Accidentally highlighted text in Google Docs and now struggling to remove it? You’re not alone. Whether you’re fixing a school assignment, preparing a professional report, or simply cleaning up formatting, removing highlights in Google Docs is incredibly easy once you know where to look.

This step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to remove highlighting in Google Docs, why highlighting happens, and how to fix highlight issues that won’t go away. This article is fully semantic-SEO optimized to help you rank higher on Google and Bing.

What Is Highlighting in Google Docs?

Highlighting is a formatting feature that adds a colored background behind your text. It’s helpful for drawing attention to important points, but accidental highlighting or leftover formatting can make your document look messy.

Fortunately, removing highlights only takes a few clicks.

How to Remove Highlight in Google Docs (Step-by-Step)

Follow these simple steps to clear any highlight color from your text:

1. Select the Highlighted Text

Use your mouse or keyboard to select the part of the text that contains the highlight.
You can select:

A single word
A sentence
Full paragraph
An entire document (Ctrl + A)

2. Click the “Highlight Color” Tool

At the top toolbar, click the Highlight color button (it looks like a small marker icon).

This opens a color palette where you can choose your highlight color.

3. Choose “None” to Remove Highlight

Select None or Transparent from the color options.

As soon as you click it, the highlight disappears from your text.

How to Remove Highlight from the Whole Document

If your document has multiple highlight colors and you want to clear everything at once:

Press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac) to select all text.
Click the Highlight color tool.
Choose None.

This removes all highlighted background colors instantly.

Why Highlight Won’t Go Away in Google Docs (Common Issues)

Sometimes you try to remove highlight, but the background color still shows. Here’s why that happens:

1. Background Color Was Used Instead of Highlight

Google Docs has two similar tools:

Highlight Color (marker icon)
Text Background Color / Fill Color (paint bucket icon)

If the wrong tool was used, you must remove the background color instead of the highlight.

Fix:
Select the text → Click the paint bucket icon → Choose None.

2. Imported or Pasted Text Carries Hidden Formatting

Text copied from websites, PDFs, or Microsoft Word often brings unwanted formatting.

Fix options:

Press *Ctrl + * (clear formatting)
Or paste using Ctrl + Shift + V to paste without formatting

3. Paragraph Background Formatting Was Applied

Some Google Docs templates include background colors behind entire paragraphs.

Fix:
Highlight the whole paragraph → Go to Format → Paragraph styles → Borders and shading → Background color → Choose None.

Best Practices to Avoid Unwanted Highlighting in Google Docs

To keep your documents clean and professional:

Use highlighting only for short, important points
Clear formatting before pasting text
Use consistent formatting styles
Apply colors sparingly for better readability
Preview your document in “Print Layout” mode to see hidden background colors

How to Remove Highlight in Google Docs on Mobile (Android & iPhone)

Using Google Docs on your phone? Here’s how to remove highlights from the mobile app:

1. Open the Google Docs App

Launch the app and open the document containing highlighted text.

2. Select the Text

Tap and hold the text to highlight it, then drag the markers to extend your selection.

3. Tap the “A” Icon (Formatting Menu)

You’ll find it on the top toolbar.

4. Open the Highlight Color Option

Tap Text → Highlight color.

5. Choose “None”

Tap None or the transparent option to remove the highlight.

That’s it — the highlight is gone!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the shortcut to remove highlight in Google Docs?

There is no direct shortcut for removing highlight, but you can use:

Ctrl + A → select everything
Then click Highlight color → None

2. Why does highlight look different after removing it?

You may be seeing:

A paragraph background
Table cell background
Border shading

These need to be removed from Format > Paragraph styles.

3. How do I remove highlight from tables?

Select the table cells → Click the paint bucket icon → Choose None.

Conclusion: Removing Highlight in Google Docs Is Easy

Removing highlight in Google Docs is simple once you understand the difference between text highlight, background color, and paragraph shading. Whether you’re using a computer or a phone, clearing highlight takes only a few seconds.

How to Remove Highlight in Google Docs (Simple Guide for Beginners)