PDF Editing Issues

How to Add More Highlighter Colors in Adobe Acrobat for iOS

Camila Milosovich Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to add custom or additional highlighter colors while annotating a PDF in the Adobe Acrobat app for iOS.

How to Add More Highlighter Colors in Adobe Acrobat for iOS

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: iOS
Scenario: Highlighting and annotating text within a PDF document on an iPhone or iPad.
Observed behavior: The application restricts users to a fixed, limited selection of preset highlighter colors and does not provide an option to add custom colors.

Before you start

Ensure your Adobe Acrobat app is updated to the latest version on your iOS device, as new preset colors are occasionally added in recent application updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Preset Colors and Submit a Feature Request

Since custom highlighter colors are currently restricted in the iOS version of Adobe Acrobat, you must rely on the default presets while formally requesting the feature for future updates.

Mobile versions of PDF readers are often streamlined for touch optimization, which sometimes leads to simplified toolsets compared to desktop versions. Adobe Acrobat for iOS completely locks the highlighter palette to fixed presets.

Access the Highlight Tool

Open the Adobe Acrobat app on your iPhone or iPad, open a PDF document, and tap the 'Highlight' icon in the bottom annotation toolbar.

Select a Preset Color

Tap on the highlighted text and select 'Color' from the popup menu to choose from the currently available preset palette.

Visit the Feature Request Form

Open your mobile web browser and navigate to the official Adobe Acrobat Feature Request form.

Submit Your Feedback

Fill out the form requesting the addition of a custom color picker or HEX code input for the iOS highlighter tool.

Use Preset Colors and Submit a Feature Request

System Limitations: Adobe engineers actively monitor the feature request forms, and highly requested features like extended color palettes are often prioritized in major iOS updates.

Solution 2

Apply Custom Highlights via the Desktop Version

If you urgently require a very specific highlight color for your document, you can apply it using the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat and then sync it to your iOS device.

Powerful PDF Annotator

Highlight PDFs with Custom Colors in WPS Office

Bypass the color limitations of Adobe Acrobat for iOS. WPS Office offers a highly capable, free PDF editor that allows you to easily annotate, highlight, and customize your documents directly on your mobile device.

1. Download the Application: Install WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and tap the 'Files' tab to open your PDF document.
3. Access PDF Annotations: Tap 'Tools' at the bottom menu, then navigate to the 'Annotation' tab and select the 'Highlight' tool.
4. Choose Your Color: Tap the color palette icon to select your preferred highlight color from a rich selection of shades.
5. Save Your Changes: Highlight your text and tap 'Done' to save the perfectly annotated PDF to your device or cloud.

Extensive highlighter color options for precise document annotationFully compatible with standard PDF formats and Adobe Acrobat filesFree, lightweight, and responsive interface designed specifically for iOSIncludes advanced PDF tools like signatures, text boxes, and file conversion

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use HEX codes to pick a highlighter color in Adobe Acrobat for iOS?

No, the iOS version of Adobe Acrobat uses a strict, predefined grid of colors for its highlighter tool. It currently does not support entering HEX codes or RGB values to pick custom colors.

Will custom highlights made on my computer show up in the iOS app?

Yes. If you highlight text with a custom color using the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat, that specific color will render and display correctly when you open the synced PDF on your iOS device.

Can I change the opacity of the highlighter in the iOS app?

Adobe Acrobat for iOS offers very limited opacity controls natively. For fine-tuning the transparency levels of your highlights, you generally need to use the desktop version's properties menu.

Are there any third-party plugins to add colors to Adobe Acrobat iOS?

iOS restricts third-party plugins from altering the core functionality of standalone apps like Adobe Acrobat. You cannot install add-ons to expand the mobile app's built-in color palette.

PDF Troubleshooting