You need to highlight a key sentence in a screenshot for work, but Microsoft Paint doesn't seem to have a highlighter tool. You're not alone—this is one of the most common questions we get. In fact, after fifteen years of working with image editing tools and fielding questions from colleagues, clients, and readers, I can tell you that the missing "highlighter" in Paint has frustrated more people than just about any other missing feature. The good news? There are several reliable workarounds using the microsoft paint tools that already exist, and once you learn them, you'll wonder why you ever thought you needed a dedicated tool in the first place.
This guide covers every version of Paint—classic MS Paint, Paint 3D, and the more advanced Paint.net—across Windows and Mac platforms. Whether you need to highlight text in a screenshot, draw attention to a specific image area, or create a transparent highlight effect that doesn't look like a child's sticker, I've got you covered with step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts, and the exact tricks I've refined through years of trial and error.
How to Highlight in Microsoft Paint: The Classic Method
Let's start with the version most people mean when they say "Paint"—the classic MS Paint that's been bundled with Windows since 1985. It's simple, it's lightweight, and it's surprisingly capable once you know its quirks.
Finding the Right Tools: Text Box, Shape, and Brush
Here's the honest truth: classic Paint doesn't have a dedicated highlighter tool. I've searched every menu, every toolbar, every hidden option—it's just not there. But that doesn't mean you can't achieve the same effect. You have three workaround methods at your disposal:
- The Text tool with a colored background—best for highlighting text
- The Rectangle shape with a fill—best for highlighting image areas
- The Brush tool—best for freehand highlighting
Before you start any of these methods, you'll want to use the paint selection tool to precisely define the area you're working with. This is especially important if you're highlighting a specific portion of a complex image. I've lost count of how many times I've seen people struggle with misaligned highlights simply because they skipped this step.
Step-by-Step: Highlighting Text with the Text Tool
This is the method I recommend to anyone who needs to highlight text in a screenshot or document image. It's the closest thing to a native highlighter that classic Paint offers.
Step 1: Open your image in Paint. You can do this by right-clicking the file and selecting "Open with" > "Paint," or by opening Paint first and using Ctrl+O.
Step 2: Select the "Text" tool (the "A" icon) from the Tools section in the top toolbar. Click and drag on your image to create a paint text box over the area you want to highlight.
Step 3: Type a single space or any character inside the text box. Then, with that character selected, change the background color using the "Color 2" option in the top-right corner. Choose your highlighter color—classic yellow works best, but I've seen people use pink, green, and even blue for different purposes.
Step 4: Adjust the text box size and position so it perfectly covers the text you want to highlight. This is where the paint zoom function becomes your best friend. Zoom in to 200% or 400% to ensure pixel-perfect alignment. I can't stress this enough—the difference between a professional-looking highlight and a sloppy one is almost always in the alignment.
One thing to note: the text box background will be solid, not transparent. This means it will cover any text or images underneath it. For most highlighting purposes, that's exactly what you want. But if you need transparency, skip ahead to the Paint 3D section.
Step-by-Step: Highlighting an Image Area with the Shape Tool
What if you need to highlight a specific area of an image—say, a chart, a graph, or a particular section of a screenshot? The Text tool won't work well here. Instead, use the Shape tool.
Step 1: Select the "Rectangle" shape from the Shapes menu in the top toolbar.
Step 2: Choose "Outline" as the shape fill type from the options that appear below the Shapes menu. Select a bright color like yellow or orange from the color palette.
Step 3: Draw the rectangle over the area you want to highlight. Don't worry about getting it perfect on the first try—you can adjust the size and position after drawing.
Step 4: Use the paint brush settings to adjust the outline thickness. A thicker outline (3-5 pixels) creates a more prominent highlight that draws the eye immediately. A thinner outline (1-2 pixels) is more subtle and works better for professional documents.
