How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat Reader
Question details
The user is trying to highlight text using keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Acrobat Reader but finds that pressing Shift+U applies a strikethrough instead.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Annotating a PDF document efficiently using keyboard shortcuts rather than clicking through the toolbar.
- Observed behavior
- Even with single-key accelerators enabled, using Shift+U incorrectly triggers the strikethrough formatting instead of the highlight tool.
Ensure that single-key accelerators are enabled in your Acrobat Reader preferences by navigating to Edit > Preferences > General, and checking 'Use single-key accelerators to access tools'.
Use the Single-Key Shortcut 'U' to Highlight Text
Activate the highlight tool directly using the single-key accelerator instead of the Shift modifier.
In Adobe Acrobat Reader, the 'U' key cycles through various text markup tools when single-key accelerators are enabled. Pressing 'Shift+U' may toggle to the strikethrough tool instead of the highlighter. To fix this, use the 'U' key by itself to activate the highlighter.
Press the 'U' key on your keyboard to activate the Highlight tool in Acrobat Reader.
Click and drag your cursor over the text you want to highlight. The text will now be highlighted in your default color.
Use the Right-Click Context Menu
A quick alternative if keyboard shortcuts are unresponsive or single-key accelerators are disabled.
Easily Highlight and Edit PDFs in WPS Office
WPS Office includes a built-in, lightweight PDF editor that makes highlighting, annotating, and modifying PDF documents incredibly simple and fast. It is fully compatible with standard PDF formats and offers an intuitive interface for all your annotation needs.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Navigate to the Comment tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon.
- 3. Select the Highlight tool: Click the 'Highlight' button and choose your preferred highlight color.
- 4. Apply highlight: Drag your cursor over the text you want to emphasize to instantly apply the highlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are single-key shortcuts not working in my Acrobat Reader?
By default, single-key accelerators might be turned off. To enable them, go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Acrobat > Preferences (Mac). Under Categories, select General, check the box for 'Use single-key accelerators to access tools', and click OK.
How do I change the default highlight color in Acrobat Reader?
Right-click on text you have already highlighted and select 'Properties'. In the Appearance tab, pick a new color, check the 'Make Properties Default' box at the bottom, and click OK.
Is there a shortcut to quickly remove or undo a highlight in a PDF?
You can press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac) immediately after highlighting to undo it. Alternatively, you can click on the highlighted text and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
