Updated September 16, 2026
How to Highlight a PDF
Highlighting helps readers find the important parts of a PDF quickly. It is best used sparingly: mark the sentence, clause, or figure that matters rather than covering a full page.
Step-by-step workflow
1. Decide what the highlight means
Before marking the page, decide whether the highlight means important, needs review, or should be changed. Consistent meaning helps later readers understand the document.
2. Choose Marker and draw a short stroke
Enter Edit mode, choose Marker, select a color and set Thickness. Drag over one phrase. On a practice agenda, highlight the start time and add a Text note saying Confirm time. Zoom in to avoid marking an adjacent line; inspect the result at normal zoom and again in the exported PDF.
3. Combine highlights with notes when needed
If a highlighted passage needs action, add a short text note near it. This makes review documents more useful for collaborators.
Practical tips
- Use one highlight color for one review meaning.
- Avoid placing highlights over signatures or official stamps.
- Review contrast after highlighting scanned pages.
FAQ
Is highlighting useful for scanned PDFs?
Yes. Visual highlighting can be placed over scanned pages, but you may need to zoom in because scanned text is part of an image.
Can highlights be used with other edits?
Yes. Highlights can sit alongside added text, shapes, and images when you need a more complete document markup.