Highlighten

Highlighten / Multiple word search for Mac

Guide · Mac

A multiple word search for your Mac.

⌘F finds one thing. Highlighten finds your whole list — in a folder of documents, or right on screen over whatever app you're using, from mail and browsers to chat.

Get Highlighten — free See a marked page →
A Mac laptop on a desk beside five pastel highlighters and a page with highlighted words

Step by step

Three steps.

  1. 1

    Keep a word list

    Type the words and phrases you always look for; save one list per task.

  2. 2

    Search documents

    Drop files or folders to see every match, ranked by how many of your words each file contains.

  3. 3

    Or search the screen

    Press ⌃⌥H and your words are highlighted over the front window of any app (Pro). Press it again to turn it off.

A smiling executive assistant working on a laptop with pastel highlighters on her desk

Built for long lists

Fast matching keeps long word lists quick, and each word keeps the same color everywhere — in the app, in printed copies and on screen.

Questions

What does Highlight on Screen need?

macOS's Screen Recording permission, which you grant once in System Settings. The screen is read on your Mac and never recorded or sent anywhere.

Which macOS versions are supported?

macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Is there a browser extension?

One is coming. The Mac app's Highlight on Screen already works over any browser.

More guides

Read less. Find more.

Get Highlighten

macOS 14 or later · Free to download · Pro $19.99 once