How to Highlight Text in a Google Docs Document

When collaborating on a long report, reviewing a student’s essay, or simply studying your own notes, drawing visual attention to key sentences is essential. Just as you would use a neon yellow marker on physical paper, Google Docs includes a digital highlighting tool. Highlighting text allows you to emphasize important data, mark sections for review, or color-code different themes within a large document without permanently altering the underlying text format.

How to Apply a Highlight Color

The highlight tool is conveniently located directly on the main formatting toolbar, making it accessible at all times.

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Using your mouse, click and drag over the specific text you want to highlight. The text should be temporarily selected in a light blue box.
3. Look at the main formatting toolbar at the top of the screen (where you find bold, italic, and underline options).
4. Locate the Highlight color icon. It looks like a small marker pen with a thick line underneath it.
5. Click the icon to open the color palette dropdown.
6. Click on your desired color. The standard, highly visible “neon yellow” is usually found in the top row, but you can choose any color you prefer.
7. Click anywhere else in the document to deselect the text. The background behind your chosen words will now permanently display the highlighted color.

Using Custom Highlight Colors

If you are creating a branded document or have a very specific color-coding system, you are not limited to the default palette provided by Google.

1. Highlight your text and click the Highlight color icon.
2. Instead of clicking a preset color, look under the “Custom” heading and click the “+” (Plus) icon.
3. This opens a detailed color picker. You can click anywhere on the color spectrum to find the perfect shade.
4. Alternatively, if you know the exact Hexadecimal color code (e.g., #FFD700 for a specific gold), you can type it directly into the “Hex” box at the top.
5. Click OK to apply your custom highlight.

How to Remove a Highlight

If a section has been reviewed and no longer needs emphasis, removing the highlight is just as easy as adding it.

1. Click and drag your mouse to select the highlighted text. (Make sure you select the entire highlighted portion).
2. Click the Highlight color icon on the toolbar.
3. At the very top of the color palette, click the button labelled None (it has a white background with a red diagonal line through it).
4. The highlight will instantly disappear, returning the text background to normal.