How to use find and replace in Google Docs to make multiple edits quickly in a document

• You can use find and replace in Google Docs to find a word in a document, to replace a single entry, or to replace every instance of a word or phrase.
• You can open the find and replace dialog box from the Edit menu in Google Docs.
• On Android or iOS, find and replace is accessible from the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen.

In addition to productivity essentials like cut, copy, and paste, few inventions of the computer age can save you as much time and frustration as find and replace. The ability to search for all the instances of a particular word or phrase in a document and change them all at once is a time-saver. Thankfully, Google includes this convenient feature in Google Docs.

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How to use find and replace in Google Docs on a computer

Go to Google Docs in your web browser and open the document in which you want to find and replace text.

1. In Google Docs' menu bar, click Edit and then click Find and replace.

2. In the text field to the right of Find, type the word or phrase you want to look for.

3. You can use this tool just to search, but if you also want to replace that text with something else, enter the replacement text in the Replace with field.

As soon as you enter text in the Find field, you should see highlighted entries appear in the document. You can also use the Previous and Next buttons to move through the document, showing each entry of the Find text.

If you want to make a change, you can click and type in the document even though the Find and replace window is still on top.

If you want to replace the text, you can click Replace (to replace the currently selected entry) or Replace all (to replace every highlighted instance of the word or phrase).

How to use find and replace in Google Docs on an Android device

Find and replace is available on the Android app, though it works a little differently than in a browser on a computer. The biggest difference is that it's a two-step process.

1. Start the Google Docs app and open the document you want to edit.

2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen. In the dropdown, choose Find and replace.

3. At the top of the screen, type the word or phrase you want to search for and then tap the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen. You should see the text appear highlighted throughout the document, and you can use the arrows at the top of the screen cycle through each one.

4. To replace the text, tap the three-dot menu at the top right and choose either Replace or Replace All. Pick the one option you want and then enter the replacement text in the Replace with… field at the bottom of the screen. Tap Replace or Replace All.

5. When you are done with your search and replace operation, tap the Done check mark at the top left.

How to use find and replace in Google Docs on an iPhone or iPad

You can use find and replace on your iPhone or iPad, though the feature looks a little different here than it does in a web browser.

1. Start the Google Docs app and then open the document you want to edit.

2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen. In the flyout menu that appears on the right side of the screen, choose Find and replace.

3. At the top of the screen, type the word or phrase you want to search for. You should see the text appear highlighted throughout the document, and you can use the up and down arrows at the top of the screen cycle through each one.

4. To replace the text, enter the replacement text in the Replace with field at the bottom of the screen. Tap Replace or All.

5. When you are done with your search and replace, tap the X at the top left to return to the document.

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