PDF Editing Issues

How to Fix Text Disappearing After Highlighting in PDF

Nimra Malik Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users report that newly added text in a PDF document becomes completely invisible after applying the highlight tool, leaving only the highlight color visible.

How to Fix Text Disappearing After Highlighting in a PDF

Product: PDF Editor
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding text annotations to a PDF and subsequently trying to mark them up using the highlight tool.
Observed behavior: The text disappears immediately after the highlight annotation is placed over it, as if the highlight is covering the text instead of being transparent.

Before you start

Ensure your PDF viewer or editor is updated to the latest version, as outdated rendering engines often cause graphical layering glitches with annotations.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust the Highlight Opacity and Properties

If the highlight acts as a solid color block instead of a transparent marker, reducing its opacity will reveal the hidden text.

In some PDF applications, the highlight tool may default to a standard drawing object rather than a true text highlighter. By adjusting the opacity of this object, you can allow the underlying text to show through.

Select the highlight

Click directly on the problematic highlight annotation in your PDF document to select it.

Open properties

Right-click the selected highlight and choose 'Properties' from the context menu to access the appearance settings.

Reduce opacity

Navigate to the Appearance tab and drag the Opacity slider down to 40-50% so the text underneath becomes visible.

Adjust the Highlight Opacity and Properties

Quick Fix: If you don't need the highlight immediately, you can simply click the highlight block and press the 'Delete' key to restore your text.

Solution 2

Flatten the PDF Document Before Highlighting

When adding new text boxes over existing PDF content, highlighting them might cause rendering layers to conflict. Flattening the file merges all layers.

Highlight and Edit PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office

Avoid annotation bugs and disappearing text by using the native PDF editor in WPS Office. It handles text layers, interactive forms, and transparent blend modes flawlessly.

1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, click on 'Open', and select your PDF document.
2. Access the Comment Tool: Click on the 'Comment' tab located in the top navigation ribbon to access annotation features.
3. Highlight Text safely: Select the 'Highlight' tool, choose your preferred color, and drag your cursor over the text to highlight it cleanly without covering the content.

Reliable PDF rendering without text overlap issuesIntuitive highlight, underline, and comment toolsPerfect compatibility with standard PDF formats and Adobe AcrobatCross-platform support for Windows, Mac, and mobile

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my text disappear when I highlight it in a PDF?

This usually occurs due to a software layering bug where the highlight is applied as an opaque shape that sits on top of the text layer, effectively hiding it rather than blending transparently.

Is the text permanently deleted when it disappears under a highlight?

No, the text is still present in the document. It is simply hidden behind the highlight layer. You can retrieve it by deleting the highlight annotation or adjusting its opacity in the properties menu.

How do I prevent the highlight tool from covering my newly added text?

To prevent this, you can flatten the PDF document before highlighting, adjust your default annotation opacity to 50%, or switch to a more reliable PDF editor like WPS Office that natively supports proper text highlight blending.

PDF Troubleshooting