--- title: "Using the Inline Toolbar" description: "Highlight text in the Block Editor to reveal the inline toolbar—the fastest way to format content without hunting through menus. Click icons to apply formatting." url: "https://support.helpdocs.io/article/j5dgy9mfvx-using-the-inline-toolbar" category: "Using the Text Editor" updated_at: "2026-09-12T10:42:40Z" --- # Using the Inline Toolbar Highlight some text in your article and a small floating toolbar pops up right above it. That's the inline toolbar, and it's the fastest way to format your content without hunting through menus. Let's take a look at what each icon does ✨ ### How to Open the Inline Toolbar [Embedded iframe](https://player.vimeo.com/video/1226167090) 1. Head to your article in the [**Block Editor**](/article/5vru9sph6l-upgrading-to-the-blocks-editor) 2. Click and drag to highlight any text inside a text block 3. The inline toolbar appears above your selection 4. Click an icon to apply that formatting ### Inline Toolbar Icons Here's what you'll find on the inline toolbar and what each option does: | Icon | Description | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **B** | Makes your selected text **bold** | | *I* | Makes your selected text *italic* | | U | Underlines your selected text | | S | Adds a strikethrough to your selected text | | </> | Turns your selected text into inline code, handy for things like file names or short snippets | | X2 | Turns your selected text into superscript | | X2 | Turns your selected text into subscript | | ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/Ytt2uahFxY/articles/j5dgy9mfvx/1788889273932/link.svg) | Turns your selected text into a link. Paste a URL or search for another article to link to | | ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/Ytt2uahFxY/articles/j5dgy9mfvx/1788889293440/highlight.svg) | Highlights your selected text with a background color | | ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/Ytt2uahFxY/articles/j5dgy9mfvx/1788889306818/text-color.svg) | Changes the text color | | ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/Ytt2uahFxY/articles/j5dgy9mfvx/1788889355556/rewrite-with-ai.svg) | Rewrites highlighted section [with HelpDocs AI](/article/d0o93ykdod-writing-a-draft-article-with-ai). If AI isn't enabled on your account, or your plan doesn't include it, the icon stays visible but greyed out | Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and inline code apply the moment you click. Link opens a modal first, and Highlight and Text Color open a color picker. In a rush? Most of these have keyboard shortcuts too. Check out [Shortcuts in the Block Editor](/article/qsuih77eq7-shortcuts-in-the-block-editor) for the full list. ### Tips for Using the Inline Toolbar - You can combine formatting. Bold and italic at the same time? Go for it - Selecting across multiple lines still works, the toolbar applies your formatting to the whole selection - Click the same icon again to remove bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, or inline code. Highlight and Text Color open a color picker instead, with its own Clear Highlight or Clear Color button. To remove a link, put your cursor inside it and click the bin icon Want to explore more of what the Block Editor can do? Take a look at [Formatting & Styling Content](/article/q0upi8z2ka-formatting-styling-content) for drag-and-drop images and table tools too. The toolbar changes depending on what you select. Select an image and you get Edit Image and Annotate Image. Put your cursor in a link or button and you get the link's URL, Edit, and Remove. Select a LucidChart and you get Edit Lucid. The inline toolbar only appears in the Block Editor. If you're using the Classic Editor, formatting options live in the toolbar at the top of your article instead.