Highlight text
Select any text on a webpage and tap a color from the popup to highlight it instantly.
Enable copy
Can't copy text on a site? Activate the extension — copy-paste will be unlocked automatically.
Export highlights
Tap Export in the popup to save all highlights as Markdown, HTML, or a shareable image.
Clear highlights
Remove a single highlight by tapping it, or clear all highlights for the page at once.
Setting Up the Extension
Open Safari Settings
Go to Settings → Safari → Extensions on your iPhone or iPad.
Enable HighlightAnywhere
Toggle HighlightAnywhere on and grant permission to "All Websites" for the best experience.
Open any webpage in Safari
Tap the extension icon (puzzle piece) in the Safari toolbar, then tap HighlightAnywhere to activate.
Select text to begin
Long-press any text to select it. A color picker popup will appear — choose a color to highlight.
💡 Tip: Grant "Allow" permission for "All Websites" so the extension works on every page without asking each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The extension icon appears in the Safari toolbar (address bar area). If you don't see it, tap the AA or page settings icon in the address bar — the extension may be listed there. Make sure the extension is enabled in Settings → Safari → Extensions.
Some websites use aggressive content security policies that can prevent extensions from running. This is a Safari/website limitation, not a bug in HighlightAnywhere. Most standard websites work without issues.
If the issue persists, try refreshing the page after activating the extension.
Yes. Highlights are saved locally on your device and will be restored automatically when you revisit the same page. All data is stored on-device — nothing is sent to any server.
Tap on any highlighted text to select it and reveal the popup. Then tap the clear or eraser option to remove that individual highlight. To clear all highlights on a page at once, use the "Clear All" option in the extension popup.
HighlightAnywhere supports three quick selection modes:
Word — double-tap to select a single word.
Sentence — selects the full sentence containing the tapped word.
Paragraph — selects the entire paragraph with one tap.
You can also manually drag to select any custom range of text.
You can choose from three visual styles:
Full highlight — colored background behind the text.
Underline — colored line beneath the text, less intrusive.
Tap the export icon in the extension popup. You can export in three formats:
Markdown (.md) — great for note-taking apps like Obsidian or Notion.
HTML (.html) — preserves styling, open in any browser.
Image (.png) — a visual snapshot of your highlights, easy to share.
No. HighlightAnywhere collects absolutely no personal data. All highlights and preferences are stored locally on your device and never transmitted anywhere. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Simply delete the app from your device. All locally stored highlights and preferences will be permanently removed. Alternatively, you can clear highlights per-page using the "Clear All" function within the extension.
Currently, HighlightAnywhere is available for iOS and iPadOS. Mac support may be added in a future update.
Still need help?
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