Easy Tech TutsHow To Keep Highlighter on Google Docs Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Reopening the color palette for every single highlight slows down a thorough document review. This guide covers using the Format Painter's double-click shortcut to lock your highlighting style into a persistent tool state, letting you drag across multiple sections before releasing it with a simple key press.
01Apply your initial highlight
Select a block of text and use the Text Highlight tool from the toolbar to set your preferred color first.
02Double-click the Format Painter icon
Double-click the Format Painter tool icon to lock your highlighting style into a persistent, reusable state.
03Drag across multiple sections
With the tool locked, click and drag across sequential paragraphs to apply the same highlight repeatedly without reselecting the color.
04Release the lock when finished
Press the Escape key to instantly release the active brush style lock once your review pass is complete.
05Organize colors by category
Set up a consistent color map for different review categories, like questions versus key findings, to keep large team files organized.
Frequently asked questions
What is the trick for keeping the highlighter active without reselecting it each time?
Double-clicking the Format Painter icon locks your current highlight style so you can apply it repeatedly until you press Escape.
Will the locked highlighter accidentally overwrite other text formatting?
It shouldn't, but it's worth double-checking your selections carefully since the Format Painter also carries other formatting attributes along with color.
How do I stop the persistent highlighting tool?
Press the Escape key to release the lock and return to normal editing mode.
Can I set up different colors for different review categories?
Yes, assigning specific colors to categories like edits, questions, or key data helps keep long team reviews organized and easy to scan.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
