Highlight PDF
Local Processing (Offline Capable)Highlight keywords in a PDF with translucent yellow — text stays selectable.
How this tool works (no sign-up needed)
- Upload your file above. Each tool shows whether it runs Local (in your browser) or Cloud (encrypted servers).
- Adjust options, then click the Run / Convert / Process button.
- Wait for progress, then download the result. Use Next tools to continue.
If buttons are not visible, enable JavaScript — the interactive workspace loads in your browser.
Free · LocalHighlight keywords as standard PDF annotations — editable and removable in any reader
Supports application/pdf
Local — your file is processed in your browser and not uploaded to us. No account needed.
What is it?Highlight PDF is a PDFLean smart document tool: Highlight keywords in a PDF with translucent yellow — text stays selectable.
TL;DR: Highlight keywords in a PDF with translucent yellow — text stays selectable. Everything runs locally in your browser — your file is never uploaded, and closing the page clears it immediately; keyword-based positioning only (no freehand selection).
About this tool
Everything here happens in your browser, so the file you load is the only copy that exists. Highlight keywords in a PDF with translucent yellow — text stays selectable. Processing runs locally in your browser's memory — the document is never transmitted, and closing the tab clears it completely. The workflow is deliberately short: load the file, choose the options on the page, run the operation, and save the result. Every choice is applied before the file is written, so re-running with different settings takes seconds. Practical limits apply (see the on-page limits); it pairs well with the related tools linked beside this page when one step is not the whole job. Key facts — Processing: runs entirely in your browser, client-side; Access: free with no account required; File limits: see the on-page limits; Privacy: the file never leaves the device.
How to use
Upload a PDF
Enter keywords (comma or line separated)
Click "Highlight text" and download
FAQ
Will my file be uploaded?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser — your file is never uploaded, and closing the page clears it immediately.
Are there any limits?
Keyword-based positioning only (freehand selection is not supported); file size limit is ≤ 10MB; supports exporting XFDF annotation files.
How accurate is keyword matching?
Keyword matches are located using the internal PDF text layer via pdf.js text item matching; documents lacking a text layer or pure scanned images cannot be matched.
Can I process multiple files in bulk?
A single tool page handles one task at a time; for bulk work use the Batch Processing workflow and add this tool as a step to run a whole set at once.
Is text still selectable, and what export formats are supported?
The highlighted output is saved as a new PDF with text remaining fully selectable and copyable; you can also export an XFDF annotation file (with QuadPoints) for import into readers like Acrobat and Foxit.