{"id":10281,"date":"2026-03-27T01:04:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T08:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resources.aippt.com\/?p=10281"},"modified":"2026-04-13T23:54:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:54:03","slug":"highlight-in-powerpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources.aippt.com\/blog\/highlight-in-powerpoint","title":{"rendered":"How to Highlight in PowerPoint (6 Ways)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you been wondering how to highlight text in PowerPoint? If so, we’ll show you how to do it, even if you’re new to PowerPoint<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the PowerPoint highlight feature, you can emphasize text, data, or visuals to help your audience quickly spot key points in reports, school slides, or business presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, PowerPoint doesn’t always behave like Word. The highlighter is limited in some versions, which means you may need to explore alternatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s why we’ll cover six different ways to highlight in PowerPoint, so you can choose the one that works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1. Highlight Text in PPT Using the Built-in Tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The built-in tool is the quickest option when it comes to highlighting text in PowerPoint. However, this highlighter in PPT is only available in newer versions like Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2019+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The built-in highlighter allows you to use highlight cursor mode, which lets you select multiple text sections without reopening the menu. This makes it faster when working on long slides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Best for: <\/strong>quick edits and simple highlighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Select the text you want to highlight on the slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"1<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Go to the Home tab and click the dropdown arrow next to the Text Highlight Color button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3:<\/strong> Choose your most preferred highlight color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 4:<\/strong> To use cursor mode<\/strong>, click the highlight button first without selecting the text. Your cursor will change to a highlighter, which you can drag over any text on the slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 2. Highlight Text in PowerPoint with Shapes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re using an older version that doesn’t support the built-in highlighter, this method comes in quite handy. With it, you can customize the color, shape, and transparency in your presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you should know a few things to get the best out of this method. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n