Here's the limitation you need to know about: this method creates an outline, not a fill. If you want a filled highlight, you can select "Solid" as the fill type instead of "Outline." But be warned—a solid fill will completely cover whatever is underneath it. In classic Paint, there's no way to make a shape fill semi-transparent. That's the single biggest limitation of this method, and it's exactly why I recommend Paint 3D for anyone who needs transparency.
How to Highlight in Paint 3D: A Modern Approach
Paint 3D was Microsoft's attempt to modernize the aging Paint application, and while it's no longer pre-installed on new Windows installations (you can still download it from the Microsoft Store), it remains a fantastic free tool for image editing. Its biggest advantage over classic Paint? Transparency.
Using 2D Shapes for a Clean Highlight Effect
Paint 3D also lacks a dedicated highlighter tool, but its 2D shape tools offer something classic Paint can't match: adjustable opacity. This solves the "white background" problem that plagues classic Paint users.
Step 1: Open your image in Paint 3D. If you don't have it installed, download it from the Microsoft Store—it's free.
Step 2: Select the "2D Shapes" tool from the top menu. A panel will appear on the right side of the screen.
Step 3: Choose the "Rectangle" shape from the options. Before drawing, look for the opacity slider in the right panel. Set it to around 40-60%—this is the sweet spot for a highlight that's visible but doesn't obscure the content underneath.
Step 4: Draw the rectangle over the text or area you want to highlight. You can adjust the color, opacity, and position after drawing by clicking on the shape and using the controls that appear.
This method is superior to classic Paint in almost every way. The transparency slider gives you precise control over how prominent the highlight appears, and you can easily move or resize the shape without starting over. In my experience, this is the fastest way to create professional-looking highlights on Windows.
Adding Text and Highlighting It in Paint 3D
If you need to add new text to an image and highlight it, Paint 3D makes this surprisingly easy.
Step 1: Use the "Text" tool from the top menu to add your text. Choose "2D text" from the right panel for the most control.
Step 2: Create a 2D rectangle shape and position it behind the text. You can do this by drawing the rectangle first, then adding the text on top, or by drawing the rectangle and using the "Bring to front" / "Send to back" options to layer them correctly.
Step 3: Adjust the rectangle's color and transparency to create the highlight effect. Use the paint color picker (the eyedropper tool) to match the highlight color to your document's theme—this small touch makes a big difference in the final result.
One tip I've learned through trial and error: if you're highlighting text that already exists in the image (like a screenshot), it's often easier to use the 2D shape method described above rather than trying to recreate the text with the Text tool. The shape method preserves the original text's formatting and appearance.
How to Highlight in Paint.net: Advanced Tools & Plugins
Paint.net is a free, open-source image editor that's been my go-to recommendation for years when someone needs more power than MS Paint but doesn't want to pay for Photoshop. It's available for Windows only, but it's worth the download if you're serious about image editing.
The Built-in Highlighter Plugin
Here's something that might surprise you: Paint.net actually has a dedicated Highlighter plugin that you can install. It's the closest thing to a native highlighter experience you'll find in any free image editor.
Step 1: Download and install the "Highlighter" plugin from the official Paint.net forums. The forums are the authoritative source for plugins—be wary of third-party download sites that might bundle unwanted software.
Step 2: Open your image in Paint.net and select the "Highlighter" tool from the toolbar. It should appear as a new icon after installation.
Step 3: Adjust the brush size and color to your preference, then drag over the text or area you want to highlight. The plugin works just like a real highlighter pen—it applies a semi-transparent color that doesn't obscure the content underneath.
The plugin is remarkably well-designed. It supports adjustable opacity, multiple brush shapes, and even pressure sensitivity if you're using a drawing tablet. I've been using it for years, and it's never let me down.
Using Layers for Non-Destructive Highlighting
If you prefer not to install plugins, or if you want more control over the highlighting process, Paint.net's layer system offers a professional-grade alternative.
