Studying from a PDF, reviewing a contract or pointing a colleague to the important part? Open the file here — the highlighter is ready — and drag across each line you want to mark. Change the colour on the right to colour-code topics, and add notes with the Text tool.
Tips for the best result
- Highlight one line at a time for the neatest result.
- Yellow (the default) prints well; green and pink are good for a second category.
- Use Box to circle a whole paragraph or table instead.
How to highlight PDF
- Click Select PDF file and choose your PDF.
- Pick a tool on the right: Text, White-out, Highlight, Box, Draw or Image.
- Click or drag on the page. Use the arrows above the page to move between pages.
- Click Save PDF and download your edited file.
Want more options? The full Edit PDF tool has every setting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I highlight text in a PDF?
Open your PDF here, drag across the text you want to highlight, and click Save PDF. The highlight stays when the file is opened in any PDF reader.
Can I change the highlight colour?
Yes. Pick any colour in the options panel before you drag.
Can I highlight a scanned PDF?
Yes. The highlighter works on any page, whether it contains real text or a scanned image.
How do I edit a PDF for free?
Open this page, select your PDF, choose a tool such as Text or White-out, click or drag on the page, and click Save PDF. There's no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how often you use it.
Step-by-step guide: How to edit a PDF for free
Read the guide