How to Find and Replace in Google Docs

Find and replace can save a lot of time when the same word, name, phrase, or spelling appears several times in a Google Docs document.

Instead of editing every occurrence manually, you can search for the text and replace one match at a time or update every matching result at once.

QUICK ANSWER

Go to Edit > Find and replace

Open your Google Doc, choose Edit > Find and replace, enter the text you want to find, then type the replacement text. Choose Replace for one match or Replace all for every matching result.

How to Open Find and Replace in Google Docs

1

Open your document

Open the Google Doc where you want to search for text.

2

Click Edit

Select Edit from the menu at the top of Google Docs.

3

Choose Find and replace

Click Find and replace to open the search window.

EGGLOVER TIP

You can open Find and replace faster with Ctrl + H on Windows or ChromeOS. On a Mac, use Command + Shift + H.

How to Replace Text in Google Docs

Replace a word or phrase

1. Enter the original text in the Find field.
2. Enter the new text in Replace with.
3. Use Next or Previous to move between matches.
4. Click Replace when you want to update the highlighted result.

Replace vs Replace All

Option	What It Does	Best For
Replace	Changes the currently highlighted match	Reviewing changes one by one
Replace all	Changes every matching result	Repeated names, spelling, or terminology

Check before using Replace all

Replace all changes every matching occurrence, so it is worth checking whether the same word is being used in more than one context before applying the change.

What Does Match Case Do?

The Match case option makes the search case-sensitive.

For example, searching for Google with Match case enabled will not treat google as the same match.

How to Use Regular Expressions in Find and Replace

Google Docs also supports matching text with regular expressions. This is useful when you need to find a text pattern rather than one exact word.

Search using a regular expression

1. Open Edit > Find and replace.
2. Enter the pattern in the Find field.
3. Turn on Match using regular expressions.
4. Use the search controls to move through the matching results.

IMPORTANT

Google Docs can use regular expressions to find matching text, but advanced replacement formatting such as capture-group replacement behaves differently from Google Sheets and should not be assumed to work the same way.

Find vs Find and Replace

If you only need to locate text and do not need to change it, the regular Find tool may be faster.

Tool	Shortcut	Use It When
Find	Ctrl + F or Command + F	You only need to locate text
Find and replace	Ctrl + H or Command + Shift + H	You want to locate and change text

How to Find and Replace on Android

Google Docs for Android also supports Find and replace.

1. Open the document in the Google Docs app.
2. Tap More.
3. Tap Find and replace.
4. Enter the text you want to find.
5. Use the arrows to move through matches.
6. Choose Replace or Replace all when needed.

How to Find and Replace on iPhone or iPad

The Google Docs app for iPhone and iPad also includes Find and replace.

1. Open a document in the Google Docs app.
2. Tap More.
3. Select Find and replace.
4. Enter the text you want to find.
5. Use the arrows to review the matches.
6. Tap Replace for one occurrence or All for every occurrence.

When Is Find and Replace Useful?

Fix repeated typos

Correct the same spelling mistake throughout a document.

Update names

Change a project, company, product, or person name in several places.

Standardize wording

Replace inconsistent terminology with one preferred term.

Review long documents

Quickly locate specific text without scrolling through every page.

Related Google Docs Guides

How to Use Suggesting Mode in Google Docs

Recommend edits without immediately replacing the original text.

How to Change Line Spacing in Google Docs

Adjust line and paragraph spacing in your document.

How to Download a Google Doc as a PDF

Save your finished document as a PDF copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Find and replace in Google Docs?

On a computer, open Edit and choose Find and replace.

What is the shortcut for Find and replace?

Use Ctrl + H on Windows or ChromeOS, or Command + Shift + H on a Mac.

Can I replace every match at once?

Yes. Use Replace all to change every matching occurrence.

What does Match case mean?

It makes your search case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase differences matter.

Does Find and replace work on mobile?

Yes. Both Android and iPhone/iPad versions of Google Docs support Find and replace.

FINAL TAKEAWAY

Use Find and replace when the same text appears more than once

Go to Edit > Find and replace to search for words or phrases and update them quickly. Use Replace when you want to review changes individually, or Replace all when you are sure every matching result should be changed.

SOURCES AND LAST CHECKED

This guide is based on current Google Docs Editors Help documentation for Find and replace on computer, Android, iPhone, and iPad, including Match case and regular expression search options. Last checked: October 2026.