Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Missing or Disabled Highlighter Tool in PowerPoint 2016

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to use the Text Highlight Color tool in PowerPoint 2016 because the command is either completely missing from the Ribbon or grayed out and disabled even when text is selected.

How to Fix the Missing or Disabled Highlighter Tool in PowerPoint 2016

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to highlight text in a presentation slide using the Home tab.
Observed behavior: The Highlighter tool is either entirely absent from the Ribbon or visible but disabled (grayed out), preventing the user from highlighting selected text.

Before you start

Verify whether the highlighting feature works normally in other Office applications like Word. Also, ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials handy, as you may need to sign back in if an Office reinstallation is required.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore the Highlighter Tool by Customizing the Ribbon

Manually add the Text Highlight Color command back to the Home tab if it was accidentally removed or hidden.

Open Ribbon Customization

Right-click any empty space on the PowerPoint Ribbon at the top of the window and select 'Customize the Ribbon' from the context menu.

Create a New Group

In the right pane of the options window, make sure the 'Home' tab is expanded, click on it, and then click the 'New Group' button to create a dedicated space for the highlighter tool.

Add the Highlight Command

In the left pane drop-down menu, select 'All Commands'. Scroll down the alphabetical list to find 'Text Highlight Color', select it, click 'Add' to move it into your newly created group, and click 'OK' to save.

Restore the Highlighter Tool by Customizing the Ribbon

Solution 2

Disable Conflicting Add-ins and Repair Office

Identify if a recent add-in is disabling the highlighting feature or if the Office installation needs a quick repair.

Solution 3

Clean Reinstall Office 2016

Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant to perform a clean uninstallation and reinstallation of Office when basic repairs fail.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Presentation for a Seamless and Error-Free Experience

If PowerPoint 2016 continues to give you trouble with missing features or Ribbon glitches, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative with all the presentation tools you need—including a fully functional text highlighter right out of the box.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing .pptx file.
3. Highlight Your Text: Select the text you want to emphasize and click the 'Text Highlight Color' icon directly on the Home tab.

Highly compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint formats (.ppt, .pptx).Built-in, fully functional Text Highlight Color tool easily accessible on the Home tab.Free, lightweight, and fast-loading alternative to Microsoft Office.Familiar, user-friendly tabbed interface for a zero-learning-curve migration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Text Highlight Color command grayed out even when I select text in PowerPoint 2016?

This usually happens due to a conflicting third-party add-in, a corrupted Office update, or an underlying bug in the PowerPoint 2016 installation that prevents the Ribbon commands from activating properly.

Does the text highlight feature work differently in PowerPoint compared to Word?

Yes. While Word has always had a dedicated text highlighter, native text highlighting was fully integrated into PowerPoint mostly in newer versions (like Office 2019 and Microsoft 365). In PowerPoint 2016, users sometimes need to add it manually to the Ribbon.

Can I use the Shape Fill tool instead of the Highlighter tool?

Yes. If the actual text highlighter is completely broken, you can select the text box and use 'Shape Fill' to color the background of the entire text block. However, this will color the whole box, not individual words within a sentence.

Will repairing Office via Control Panel delete my custom templates?

No, running a Quick Repair or Online Repair from the Control Panel only replaces corrupted program files and registry keys. It does not affect your personal files, presentations, or custom templates.

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