How to Change Highlight Color in PDF

Most people use the default yellow highlight in PDFs, but sometimes that’s not enough. You might want red to mark corrections, green for approvals, or blue to separate definitions from examples.

Instead of removing highlights and starting over, you can directly edit the highlight color to make your PDF document clearer and easier to navigate.

How to Change Highlight Color in PDF: Step-by-Step Guide

Changing highlight color is simple with Smallpdf’s Edit PDF, which includes a PDF Annotator for adding and editing highlights.

Step 1: Open Edit PDF

Go to Annotate PDF. The tool works in your browser, so you don’t need to download or install anything.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Drag and drop your document into the editor, or import it directly from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Step 3: Select the Highlight

Click the highlighted text you want to adjust. A toolbar appears with available color options.

Step 4: Change the Highlight Color

Choose a new shade from the palette. The highlight updates instantly without affecting the text underneath.

Step 5: Save the PDF

Click Finish to download your updated file or save it back to your connected cloud account.

PDF change highlight color on mobile is as easy as in your browser. Open Smallpdf in your browser, tap the highlight, and choose a new shade to update your document.

Why Change Highlight Color in a PDF?

Highlighting is meant to make information stand out, but a single color often falls short. When you change PDF highlight color, you gain the ability to organize your notes more effectively.

For example, students often highlight the PDF with multiple colors to distinguish between main ideas, supporting points, and definitions. In business, teams use red highlights for corrections and green for approvals. Even casual readers benefit by using distinct colors to mark sections they want to revisit later.

In short, color-coded highlights turn a cluttered PDF into a structured, easy-to-read document.

Common Issues When Changing Highlight Colors in PDFs

Even though the process is straightforward, you might encounter some challenges:

• Restricted PDFs: If the file is locked, you’ll need to unlock it before editing. Smallpdf offers an Unlock PDF option to remove restrictions when you have access rights.
• Scanned documents: If highlights are part of a scanned image, you can’t recolor them. Instead, remove the highlight in the PDF and apply a new one.
• Too many old highlights: When documents become overloaded with markings, managing them can be frustrating. Smallpdf allows you to mass delete highlights to start fresh.
• Highlights not displaying correctly: Some PDFs use unusual formatting. If colors don’t update as expected, download the file, re-upload it, and try again.

Understanding these issues ensures smoother editing when you need to change highlight color in a PDF.

Tips for Managing Highlights Efficiently With Smallpdf

Highlights are most useful when they’re consistent and well-organized. Smallpdf makes this easier with tools that go beyond simply changing the color.

First, you can switch between multiple colors whenever you need, creating a clear visual system inside your PDF.

If you need to extract only the highlighted sections for quick review, Smallpdf also supports extracting highlighted text into a new file.

For users who often annotate reports, essays, or contracts, knowing how to change highlighter color in PDF saves time and keeps notes consistent.

Together, these options help you manage, edit, and share PDFs without losing track of important information.

FAQs

1. How do I change the default highlight color in a PDF?

The default is usually yellow, but you can change it. With Smallpdf, once you select a new color, the tool remembers it until you switch again.

2. Can I edit existing highlights and change them to a new color?

Yes. Select the highlight, choose a different color, and it updates instantly while keeping the text intact.

3. Is it possible to use multiple highlight colors in one PDF?

Absolutely. You can use as many colors as needed, making it easier to categorize information.

4. Is it possible to change highlighter color in PDF on mobile?

Yes. Open Smallpdf in your mobile browser, tap the highlight, and change the shade just like on desktop.

5. Will highlight color changes remain permanent after saving?

Yes. Once you export the file, the new colors stay fixed. Anyone who opens the PDF will see them.

6. Can I share a PDF with updated highlight colors with others?

Yes. After editing, save the file and share it by email or through Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. The updated highlights display the same for everyone.