PDF Editing Issues

How to Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat Reader iPad App

Phi Hung Vo Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to know the correct gestures and methods to highlight text in the Adobe Acrobat Reader app for iPad following a recent user interface update.

How to Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat Reader for iPad

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Annotating and highlighting specific text passages within a PDF document on an iPad.
Observed behavior: Users are unable to highlight text using the previous dragging gesture because the app update changed the required action to long-pressing before dragging.

Before you start

Ensure your Adobe Acrobat Reader app is fully updated to the latest version from the App Store, and open the PDF document you wish to annotate.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Commenting Tools to Highlight Text

Access the dedicated commenting mode to easily select the highlight tool and annotate your document with the new long-press gesture.

Recent updates to the Adobe Acrobat Reader app have modified how text selection and highlighting work. Instead of simply swiping across the text, users must now engage a long-press gesture to activate the text selection magnifying glass.

Open Commenting Tools

Tap the Commenting Tools button, which appears as a blue circular pencil icon located at the bottom left of your screen.

Select the Highlight Tool

From the expanded commenting menu options, tap on the 'Highlight' icon.

Initiate the Highlight

Long-press the beginning of the text you want to highlight until a magnifying glass appears on the screen.

Drag to Apply

Drag your finger or Apple Pencil across the sentence to apply the highlight to the selected text.

Use the Commenting Tools to Highlight Text

Alternative Highlighting Method: If the commenting mode is inactive, you can simply long-press a specific word in the document and select 'Highlight' directly from the pop-up context menu.

Seamless PDF Annotation

Highlight and Edit PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office

If you find updated gestures in other PDF readers cumbersome, try WPS Office for iOS. It offers an intuitive PDF reader and editor where you can easily highlight text, add comments, and sign documents on your iPad without confusing interface changes.

1. Open Your PDF Document: Launch the WPS Office app on your iPad and open the PDF file you wish to annotate.
2. Select the Annotation Tools: Tap the 'Annotation' tab in the top menu bar, then select the 'Highlight' tool icon.
3. Highlight Your Text: Simply drag your finger or Apple Pencil over the desired text to apply the highlight instantly.

Free and highly intuitive PDF highlighting and annotation tools.Fully compatible with standard Adobe PDF formats and existing annotations.Lightweight mobile app that integrates Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF editing in one place.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I highlight text in my PDF anymore?

Adobe Acrobat Reader recently updated its gesture controls on the iPad. You now need to long-press the start of the text until a magnifying glass appears, rather than just dragging your finger.

How do I change the highlight color in Adobe Acrobat for iPad?

After highlighting the text, tap on the highlighted area. A context menu will appear where you can tap 'Color' to select a different highlight color from the palette.

Can I remove a highlight if I made a mistake?

Yes. Tap directly on the highlighted text and select 'Clear' or 'Delete' from the pop-up options menu to remove the highlight completely.

Does the Apple Pencil work with the new highlighting gesture?

Yes, the Apple Pencil is fully compatible. You still need to perform the long-press and drag action, unless you have configured specific Apple Pencil double-tap shortcuts within your iPad settings.

PDF Troubleshooting