How to Search in Google Docs for a Word or Phrase

Designed much like a standard word processing software, they feature the same tools you would expect from the Microsoft Word program or Apple's Pages word processor, such as varied fonts, bolding, italics, control over indents, lists, bullet points, and so forth.

Designed much like a standard word processing software, they feature the same tools you would expect from the Microsoft Word program or Apple's Pages word processor, such as varied fonts, bolding, italics, control over indents, lists, bullet points, and so forth.

And as you'd expect from any good Word processor, a Google Doc is also easy to search. 

With a few clicks (or taps if you're on mobile) you can find any word or term in the document, and if you'd like, you can replace it in one or every instance in which it appears. Here's how.

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How to search in Google Docs on a computer

1. Open the Google Doc on your computer. 

2. Click on the word "Edit" from the taskbar and then select "Find and replace."

Select Find and replace in the menu. Steven John/Business Insider

3. Then, in the popup window, you can type in the word or words you wish to find, using the "Next" button as needed. 

4. If you wish, type in a word or term to replace a selected instance and then hit "Replace," or you can "Replace All."

You can replace typos throughout your Google Doc with find and replace. Steven John/Business Insider

On a Mac, the shortcut for find and replace is Command+Shift+H. On a PC, it is CTRL+H.

To find a term you are not planning to replace, run a simpler search, with Command+F on a Mac and CTRL+F on PCs.

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How to search in Google Docs on an iPhone

1. Open the Google Doc via the mobile app.

2. Tap the three horizontal dots at the top right corner. 

Open the menu in the upper-right corner. Steven John/Business Insider

3. On the menu that pops out, tap "Find and replace." 

Select Find and replace. Steven John/Business Insider

4. Type the word(s) to be found into the text bar atop the screen, then hit "Search" at the bottom. 

5. If you wish, enter a word or term to replace the selected copy, then hit "Replace" for a single substitution or "All" for swapping out every instance.

Find the word by searching on the top of the screen, and then replace by typing in to the search box. Steven John/Business Insider

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How to search in Google Docs on an Android device

1. Open the Google Doc. 

2. Tap the three vertical dots.

3. Then tap "Find and replace." 

4. Enter the word or phrase, then tap the magnifying glass icon to search. 

5. Now you can choose to "Replace" or Replace all."

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Steven John

Freelance Writer

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