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J.P. Guarnieri
Participant
June 9, 2025
Answered

Acrobat Reader switches back to selection tool every time I highlight something

  • June 9, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 1043 views

I like highlighting when I'm studying. I noticed that, now, every time I highlight something, Acrobat Reader automatically switches from the highlighting tool to the text selection tool, forcing me to click on the highlighting tool again. This is quite annoying, I'm pretty sure it didn't do that before. Is there a configuration I need to change to stop this behavior?

Correct answer creative explorer

@J.P. Guarnieri To resolve this, you typically need to enable a "Keep tool selected" or "Retain current tool" option. For many recent versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader and Pro, the intended way to keep an annotation tool, like the Highlighting Tool, active for continuous use is to double-click its icon in the toolbar. When you single-click the tool, it's designed to perform one action (one highlight) and then automatically revert to the Text Selection Tool. However, if you double-click the Highlighting Tool icon in the toolbar, it will "lock" the tool, allowing you to highlight multiple sections consecutively without needing to re-select it each time. It will remain active until you explicitly select another tool (like the Hand Tool or Text Selection Tool) or press the Esc key. This behavior is by design for efficiency in alternating between commenting and selecting, and it is not related to any privacy or permission issues.

2 replies

cody_rhodes1421
cody_rhodes1421
Participating Frequently
February 18, 2026

Yes — Acrobat Reader has a setting that controls whether the Highlight tool stays active after you highlight text. What you’re experiencing happens when the tool is set to “Single-use”, so it automatically switches back to the Select tool after each highlight.

Here’s how to fix it:

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.

  2. Go to the Comment toolbar (where the highlighting tool is).

  3. Select the Highlight Text Tool.

  4. Look at the toolbar options — you should see a little “Keep Tool Selected” button or a dropdown.

  5. Make sure “Keep tool active” (or similar wording, depending on your version) is checked.

Now, every time you highlight text, the tool will stay active until you manually switch tools.

💡 Tip: In some versions, you can right-click on the highlight tool in the Comment toolbar and choose “Set Current Tool for Multiple Uses” — this does the same thing.

This should stop Acrobat Reader from auto-switching back to the text selection tool.

finn allen
    Roobee
    Roobee
    Participating Frequently
    February 18, 2026

    Tried all the settings  options and nothing worked, no pin showed on menu or in options etc, no commands, doubleclick did not work. In the end I reverted to an older version and so far it’s behaving. Touch wood. 

      cody_rhodes1421
      cody_rhodes1421
      Participating Frequently
      February 18, 2026

      Some newer updates changed the behavior of the Highlight tool, and unfortunately, the usual “Keep tool active” options weren’t working for you.

      Reverting to an older version was a smart move — that often fixes these small workflow-breaking quirks. 👍

      For long-term stability:

      • Stick to the version that works for you.

      • You can turn off automatic updates so it doesn’t upgrade to the problematic version.

      • Keep an eye on Adobe release notes — they sometimes fix this bug in later patches.

      Basically, in this case it’s not a configuration problem but a software behavior change, so your solution (older version) is perfectly valid.

      finn allen
        creative explorer
        Community Expert
        creative explorerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        June 11, 2025

        @J.P. Guarnieri To resolve this, you typically need to enable a "Keep tool selected" or "Retain current tool" option. For many recent versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader and Pro, the intended way to keep an annotation tool, like the Highlighting Tool, active for continuous use is to double-click its icon in the toolbar. When you single-click the tool, it's designed to perform one action (one highlight) and then automatically revert to the Text Selection Tool. However, if you double-click the Highlighting Tool icon in the toolbar, it will "lock" the tool, allowing you to highlight multiple sections consecutively without needing to re-select it each time. It will remain active until you explicitly select another tool (like the Hand Tool or Text Selection Tool) or press the Esc key. This behavior is by design for efficiency in alternating between commenting and selecting, and it is not related to any privacy or permission issues.

        m
          B
          BMA-MH
          Participant
          September 25, 2025

          I am having the same issue - but double clicking it doesn't do anything. 

          The menu also has not proved helpful and there is no option I can find anywhere to "keep tool selected" or the retain options. Where are these options? My adobe updated and now everything is on the opposite side and my highlight changed to having to select it for every-single-word = so frustrating.

            Meenakshi_Negi
            Meenakshi_Negi
            Legend
            September 26, 2025

            Hi BMA-MH,

             

            Thank you for reaching out.

             

            The "Keep tool selected" option is in the floating toolbar at the top left. For more information, please refer to the following help document: https://adobe.ly/4pJ99Ny. 

            Check the screenshot below for reference:

             

             

            Let us know if you are still experiencing the issue.

             

            Thanks,

            Meenakshi

             

             

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