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Can You Change the Find and Replace Highlight Color in Visio?

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to change the default highlight color used when utilizing the Find and Replace feature in Visio.

Can You Change the Find and Replace Highlight Color in Visio?

Product: Microsoft Visio
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Searching for specific shapes or text within a Visio diagram using the built-in Find and Replace tool.
Observed behavior: Visio uses a fixed light-gray highlight color for search results, making it difficult to visually identify matching shapes on a complex canvas.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Visio diagram open and the Find and Replace pane active to easily follow the formatting workaround steps.

Solution 1

Understand Visio's Limitation and Submit Feedback

Currently, the highlight color for Find and Replace in Visio is fixed by design and cannot be natively adjusted.

By default, Visio 2019 and newer versions use a light-gray selection color to highlight matching results in the Find and Replace tool. Unfortunately, there is no built-in configuration option in the software to customize this color to something brighter or more distinct.

Open the Feedback Portal

Navigate to the official Microsoft Visio feedback portal online or use the Help menu located directly in the Visio application.

Submit a Feature Request

Suggest that the ability to change the Find and Replace highlight color be added to future updates, as a brighter contrast greatly helps visibility for large diagrams.

Solution 2Recommended

Apply a Temporary Formatting Workaround

Since the default highlight is faint, you can manually apply a bright, temporary format to located shapes to make them visible.

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While WPS Office doesn't feature a standalone Visio clone, it provides an exceptional, free alternative for all your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint needs. It features intuitive document search tools, highly visible highlight options, and built-in flowchart features within Writer and Presentation to fulfill your diagramming requirements without the rigid limitations.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free productivity suite.
2. Launch Writer or Presentation: Create a new document or presentation file to serve as your diagramming canvas.
3. Access Built-in Shapes: Navigate to the Insert tab, select Shapes, and build your diagram easily with elements that support fully customizable highlight and fill colors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use VBA macros to change the find highlight color in Visio?

No, the selection highlight color used by the Find and Replace dialog is deeply embedded into the Visio user interface and cannot be overridden by VBA macros.

Is there an advanced setting in Visio 2019 to change general UI colors?

You can change the overall Office Theme (e.g., Colorful, Dark Gray, White) via File > Options > General, but this does not alter the specific light-gray highlight color dedicated to search results.

How do I quickly find specific shapes in a complex Visio diagram without relying on Find and Replace?

Aside from Find and Replace, you can use the 'Select by Type' feature located under the Home tab in the Editing group. This allows you to select multiple shapes by their layer or shape type, making them easier to group and visually format all at once.

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