Step 1: Create a new layer above your image. You can do this by clicking the "Add New Layer" button in the Layers panel (or pressing Ctrl+Shift+N).
Step 2: Use the "Rectangle Select" tool to select the area you want to highlight.
Step 3: Fill the selection with a bright color using the Paint Bucket tool. Choose yellow, green, pink, or any color that fits your needs.
Step 4: Adjust the layer's opacity using the slider in the Layers panel. This is where the magic happens—lowering the opacity creates a transparent highlight effect that's perfect for emphasizing content without covering it.
The beauty of this method is that it's non-destructive. The highlight exists on its own layer, completely separate from the original image. If you want to remove or edit the highlight, you can do so without affecting the underlying image at all. This is the method I use for all my professional work, and I can't recommend it enough.
Pro Tips: Shortcuts, Transparency, and Saving as PNG
Over the years, I've accumulated a collection of tips and tricks that make the highlighting process faster and the results better. Here are the ones I use most often.
The Ultimate Shortcut Key Cheat Sheet
Let's be clear about something: there is no single "highlight shortcut key" in classic Paint. I've seen forum posts claiming otherwise, but they're wrong. What you do have are shortcuts that make the highlighting process faster:
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Z | Undo (the paint undo shortcut you'll use constantly) |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+E | Open image properties |
| Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V | Copy / Paste |
| Ctrl+Plus (+) | Zoom in |
| Ctrl+Minus (-) | Zoom out |
| For Paint.net, you can assign a custom shortcut key to the Highlighter tool. Go to Settings > Keyboard, find the Highlighter tool, and assign a key combination that works for you. I use Ctrl+Shift+H—it's easy to remember and doesn't conflict with other shortcuts. |
How to Highlight in Paint Without White Background
This is the question I get asked more than any other. The white box around the highlight is ugly, unprofessional, and completely avoidable. Here's how to fix it:
Solution 1: Use Paint 3D's 2D shapes with adjustable opacity, as described in Section 2. This is the easiest and most reliable method.
Solution 2: In classic Paint, use the paint transparent selection option. After creating your highlight, use the Selection tool to select the highlighted area, then check the "Transparent selection" option in the toolbar before pasting it elsewhere. This doesn't work perfectly in all situations, but it's worth trying if you're stuck with classic Paint.
Solution 3: In Paint.net, use the layers method and adjust the layer's opacity. This gives you the most control and the best results.
The key takeaway here is that classic Paint simply can't do transparent highlights natively. If transparency is important to you—and it should be—use Paint 3D or Paint.net instead.
How to Highlight in Paint and Save as PNG
PNG is the only format you should be using for highlighted images. Here's why: PNG supports transparency, doesn't compress your image (which means no quality loss), and is universally supported across all platforms and applications.
For classic Paint: After highlighting, go to File > Save As > PNG. Make sure "PNG" is selected in the "Save as type" dropdown. Don't use JPEG—it will flatten the image and remove any transparency.
For Paint 3D: Choose "PNG (image)" from the save options. Paint 3D defaults to its proprietary .p3d format, so you'll need to explicitly select PNG.
For Paint.net: The default save format is PNG, so you don't need to do anything special. Just save as you normally would.
I've seen too many people spend time creating beautiful highlights, only to ruin them by saving as JPEG. Don't make that mistake.
How to Highlight in Paint on Mac and Mobile Devices
MS Paint isn't available on Mac, which leaves Mac users in a bit of a bind. But there are excellent free alternatives that can achieve the same results.
Best Alternatives for Mac Users
Preview (built-in) is my top recommendation for Mac users. It's pre-installed on every Mac, and its Markup tools are surprisingly capable.
To highlight in Preview:
- Open your image in Preview
- Click the Markup toolbar button (the pencil icon)
- Use the "Rectangle" tool to draw a shape over the area you want to highlight
- Adjust the shape's fill color and opacity using the controls that appear
Paintbrush is another option. It's a free, open-source app that closely mimics MS Paint's interface. If you're familiar with Paint, you'll feel right at home. Use the shape tool with a fill color to create highlights.
