Highlight your text

Text highlighting in PowerPoint 2019 and newer versions lets you mark text in yellow or another highlighter color. (This feature is available on both Windows and macOS, and it's available in your browser in PowerPoint for the web.)

Windows macOS Web

If you don't see the Text Highlight Color Shows the Highlight With Text Icon in PowerPoint. button on the Home tab of the Ribbon, read Requirements below for more details.

Highlight one piece of text

Select the text that you want to highlight.
On the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color .
Choose a color. The text you selected will be highlighted in the color you chose.

Highlight multiple pieces of non-contiguous text

With no text selected on the slide, on the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color .
Choose a color, and then move the mouse pointer over the text area of your slide.

The mouse pointer changes to a highlighter. .
Select each portion of text that you want to highlight.
When you're done highlighting, press Esc on the keyboard to turn off the highlighter.

Remove highlighting from text

Select the highlighted text.
On the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color and click No Color.

Other ways to highlight

Here are two other ways to emphasize something on screen while you're presenting:

Requirements for Text Highlighting

	Applies to:
	PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Current Channel: Version 1606 or later Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: Version 1701 or later PowerPoint 2024PowerPoint 2021PowerPoint 2019 Find your Office version
	Windows Find your Windows version

If you don't see the Text Highlight Color Shows the Highlight With Text Icon in PowerPoint. button on the Home tab of the Ribbon, read Requirements below for more details.

Highlight one piece of text

Select the text that you want to highlight.
On the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color .
Choose a color. The text you selected will be highlighted in the color you chose.

Highlight multiple pieces of non-contiguous text

With no text selected on the slide, on the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color .
Choose a color, and then move the mouse pointer over the text area of your slide.

The mouse pointer changes to a highlighter. .
Select each portion of text that you want to highlight.
When you're done highlighting, press Esc on the keyboard to turn off the highlighter.

Remove highlighting from text

Select the highlighted text.
On the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color and click No Color.

Another way to highlight

Turn your mouse into a laser pointer to draw attention to something on a slide

Requirements for Text Highlighting

	Applies to:
	PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac Version 16.10 or laterPowerPoint 2024 for Mac PowerPoint_2021_for_Mac Find your Office version
	Mac OS X 10.10 or later

Highlight text

Select the text that you want to highlight.
On the Home tab, select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color .
Choose a color. The text you selected will be highlighted in the color you chose.