Share this article
Improve this guide
How to highlight unselectable text
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
You cancopy and pasteselectable text in word processor documents and on website pages with theCtrl+ C andCtrl+ Vhotkeys.
When the text is selectable, you can hold the left mouse button and drag cursor to highlight and then copy it.
However, there’s also lots of text within the Windows UI and other software packages that you can’t highlight and copy.
If you ever need to copy text that you can’t highlight by holding the left mouse button, check out theCapture2TextandTextifyprograms for Windows 10.
Capture2TextandTextifyare two software packages that enable you to copy text which you can’t usually highlight.
They are both fairly tiny utilities with which you can highlight more specific software text by pressing theirhotkeys.
However, we’ve got another option that may be far more tempting than these two ones. All threeare handy programs, and this is how you can highlight text with them.
How do I highlight text that cannot be highlighted?
1.Highlighting text withAdobe Acrobat
Highlighting unselectable text is no challenge when using a reliable PDF solution like Adobe Acrobat. More than five million organizations worldwide rely on it and for a good reason.
Besides helping you get this job done, get ready for a smooth interface, the incredible ability to compare two documents in different formats, along with cloud-based commenting and sharing features.
2. Highlighting text withCapture2Text
3. Highlighting text withTextify
You can highlight a lot of software text withCapture2Textthat you usually wouldn’t be able to copy. However, you still can’t copy the Start menu text with that utility.
Textifyis an alternative program that enables you to highlight and copy a little more text on the Start menu and any other software window.
TextifyandCapture2Textare both great utilities for highlighting and copying text.
Although you can copy the Start menu text withTextify, one advantage ofCapture2Textis that you can highlight and copy image text on website pages.
It also has more extensive hotkey and output customization options. So, it’s worth adding any of these programs to your desktop or laptop.
Even better, you could go for Adobe Acrobat and enjoy a complete PDF solution with all the features you may have in mind.
Go toHome, select the arrow next toText Highlight Color, then finally chooseNo Color.
In order to copy text from an image, simply right-click it and chooseCopy Text from Picture. Then, just click where you’d like to paste the text and pressCtrl+V.
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
