How to Highlight a PDF

PDF documents have become the go-to format for everything from eBooks to official documents. Highlighting text within a PDF allows you to keep track of important information, making the document easier to navigate and study. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to highlight a PDF using DocFly, a user-friendly online PDF editor, and we'll explore how you can do it across various devices.

Step-by-Step Guide to Highlighting a PDF with DocFly

Highlighting text in a PDF using DocFly is simple and intuitive. Here’s a tutorial to use DocFly’s PDF annotator in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Upload Your Files to DocFly

To start, head over to the DocFly website and upload your PDF (including fillable PDF forms). The best way is to click the “Click to upload your file” button, or drag and drop your document into the upload area. If your file is stored on a cloud platform like Dropbox or Google Drive, you can import it directly from there for added convenience.

Step 2: Edit Your PDF

After your file is uploaded, you can edit PDF by clicking on the file name, or select the “…” drop-down menu next to the file and choose “Edit.” In the editor, you'll have access to a variety of tools such as annotate PDF, edit text (including underline and strikethrough), and insert PDF text boxes. Using the toolbar, select the Highlight tool and choose a different color using the color wheel pop-up if you do not want to use the default color. You can also adjust the opacity if desired. Now highlight areas of the PDF you wish to highlight using your cursor. For more information, check out our FAQs section, where we address questions about editing PDFs and using DocFly’s functionality.

Step 3: Save and Export Your Edited PDF

Once you’ve finished making changes, click “Save” to apply your edits. You can preview the document using DocFly’s built-in PDF reader to ensure the changes are accurate. To download or share your PDF, click the “Export” button, where you can either download it directly, print PDF, or export it to Dropbox or Google Drive.

How to Highlight a PDF on Different Devices

Highlighting a PDF can vary depending on the device you are using. Below is a quick guide on how to highlight PDFs on macOS, Chromebooks, and Windows devices.

How to Highlight a PDF on Windows

On Windows, you can use PDF tools to highlight text, such as Microsoft Edge (the default PDF reader) or Adobe Acrobat Reader. For non-PDF files (such as Excel files, first convert to PDF).

Highlighting with Microsoft Edge:

• Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge.
• Click on the “Highlight” icon in the toolbar at the top.
• Select the text to highlight by clicking and dragging over it.
• You can change the highlight color by right-clicking on the highlighted section.

Highlighting with Adobe Acrobat Reader:

• Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader (also available on Android and iOS/iPad devices).
• Click on the "Highlight" button in the toolbar.
• Click and drag over the selected text to apply the highlight.
• To save your highlighted PDF, click "File" > "Save."

How to Highlight a PDF on macOS

If you're using a Mac or Apple device, the built-in Preview app offers a simple way to highlight text in PDFs without needing any third-party software:

• Open the PDF in the Preview app (it’s the default PDF viewer on macOS).
• Select the Highlight Tool: In the top toolbar, click the "Highlight" button (it looks like a marker). If it’s not visible, you can enable it by clicking the "Show Markup Toolbar" button.
• Text Highlight: Simply click and drag over the text you wish to highlight. To change the highlight color, right-click on the highlighted text and choose from the available colors.

How to Highlight a PDF on Chromebook

Chromebooks don’t come with a default PDF editor, but you can easily use free online tools such as Google Drive or third-party apps:

• Open the PDF in Google Drive: Upload the PDF to Google Drive and open it using the built-in PDF viewer.
• Highlight Text: Google Drive itself does not offer a highlight feature, so you’ll need to open the file with Lumin PDF (a free extension for Google Drive). Once opened in Lumin PDF:
  • Select the highlight tool from the toolbar.
  • Click and drag over the text to highlight.
• Save and Share: Once you’re done, save the changes and the highlighted PDF will be updated in Google Drive.

Tips for Better PDF Highlighting

Using Different Colors to Organize Highlights

Use various colors for different categories of information. For example, use yellow for key points, blue for definitions, and green for action items. This makes reviewing the document faster and more organized.

Adding Comments and Notes Along with Highlights

Enhance your highlights by adding comments or notes. Most PDF editors allow you to attach a note to the highlighted section, providing more context or personal reminders.

Highlighting Only What’s Essential

Avoid over-highlighting. Stick to the most important parts to make sure the key information stands out.

Common Issues with Highlighting PDFs and How to Fix Them

Why Your PDF Isn't Highlighting Properly

Sometimes, PDFs are scanned images or secured with restrictions that prevent editing. Use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools to convert scanned PDFs into editable text or check the document's permissions and file size.

Fixing Unresponsive Highlight Tools

If the annotation tool isn't working, try refreshing your PDF viewer or restarting the application. Ensure you're using the latest version of the software, or switch to a different PDF editor like DocFly or Adobe Acrobat if the problem persists.

Conclusion: How to Get the Most Out of Your PDF Highlights with DocFly

Highlighting PDFs is a powerful way to make your documents easier to navigate. With DocFly, you can efficiently highlight text, add comments, and organize information using various colors to customize your document. By mastering these features, you’ll enhance your productivity and get the most out of your PDF file, no matter what device you're using.