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Participant
April 16, 2018
Answered

Acrobat reader CTRL F highlight color

  • April 16, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 13510 views

Is there a way to change the color used to highlight results when using control F to search within text? The system default doesn't stand out very well and I often have to hunt for it in small text.

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer try67

    AFAIK, no.

    5 replies

    Participant
    June 15, 2022

    I made an account just to complain about this very thing. I look at schematics.

    Why would you make a highlight for finding things you can barely see? In all these years no one at the company or anyone complaining got this changed?
    Microsoft is as bad. 

    There should be graphic/effects/animation options to show where not only 1 instance is but all of them if you want.
    Make the highlight larger and flash in some way. Anything would be an improvement. ANYTHING.

    Participant
    June 30, 2022

    This has bugged me for a long time. I also view schematics with very small text in tight places. Although it would be much nicer if Adobe would add "Change the highlight color" to the available preferences, I have found a couple of workarounds.

     

    Method 1:

    1. Use the Ctrl+K shortcut to view Preferences
    2. Select Accessability
    3. Check the Always use the system selection color box and press the Enter key

     

    This depends on your Windows color scheme, but with default Windows 10 colors, highlights will now show up as white text on a medium blue. This is a slight improvement.

     

    Method 2:

    If Method 1 doesn't help enough, this should. It is a little cumbersome, but usable.

    1. Use the Ctrl+K shortcut to view Preferences
    2. Select Accessability
    3. Check the Replace Document Colors box
    4. Select High-Contrast colors and Green text on black, then click OK (or press the Enter key)

     

    Now, the search term will show up in a very visible white block on a black background. You can easily switch between the normal colors and high-contrast colors as follows:

    1. Use the Ctrl+K shortcut to view Preferences
    2. The Accessability category should still be selected (unless you've changed it)
    3. Check/uncheck the Replace Document Colors box and click OK (or press the Enter key)

     

    I hope this is helpful.

    Participant
    May 15, 2023

    Thanks Randy, this is a great workaround.

    cheers

    Harry

    Participant
    July 5, 2019

    Wow, so default find highlight color is blue-gray and can't be changed? Smart.

    June 4, 2020

    WHY in gods name isn't it changeable? Every other program on the plaet does it. I love how Adobe design priority №1 with most GUIs is the world is for them to look cool at a glance and not utility.

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 17, 2018

    Does it work better if you do Edit > Search instead of Edit > Find?

    Meenakshi_Negi
    Legend
    April 17, 2018

    Hi Richarda,

    As mentioned by try67, it is not possible to change the highlight color results when you use Find to search a text in PDF.

    You may try to change the page layout to "Fit to Window width" and then try to use the Find option.

    Check if that helps.

    Regards,

    Meenakshi

    Bernd Alheit
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 17, 2018

    You can try a different color for the document text:

    Preferences > Accessibility

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 17, 2018

    AFAIK, no.