Formatting Issues

How to Add Orange Text Highlight Color in Word

Ayan Masood Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to apply an orange highlight to text, but the default Text Highlight Color menu does not offer orange and lacks an option to add custom colors.

How to Add an Orange Highlight Color to Text in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Document formatting and text emphasis
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word's Text Highlight Color menu contains a fixed set of predefined colors that does not include orange, providing no built-in way to add custom highlight colors.

Before you start

Before you begin, keep in mind that Word's default Text Highlight Color palette is hard-coded and cannot be modified. To achieve an orange highlight effect, you will need to use the Shading tool as a workaround.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Shading Tool to Apply an Orange Background

Since the standard highlight menu cannot be customized, applying character shading is the most effective way to give your text an orange background.

The Shading tool in Word is typically used for paragraphs or tables, but it can also be applied directly to selected text. This provides a nearly identical visual result to highlighting and allows you to choose any custom color, including various shades of orange.

Select the text

Click and drag your cursor over the specific words or characters you want to highlight in orange.

Locate the Shading tool

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the top ribbon. Look for the 'Paragraph' group, which contains the Shading icon (shaped like a tipping paint bucket).

Apply orange shading

Click the small drop-down arrow next to the paint bucket icon. Select a pre-set orange from the 'Standard Colors' or 'Theme Colors' palette.

Choose a custom orange

If you want a specific shade, click 'More Colors' at the bottom of the Shading menu. Under the 'Custom' tab, you can select any precise shade of orange or enter an exact RGB/Hex code, then click 'OK'.

Use the Shading Tool to Apply an Orange Background

Visual Difference: Shading acts slightly differently than the highlight tool, filling the background of the text block. It may appear slightly closer to the text edges compared to standard text highlighting, but it serves the exact same visual purpose.

Solution 2

Submit Feedback to Request Custom Highlight Colors

If the shading workaround does not fully meet your formatting needs, you can submit a feature request directly to Microsoft.

Free Word Alternative

Highlight Text Effortlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for formatting text. You can easily apply custom background colors to any text selection using its comprehensive formatting tools, providing a seamless alternative to Microsoft Word.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to edit.
2. Select your text: Highlight the specific text you want to make orange using your cursor.
3. Apply character shading: Navigate to the 'Home' tab and click the drop-down arrow next to the 'Shading' (paint bucket) icon.
4. Choose your orange color: Select an orange hue from the palette, or click 'More Colors' to input a custom orange hex code for your background.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx).Intuitive and easy-to-use formatting tools, including advanced text shading for custom highlights.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on various operating systems.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly ribbon interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the default 15 highlight colors in Word?

No, Microsoft Word has a hard-coded palette of 15 standard highlight colors. You cannot remove these predefined options or add custom colors like orange directly into the Text Highlight Color drop-down menu.

How do I remove the orange shading from my text?

To remove the shading, select the text with the orange background, go to the Home tab, click the Shading drop-down arrow in the Paragraph group, and choose 'No Color'.

Is text shading the same as highlighting when printing my document?

Yes, when it comes to printing, both text highlighting and text shading will print exactly as they appear on your screen, provided you are using a color printer and have 'Print background colors and images' enabled in your print options.

Will my orange shading remain if I copy and paste the text into another program?

This depends on the destination program. If you paste the text into another rich text editor (like an email client or another word processor), the orange background will usually be preserved. If pasted as plain text, the formatting will be lost.

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