The following sections contain information on how to highlight text on a computer, mobile device, or program. We've also included keyboard shortcuts, tips, and areas where you can practice highlighting text on this page.

How to highlight text on a desktop or laptop computer

Shortcut to select text from the current cursor position till the end of the document Hi, What is the shortcut key combination to select all text from the present cursor position till the end of the document in Outlook for Mac (and Word). Select Home tab click the arrow in Text Highlight Color icon and click the desired highlight color. The currently selected color works as the default highlight color and is shown in the icon. If you want to apply that color, you can just click the icon. (To remove highlight, select No Color ). Put your cursor in the Press new shortcut key field (5) and press the key combination you want to assign to color highlighting. Suggestion: Use Ctrl+Alt+H, the same as Word 2007. That way, when you move to Word 2007 you won’t have to reassign the keys or remember something different.

To remove a strikethrough, verify that the text is still highlighted and click the Strikethrough button again or click Clear All Formatting. Both buttons are in the Home Font group. Strikethrough Shortcuts in Microsoft Word. If you use strikethrough a lot, it might be worthwhile to set up a shortcut to make the feature more accessible. The keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Microsoft Word documents is Alt + H + 4. When you press one of the Alt keys, Word will highlight all keyboard shortcuts in the ribbon. Then you can press H and 4 keys either together or separately (by holding the alt key) to apply strikethrough for the selected content.

Below are all the different methods of highlighting text, icons, and other objects on your computer using a desktop mouse, touchpad, and keyboard.

Microsoft Word Shortcut For Highlighting Text

The methods below work in most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How to highlight text using your mouse

To highlight text using your mouse, position your cursor at the beginning of the text you want to highlight. Press and hold your primary mouse button (commonly the left button). While holding the mouse button, drag the cursor to the end of the text and let go of the mouse button. Once completed, all text from the beginning to the end should be highlighted. Below is an example of how text can be highlighted.

There is no limit to how much text can be highlighted. You can move to the end of a paragraph to highlight the full paragraph or keep holding the mouse button down and select multiple paragraphs or pages of text.

Text can be highlighted when your mouse pointer changes to an I-beam cursor.

How to highlight using a touchpad on a laptop

To highlight text using a touchpad on a laptop, move the cursor to the beginning of the text you want to highlight. Press and hold down the primary mouse button below the touchpad. While continuing to hold down the button, move another finger (or one from your other hand) along the touchpad in the direction you want to highlight.

If the touchpad acts as a button, press down until you feel a 'click,' and then drag your finger in either direction to highlight text.

Select text with the mouse button

Double-clicking a word highlights the word and triple-clicking a word highlights the full line or paragraph of text.

How to highlight text using your keyboard

To highlight with the keyboard, move to the starting location using the arrow keys. Then, hold down the Shift key, and press the arrow key in the direction you want to highlight. Once everything you want is highlighted, let go of the Shift key.

If you want to highlight one word at a time, press Ctrl while holding down Shift, and then press the Left arrow or Right arrow.

If you want to highlight a whole line of text, move your cursor to the start of the line, hold the Shift key, and then press the Down arrow. You may also use the shortcut key combination Shift+End.

If you want to highlight all text, press the shortcut key Ctrl+A.

If you are not working with text that can be edited (e.g., this paragraph), you cannot highlight text using these methods. However, they work in word processor documents, text documents, and any text field.

Practice highlighting text

Below is a text field where you can practice highlighting text using the keyboard.

How to highlight text using your keyboard and mouse

To use the keyboard and mouse in combination, begin by moving the cursor to where you want to start highlighting. Then, hold down the Shift key and click where you want to finish highlighting.

You can also practice this technique in the above text box.

How to highlight an icon or another object

To highlight an object like an icon in Windows, single-click the item. Once clicked, the icon or text should change to a different color, indicating it is highlighted.

To highlight multiple icons or other objects, drag a box around all files you want to highlight.

If you want to individually highlight files, hold down the Ctrl on the keyboard and while still holding the Ctrl, single-click each file you want to highlight.

How to highlight multiple e-mails, files, icons, or other objects

Users may highlight multiple objects at once using the mouse or mouse and keyboard. In many programs, you can draw a marquee around the items you want to highlight. To draw a marquee, click-and-hold the left mouse button outside the area of the items, and then drag the marquee to the opposite diagonal corner. Once you release the mouse button, the items contained in the box are highlighted. In the animated picture, we are selecting nine picture files.

If a program doesn't support a marquee, highlight the first object in the series. Then, hold down the Shift, click the last item you want to selected, and then let go of the Shift. For example, clicking 'Example' in the select field below, and then holding down Shift and clicking 'Items' highlights all four available options.

To select only certain items from the list, hold down Ctrl, and click each item you want to highlight. Repeat this action to deselect an item.

How to highlight text on an Android smartphone and tablet

What Is The Keyboard Shortcut For Highlighting Text

Press and hold down on any text with your finger, drag your finger over the text you'd like to highlight, and then let go. Upon letting go, a menu should appear in the top-right corner of the screen (shown to the right) that allows you to cut or copy.

You may also press and hold on one word, the use the side bars to adjust the amount of highlighted text.

How to highlight text on an Apple iPhone and iPad

Press and hold your finger down on any text, drag your finger over the text you want to highlight, and then lift your finger. In the menu that appears, tap the Select option.

You may also press and hold on one word, then use the side bars to adjust the amount of highlighted text.

How to highlight text on a Chromebook

For Chromebooks that have no mouse buttons, you can copy and paste text by following the steps below.

Press down on the touchpad and keep your finger there. Then, while continuing to hold down on the touchpad, drag your finger in the direction you want to highlight text. When you're finished highlighting, lift your finger.

You can also use many of the mouse and keyboard tips mentioned in our desktop and laptop section on a Chromebook.

How to highlight text on a Kindle

Microsoft Word Shortcut For Highlighting Word

Press and hold your finger down on the starting word. Once that word is highlighted, drag your finger over any additional text to select it. When you're finished highlighting, lift your finger.

Additional information

• See our highlight definitions for further information and related links.