Reading Highlighter

Highlight selected text in Obsidian's reading mode using ==markdown highlight== syntax.

Features

• Select text in reading mode and highlight it instantly
• Floating highlight button appears when text is selected
• Undo the most recent highlight with a floating button or command
• Command palette: Highlight selection in reading mode
• Mobile ribbon icon support
• Handles multi-paragraph selections, formatted text, and links
• Preserves existing markdown formatting (bold, italic, code, etc.)

Usage

1. Open a note in reading mode
2. Select the text you want to highlight
3. Use any of these methods:
   • Click the floating highlight button that appears
   • Open the command palette and run Highlight selection in reading mode
   • (Mobile) Tap the highlighter icon in the ribbon

The plugin wraps the selected text with ==highlights== in the underlying markdown source.

Undoing a highlight

If you highlight the wrong selection, an undo button appears next to the highlight button. Click it to remove the most recent highlight. The button stays visible until you click it, switch to a different note, or the plugin is disabled. You can also run Undo last highlight from the command palette (and assign a hotkey to it).

Only the most recent highlight is reversible from inside the plugin. For older highlights, edit the == markers directly in source mode.

Hotkeys

No default hotkey is set. To add one:

1. Go to Settings > Hotkeys
2. Search for Highlight selection in reading mode
3. Assign your preferred shortcut

Installation

Available in Settings > Community Plugins > Browse (search "Reading Highlighter").

Manual installation

1. Download main.js, manifest.json, and styles.css from the latest release
2. Create a folder called reading-highlighter inside your vault's .obsidian/plugins/ directory
3. Place the downloaded files in that folder
4. Restart Obsidian and enable the plugin in Settings > Community Plugins

Attribution

Originally created by Tintalectronico. Maintained by keithwithAI.