For more advanced needs, Seashore is a free image editor that supports layers and transparency, making it a good Mac equivalent to Paint.net.
Highlighting on the Go: Mobile Paint Apps
Mobile apps have actually solved the highlighting problem better than most desktop apps. Apps like PicsArt, Snapseed, and Adobe Express all have built-in highlight tools that work beautifully.
The process is generally simpler on mobile: select the "Highlight" tool, choose a color, and drag over the text. These apps often offer more features than desktop Paint, including adjustable opacity, brush styles, and even automatic text detection.
Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes: Why Your Highlight Looks Off
Even with the best instructions, things can go wrong. Here are the most common mistakes I've seen—and how to fix them.
Mistake #1: The White Box Problem
Why it happens: Classic Paint's text tool defaults to a white background. When you use it to highlight text, you get a white box around your highlight.
The fix: Use Paint 3D or Paint.net for transparency, or use the "Transparent selection" option in classic Paint. If you're stuck with classic Paint and can't avoid the white box, try using the Shape tool with a solid fill instead of the Text tool.
Mistake #2: Highlighting Over Text Makes It Unreadable
Why it happens: A solid, opaque highlight completely covers the text underneath it.
The fix: Use a semi-transparent highlight. In Paint 3D, adjust the opacity slider. In Paint.net, use the layers method and lower the layer's opacity. Alternatively, use a lighter color—pastel yellow works much better than bright yellow for this purpose.
Pro tip: Use the paint zoom function to carefully align the highlight box with the text. Zoom in to 300% or 400% and make micro-adjustments until the highlight sits perfectly around the text.
Mistake #3: Not Saving in the Right Format
Why it happens: JPEG is the default format in many applications, and it's terrible for highlighted images.
The fix: Always save as PNG. JPEG compresses your image, which can create artifacts and reduce quality. It also flattens transparency, which means any transparent highlights will get a white background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a highlighter tool in Paint?
No, classic MS Paint and Paint 3D don't have dedicated highlighter tools. However, Paint.net has a Highlighter plugin that you can install for free. For classic Paint and Paint 3D, you'll need to use the workarounds described in this guide—the Text tool with a colored background works best for text, and the Shape tool works best for image areas.
What button do I press to highlight?
There's no single shortcut key for highlighting in classic Paint. The quickest method is using the Text tool with a background color: press "A" to select the Text tool, drag a text box, type a space, and change the background color. For Paint.net, you can assign a custom shortcut key to the Highlighter tool—I recommend Ctrl+Shift+H.
How do I make a transparent highlight in Paint?
Classic Paint can't do this natively. Your best options are:
- Paint 3D: Use 2D shapes and adjust the opacity slider to 40-60%
- Paint.net: Use the layers method—create a new layer, fill a selection with color, and lower the layer's opacity
Can you highlight in Paint on a Mac?
MS Paint isn't available on Mac, but you have several free alternatives. Preview (pre-installed) has Markup tools that can create highlights. Paintbrush is a free app that closely mimics MS Paint. Seashore is a more advanced option that supports layers and transparency.
Conclusion
Learning how to highlight on Paint comes down to choosing the right tool for your needs. If you're using classic Paint, the Text tool with a colored background is your best bet for text, and the Shape tool works well for image areas—just be prepared to deal with the white background limitation. Paint 3D solves that problem with its opacity slider, making it my top recommendation for most users. And if you need professional-grade control, Paint.net's Highlighter plugin and layer system are unmatched.
Whichever method you choose, remember the golden rule: save as PNG. It preserves transparency, maintains image quality, and ensures your hard work doesn't go to waste.
Now that you know how to highlight on Paint, try it out on your next project! If you found this guide helpful, share it with a colleague who still struggles with the white box problem. And if you have any other Paint-related questions, leave a comment below—we read them all.