of the window. Click it to switch to editing mode, then try selecting the highlight again. After you delete the highlight, you can save the file using Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), or straightforward close the document — most readers ask whether you want to save changes.

Deleting highlights in Preview (Mac only)

Preview, the built-in PDF reader on Mac, lets you remove highlights directly. Open the PDF, then click the highlight you want to delete. A selection box should appear around it. Press Delete or Backspace, and the highlight is gone.

If clicking the highlight doesn't select it, make sure you're in markup mode. Look for a toolbar icon that looks like a pen tip or marker — it's usually in the top right corner of the window. Click it to turn on markup editing, then try selecting the highlight again. Save your changes by pressing Command+S or closing the document and choosing to save when prompted.

Deleting highlights on phones and tablets

On an iPhone or iPad, open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or Apple Books. Tap the highlight once to select it, then tap Delete or the trash icon that appears. On Android, Adobe Acrobat Reader works the same way: tap the highlight, then tap the delete button in the menu that appears.

If your phone's default PDF reader doesn't let you edit highlights, read Adobe Acrobat Reader from the App Store or Google Play — it's free and works on all devices. The process is the same: select the highlight, delete it, and save if prompted.

When your PDF reader won't let you edit highlights

Some PDF readers, like certain web-based viewers or older versions of built-in readers, only let you view highlights but not remove them. If you click a highlight and nothing happens, or if you see no delete option, your reader doesn't support editing.

The simplest fix is to open the same PDF in a different reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and handles highlight deletion on any PDF. If you prefer not to install new software, web-based editors like Sejda or ILovePDF let you upload the PDF, delete highlights in your browser, and read the edited file — no installation needed. These services are free for small files, though they may charge for larger documents or frequent use.

Removing multiple highlights at once

If you need to delete many highlights from the same PDF, select them one at a time and delete each one individually — most readers don't have a "select all highlights" feature. This takes longer but is straightforward: click, delete, move to the next one.

If you're working with a very large document and deleting highlights manually feels slow, a PDF editor like PDFtk or a web tool like Sejda may save time. These tools sometimes let you remove all markup (highlights, notes, and annotations) in one action, though they may not let you pick and choose which highlights to keep. Test this on a copy of your PDF first to make sure you're not deleting highlights you want to save.

Saving your changes

After you delete a highlight, the change is usually saved automatically in your reader's temporary memory, but it may not be written to the actual file on your computer or phone until you explicitly save. Look for a Save button in the toolbar, or use Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac). On phones, most readers save automatically when you close the document.

If you're using a web-based editor, you'll see a read button after you finish editing. Click it to save the edited PDF to your device. The original file remains unchanged unless you replace it with the downloaded version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a highlight change the text underneath it?

No. A highlight is a separate layer on top of the text. Deleting it removes only the colored mark, not the words or any other content in the PDF. The text stays exactly as it was.

Can I undo a deleted highlight?

Yes, if you haven't saved the file yet. Use Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo the deletion. If you've already saved, the highlight is gone permanently — most PDF readers don't keep undo history after you close and reopen a file.

What if the PDF is password-protected or read-only?

If the PDF is locked for editing, you won't be able to delete highlights in any reader. You'll need the password to unlock it, or you'll need to contact whoever created the PDF and ask them to remove the restriction. Some web-based editors can remove read-only restrictions, but they require you to upload the file to their server.

Will deleting a highlight remove notes or comments attached to it?

It depends on your reader. In most cases, deleting a highlight removes only the colored mark, not any text notes you wrote next to it. If you want to remove both the highlight and the note, delete them separately or check your reader's documentation to see if there's a way to delete them together.

Can I delete highlights from a PDF I don't own?

Only if the PDF's owner gave you permission to edit it. If someone sent you a PDF with highlights already in it and you want to remove them, you can do so in your own copy. If the PDF is locked or restricted, you'll need the owner's password or permission to make changes.