How to Fix Grayed-Out Highlighter Tool in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user is unable to highlight text in a PDF document because the highlighter tool is inactive or grayed out.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to highlight text or add annotations to an opened PDF file.
- Observed behavior
- The highlighter tool in the application is grayed out and cannot be selected or applied to the current document.
Ensure you are viewing a standard text-based PDF rather than a scanned image, as scanned documents cannot be highlighted directly unless OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is performed first.
Check Document Properties for Commenting Restrictions
Verify if the PDF file has security settings that restrict commenting or annotations, which disables the highlighter tool.
PDF creators often apply security permissions to their documents to prevent unauthorized editing or annotations. When commenting is restricted, tools like the highlighter will automatically gray out.
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat. Right-click anywhere on the document or click on 'File' in the top menu, then select 'Properties' or 'Document Properties'.
In the Document Properties window, click on the 'Security' tab located at the top.
Look for the 'Document Restrictions Summary' section. Check the status next to 'Commenting'. If it says 'Not Allowed', the document is secured against annotations.
If restrictions are in place and you have the permissions password, change the Security Method to 'No Security' to unlock it. If you do not have the password, you must request an unlocked version from the original document owner.
Use WPS Office to Highlight and Annotate PDFs Without Hassle
WPS PDF offers a user-friendly and lightweight interface for reading, editing, and annotating PDF documents. You can quickly add highlights, manage file permissions, and export to various formats seamlessly.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Download and launch WPS Office, then select your PDF file to open it in the WPS PDF reader.
- 2. Access the Comment Tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon menu to view all available annotation tools.
- 3. Apply Highlights: Click on the 'Highlight' tool and drag your cursor over the specific text you wish to emphasize.
- 4. Verify Permissions: If needed, click on the 'Protect' tab and select 'Document Encryption' to view or modify editing and commenting rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the highlighter tool grayed out on a downloaded PDF?
The creator of the PDF likely applied security restrictions to prevent modifications, including highlighting and commenting. You can verify this by checking the Document Properties under the Security tab.
Can I highlight text in a scanned PDF document?
Standard highlighters only work on recognized text. If your PDF is a scanned image, the text isn't selectable. You will need to use a PDF editor to perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) first to convert the image into selectable text.
How do I unlock a PDF to enable highlighting?
If you have the permissions password, go to File > Properties > Security, and change the Security Method to 'No Security'. Enter the password when prompted to remove the restrictions. Otherwise, you must contact the author for an unlocked copy.
