How to Highlight Text in Notion: 4 Simple Methods
A complete guide to highlight text in Notion using background colors, blocks, and keyboard shortcuts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notion is a powerful tool for organizing your thoughts, notes, and projects. To make your pages even more effective, it's often helpful to draw attention to key information. Highlighting text is a fantastic way to do this, helping you or others quickly spot important details and understand the main points at a glance. It helps in organizing your notes and makes them more engaging and readable.
Whether you're taking notes for school, managing work tasks, or planning personal projects, knowing how to highlight effectively in Notion can greatly improve your productivity. It allows you to emphasize crucial content, distinguish different sections, and create visual cues that guide the reader's eye.
There are several straightforward ways to highlight text in Notion, from quick shortcuts to using specific block types. By learning these methods, you can customize your workspace to suit your needs and make your information truly stand out.
So now let’s get started.
Methods to Highlight Text in Notion
By following these simple steps, you will be able to easily highlight text in your Notion pages, making important information pop and improving readability.
Method #1: Highlight Text Using the Floating Toolbar
This is the most common and direct way to highlight text you've already written.
First, select the text you want to highlight. Click and drag your mouse cursor over the specific words or sentences that you wish to emphasize. Once selected, a small floating toolbar will automatically appear above the text.
Next, access the color options. On the floating toolbar, you will see an "A" icon, often with a color bar underneath it. Click on this "A" icon to open a dropdown menu. This menu provides options for both text color and background color.
Then, choose a background color. In the dropdown menu, look for the "Background" section. Select the color you want to use as your highlight. Notion offers various colors, allowing you to pick one that best fits your page's style or your personal preference.
Finally, deselect the text. Click anywhere else on the Notion page to deselect the text. You will now see your chosen highlight applied to the text. And the final output of highlighted text will be shown like this:
Method #2: Highlight While Typing with the Slash Command
This method is perfect for when you want to start writing new text that is already highlighted.
Start by typing the slash command. Place your cursor on a blank line in your Notion page. Type a forward slash (/) to open the command menu.
Then, specify the background color. After typing the slash, type "background" followed by the color you want, for example, "/yellow background". You will see a pop-up list of color options. Select your preferred background color from this list.
Next, begin typing your content. As soon as you select the background color, the block where your cursor is will turn that color. Now, start typing your text. Everything you type within this block will automatically appear with the selected highlight.
To stop highlighting, press Enter. When you are finished typing your highlighted text, press the "Enter" key once or click on an empty block below your text. This will create a new, unhighlighted block, allowing you to continue typing without the background color.
Method #3: Change an Entire Block's Background Color
Instead of just highlighting specific words, you can highlight an entire block of text.
Hover over the desired block. Move your mouse cursor over the block of text you want to highlight. A six-dot icon (⋮⋮) will appear on the left side of the block. Click on the six-dot icon to open a menu of options for that block.
Select the "Color" option. From the dropdown menu, find and click on the "Color" option. This will open a secondary menu.
Choose a background color. In the secondary menu, go to the "Background" section and select the color you want for the entire block's background. The entire text block will instantly change to your chosen background color.
Method #4: Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Highlighting
Keyboard shortcuts offer a faster way to highlight text for those who prefer not to use the mouse.
Select the text you wish to highlight. Just like with the floating toolbar method, click and drag your cursor over the text you want to highlight.
Apply the highlight using the shortcut. For Windows users, press Ctrl + Shift + H. For Mac users, press Cmd + Shift + H. This shortcut applies the last used highlight/text color to your selected text.
Note on initial use: If you haven't used a highlight color recently, you might need to use Step 1 first to set a default highlight color. After that, this shortcut will quickly apply that same color.
Wrapping Up: How to Highlight Text in Notion
Highlighting text in Notion is a simple yet powerful way to make your pages more organized and easier to read. By using the floating toolbar for existing text, slash commands for new highlighted content, or block-level coloring, you can quickly draw attention to important details.
For even greater emphasis, callout blocks provide a visually distinct way to present key information. Mastering these methods will help you get the most out of your Notion workspace, ensuring that vital information always stands out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a shortcut for highlighting in Notion?
Yes. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + H. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + H. This shortcut applies the last used highlight or text color to the selected text. If you haven’t used a highlight color before, you need to set one manually first using the formatting toolbar.
- How to color the text in Notion?
To color text in Notion, select the text, click the A icon in the floating toolbar, and choose a text color or background color. You can also use slash commands to apply color while typing.
- How do you highlight text in Notion?
You can highlight text in Notion by selecting the text, opening the floating toolbar, clicking the A icon, and choosing a background color from the Background section.
- Is there a highlight tool in Notion?
Notion does not have a dedicated highlight button, but you can highlight text using the background colors available in the text formatting menu.
- Can you highlight text in Notion while typing?
Yes. Type
/background followed by a color name, select the option, and start typing. The text will appear highlighted inside that block.
Made with Bullet