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Use Effective Ways to Resolve Unable to Highlight Text in PDF Issue

Highlighting text in a PDF document is a convenient way to mark your useful or important text data to read when having a lot of pages in a single file. It also helps to emphasize important information or make notes. Using the highlighting function makes it easier to search for the required information. However, at times, experiencing issues with text highlighting can be terrible. Suppose you cannot highlight text in PDF files, through this instructive article. In that case, we’ll explain some troubleshooting tips and methods to overcome this issue and to make you able to highlight text effectively on normal or restricted PDF files in a seamless manner.

Numerous Causes Behind Unable to Highlight Text in PDF

• Docs Limitations: – Few PDF documents are generated with particular safety settings that restrict users from making changes, including highlighting text. These restrictions are typically set by the docs’ generators to protect its content.
• Scanned or Image-Based PDF: – If the PDF is created from scanned documents or consists of images instead of chosen text, users won’t be able to highlight the text. This is because there is no actual text to choose and highlight.
• Outdated or incompatible Tool: – Using outdated or incompatible PDF viewer tools can lead to issues in highlighting text. Confirm that the PDF viewer permits annotation features.
• Corrupted PDF File:- A corrupted PDF file can cause various problems, including the inability to highlight text.
• Password Protection: – Password-protected PDF might restrict multiple operations, including highlighting text.
• Browser or Software Issues: – In a few instances, browser or software issues can interfere with the ability to highlight text in a PDF.

Now that we have identified the possible causes, let’s explore how to fix can’t highlight text in PDF” problem.

How Can a User Verify That the Highlight Function is Disabled?

Whenever a user cannot highlight it in PDF files, the common reason is that the file has the highlight restriction applied by the PDF file owner. To verify that the user can simply go to the PDF file they want to highlight. If the user finds the highlight button (a pen symbol) is greyed out, it means that the files have a restriction, and it has to be removed.

So, we have discussed some solutions if you are unable to highlight text in PDF because of the existence of file protection.

Check If the PDF File is Scanned or Image PDF

Most of the time users can’t highlight text in PDF because the PDF is scanned or image-based. To check and address his problem, follow these steps.

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Hit on the View menu and choose tools, the recognize text.
3. Select this file to execute OCR on the entire document.
4. Wait for the OCR process to complete. This will convert scanned images into selectable text.
5. When the procedure is over, try highlighting the text again. Users should now be capable to select and highlight the text in the PDF.

Fix the Issue Not Able to Highlight in PDF Documents Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

Initially, one should know that in case of applied restriction, one will need to first remove protection or unlock the PDF file. To do that, the user can simply open the Adobe Acrobat Pro.

To resolve the issue of being unable to highlight text in PDF, just follow and perform the steps: Choose “Tools” > “Protect” > “Encrypt” > “Remove Security.”

Depending on the kind of password security a document has attached there are different techniques for removing it.

There are different techniques to remove it, based on the type of restriction applied:

1: Click “OK” to remove the Document Open password if it is present in the document.

2: If there is a password for the document’s rights, type it in the “Enter Password” box before clicking “OK.” Press “OK” once more to confirm the action.

Once the protection is disabled, then try to highlight text data. For multiple PDF files or pages, apply the same steps.

Resolving Issue Unable to Highlight Text in PDF Using an Effective Solution

Sometimes the users are not able to highlight PDF files which are secured, and multiple files are there. In that case, it is always suggested to use an automated tool which makes the process of unlocking and letting them highlight the required text in PDF files.  Using the best PDF File Unlocker Tool is among the best solutions to bypass PDF Permissions Passwords from PDF files and easily remove any kind of PDF protection. It opens your password-protected PDF file and removes several restrictions, including those on copying, printing, editing, commenting, and highlighting.

One can easily start the text highlighting, once the PDF has been made insecure. The process can be finished with the tool’s help in a few simple stages while preserving the file’s original structure and contents. By using this tool users can also Add Signature to Secured PDF Files. All Windows and Mac operating systems are compatible with it.

Let’s now see the workings of the tool and know how this tool helps.

Working Steps to Avoid the Issue How to Unable to Highlight Text in PDF

1. You must initially download and install the necessary software on your Windows computer before you can start the process.
2. Select the Add File/Add Folder button in the following screen, then upload the PDF files which are secured.
3. The next step is to select Change Button and enter the target location for the generated file. Also, mark the Save or Print option.
4. After completing the procedures above, hit the Unlock button to fix the unable to highlight text in PDF files issue by removing the restrictions applied.

Solutions to Other Causes Behind Can’t Highlight Text in PDF

For problems related to outdated tools, corrupted PDF files, read-only settings, password security, write protection, or browser/software problems, the solution may vary. Consider the following actions:

• Update Software: – Ensure that the PDF reader is up to date. Update the software to the latest edition.
• Repair or Recreate PDF: – If the user suspects a corrupted PDF try repairing it using PDF repair tools. If that fails, recreate the PDF from the source document.
• Change Permissions: – If the PDF is set to read-only or write-protected, users will be required to change the permissions. Check the document properties and adjust the settings as required.
• Enter Password: – For password-secure PDF documents, enter the right password to unlock editing and highlighting functions.
• Browser/Software Troubleshooting: – Clear the browser’s cache or try using a different PDF reader software to understand if the problem persists.

Conclusion

When users enter a situation where they are unable to highlight text in PDF files. It becomes a bit difficult to find an effective way to enable the highlighting option. Based on this case, we have outlined some solutions in this article. Including checking permissions and document restrictions and enabling highlighting tools. With the help of a manual or using a professional solution, users can easily enable the highlighting feature.

Questions Asked Commonly

Q1: Why I am unable to highlight text in PDF?

There can be several reasons like: Document Restrictions, using outdated PDF versions etc. But in general cases, Document Restrictions are the major reason behind this issue.

Q2: I have multiple files, but I am not able to highlight them in PDF files. What are the effective ways to do it?

By using the Adobe Acrobat tool you can unlock and highlight your PDF files. Another effective way could be by using the Automated which is designed to handle multiple files and unlock them quickly.

Q3: Does the tool have any file size limitations when trying to remove the restrictions?

No, there are no such limitations that are imposed, you can add several PDF files and remove restrictions easily.