Highlights and Notes function in Preview not working since macOS 26.0 update

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Highlights and Notes function in Preview not working since macOS 26.0 update

I updated to macOS Tahoe 26.0.1, and ever since updating I haven't been able to use the Highlights and Notes function in Preview. I used it previously and it worked great. Since updating however, when I select my text and click "Highlight" or "Strikethrough," the selected text will flash and then de-select itself without highlighting. Is this a settings issue, or a bug within the OS?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Highlights and Notes in Preview

MacBook Air, macOS 26.0

Posted on Oct 6, 2025 7:20 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 6, 2025 7:30 AM in response to NDapple_fan

Seems to be working fine for me on a PDF.

Have you tried restarting your Mac? See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Oct 6, 2025 7:51 AM in response to NDapple_fan

I mark my students' submissions, made in pdf, using Preview. Using highlighting and notes works exactly as it did in Sequoia, for me.

FWIW, I use the keyboard shortcuts Command-Control-H for Highlight, and Command-Control-S for Strikethrough, and I never use the menu commands; but I tried them now, and they also work.

Try in a different document. Same problem?

Try in Safe Mode. Same problem?

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