How to Change Text Highlight Colors Quickly in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user needs a faster, more efficient way to switch between multiple text highlight colors in Adobe Acrobat without repeatedly opening the full annotation properties dialog.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and annotating a PDF document where multiple different highlight colors are required.
- Observed behavior
- Changing colors through the standard annotation properties dialog is slow and inefficient for heavy annotation workflows.
Ensure you have your PDF document open in Adobe Acrobat and the highlight tool selected before attempting to use the quick properties shortcut.
Use the Properties Bar Shortcut (Ctrl+E)
The fastest way to change highlight colors on the fly is by utilizing the floating Properties bar shortcut.
Instead of right-clicking and opening the full Properties dialog box every time you want to switch colors, you can use a quick keyboard shortcut to bring up a floating toolbar. This toolbar dynamically changes based on the tool you currently have selected.
Click on the Highlight text tool located in the Acrobat commenting toolbar at the top of the screen.
Press 'Ctrl+E' on your keyboard (or 'Cmd+E' if you are using a Mac) to display the floating Properties bar.
Click the color swatch icon within the new floating Properties bar to instantly select and apply a new highlight color without interrupting your workflow.
Submit a Feature Request for Toolbar Buttons
If you require dedicated color buttons permanently visible on the main toolbar, you will need to submit a feature request to Adobe.
Easily Highlight and Annotate PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust, built-in PDF editor that makes annotating and highlighting text incredibly intuitive. You can easily switch between highlight colors directly from the quick access ribbon without relying on floating toolbars or hidden menus.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you wish to annotate.
- 2. Navigate to the Comment Tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon to reveal the annotation tools.
- 3. Select Highlight and Color: Click the small drop-down arrow next to the 'Highlight' icon to immediately pick your preferred color from the palette.
- 4. Annotate Seamlessly: Apply the highlight to your text. Whenever you need a different color, simply click the drop-down arrow again on the permanent ribbon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a default highlight color in Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. Once you have highlighted some text with your preferred color, right-click the highlighted text, select 'Properties', check the box that says 'Make Properties Default', and click OK. All future highlights will use this color until you change it again.
Why isn't the Ctrl+E shortcut opening the Properties bar?
Ensure that you either have an annotation tool (like the Highlight tool) currently selected or an existing annotation actively clicked on. The Properties bar only appears when a customizable tool or object is active.
Can I highlight text in a scanned PDF document?
To highlight text in a scanned PDF, the document must first contain selectable text. You need to run OCR (Optical Character Recognition) via the 'Enhance Scans' or 'Recognize Text' tool in Acrobat to convert the image into searchable and selectable text before applying highlights.
Is there a way to highlight text without clicking the toolbar icon first?
Yes. You can simply use your cursor to select the text you want to emphasize, right-click the selected text, and choose 'Highlight Text' from the context menu to apply the current default highlight color.
