How to Use the Highlighter in PowerPoint

Updated on:

May 4, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to highlight text and objects in PowerPoint slides.

Quick summary

The PowerPoint Highlighter tool lets you emphasize key content on your slides by drawing colored highlights over any object or text. Access it through the Draw tab, configure your brush size and color, then drag across any element to apply the highlight instantly.

Steps

Inside the slide canvas of your PowerPoint presentation, go to the top menu bar and click 'Draw'.
Go to the Pen Tools Gallery and choose 'Highlighter'.
Tap the corresponding drop-down arrow to open configuration options for the Highlighter.
Specify your preferred Brush Size and Highlight Color from the available options.
Find the object you want to highlight and drag your mouse cursor across it to apply the highlight.
The selected object in your PowerPoint presentation will now be highlighted using the Highlighter tool.

📌 Why this matters

The PowerPoint Highlighter tool is a built-in drawing feature that allows presenters to visually emphasize key text, data, or objects directly on their slides without leaving the application. By enabling custom brush sizes and highlight colors, it gives users precise control over how attention is directed during presentations. This is especially valuable for educators, business professionals, and trainers who need to draw audience focus to critical information. Knowing how to use the Highlighter in PowerPoint ensures your slides communicate more clearly and your presentations are more impactful.

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