Accidentally highlighted something in your PDF and can’t get rid of it? Here’s how to remove highlight in PDF files quickly and cleanly.
You don’t need to start over or re-upload your file. We’ll show you how to unhighlight in PDF step by step using Smallpdf.
You’ll also learn what to do if the file’s locked, scanned, or not letting you click anything.
How to Remove Highlights from a PDF
If you added highlights using a PDF editor, you can usually delete them with a few clicks. Here’s how to remove highlights from PDF files using Smallpdf.
Step 1: Open the PDF in Edit Mode
- Go to Edit PDF
- Click Upload to import your file
- Wait for the editor to load fully before clicking anything
Step 2: Click the Highlight to Select It
- Click directly on the highlighted area
- A small toolbar will appear with options
- If the highlight is editable, it will become active immediately
Step 3: Delete or Modify the Highlight
- Press Delete or use the trash icon to remove the highlight
- Or, adjust the color or opacity to make it disappear visually
How to Remove Highlights from a PDF
This process works for most standard PDFs. If your file doesn’t let you select the highlight, jump to the next section.
What If I Can’t Unhighlight Text in My PDF?
Some highlights can’t be selected because they’ve been flattened or added through scanning. Here’s how to handle those cases:
- Open the file in PDF Annotator and try selecting the area again
- If the file still won’t respond, it’s likely flattened — meaning the highlight is baked into the page
- In that case, try covering it with a white box using the shape tool, or crop the page to hide the area
Cover Text in PDF
Still stuck? You may need to scan the original document again without highlights or use PDF Scanner to start fresh.
How Do I Remove Highlights from a PDF That’s Read-Only or Secured?
If your file is locked or protected, you won’t be able to remove highlight from PDF pages until the restrictions are lifted.
Here’s what to do: 1. Go to Unlock PDF 2. Upload your file and wait for the tool to check the permissions 3. If it’s password-protected, enter the password when prompted 4. Download the unlocked file and reopen it in Edit PDF 5. Try removing the highlight again using the steps above
Some secured files may be certified or restricted permanently. In those cases, it may not be possible to edit or unhighlight text in PDF documents at all.
FAQs
1. Can I remove highlights from a scanned PDF?
Not directly. Scanned files are images, so highlights are flattened. You can try PDF Scanner to scan a clean copy or use annotation tools to cover unwanted highlights.
2. How do I unhighlight text in a PDF?
Open the file in Edit PDF, click the highlight, and press Delete. If it doesn’t respond, the highlight may be flattened.
3. How do I remove highlight fillable fields in a PDF?
Open the form in Edit mode, locate the field, and delete or adjust the background color. If it's part of the form design, you may need to recreate the field.
4. Can all highlights be removed?
No. If the highlight was flattened or embedded in a scanned file, it can’t be deleted, but you can cover or crop it out manually.
5. How do I remove highlights on mobile?
Use the Smallpdf mobile app or access the Edit PDF feature in your browser. Upload your file, tap the highlight, and delete it.
6. Is there a free way to remove highlights from a PDF?
Yes. Smallpdf lets you unhighlight PDFs for free with the Edit PDF. Just upload, delete the highlight, and download.
