Share this article
Improve this guide
How to Use the Microsoft Word Highlight Keyboard Shortcut
If this shortcut is inconvenient, you can change it
2 min. read
Published onSeptember 24, 2024
published onSeptember 24, 2024
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
If you want to highlight a text with background color in Microsoft Word, but you don’t want to click the dedicated ribbon icon, you can press theCtrl+Alt+Hshortcut on the keyboard. There is also theAlt+H+Ishortcut to change the highlight color first. Read below if you need detailed instructions.
How do I highlight text in Word using the keyboard shortcut?
Adding and removing highlights using the keyboard shortcut
Highlight text using the highlight painter
You can also use the highlight painter by pressingCtrl+Alt+Hwithout selecting any text first. This changes your cursor to a highlighter, allowing you to click and drag over the text you want to highlight.
However, as soon as you select the text you want to highlight, the cursor turns back to normal, so you will have to apply the shortcut again for another selection.
How do I customize the highlight shortcut in Word?
If theCtrl+Alt+Hshortcut seems hard to apply and you want to use another, you can customize that in Word.
You can set them inWord Options>Customize>Keyboard Shortcuts. Then, go to theToolsmenu and select theHighlightoption. Here, you can assign another keyboard shortcut for highlighting. Just be careful to select a shortcut that you don’t use already.
However, if something goes bad, you can alwaysreset Microsoft Word to default settingsto fix it.
if you need more tips, you can check ourlist of Microsoft Word shortcutsthat will make you more productive.
Feel free to ask if you need more details or have any other questions!
More about the topics:Microsoft Word
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.
His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.
With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft
