Finding and Replacing Data in a Worksheet

   Overview   

You can use the search feature in a worksheet to locate data values. This can be helpful if you are working with large amounts of data.

You can also direct Excel to locate all instances of a value (such as a name) in order to replace them with another value. This is known as the Replace feature.

In this article, you will learn the steps to find or replace data values within an Excel worksheet.

1. Step 1

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the lookup magnifying glass highlighted

To search for text or numbers in a worksheet, click the Find & Search magnifying glass on the Home tab.

2. Step 2

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Find... option highlighted

A pop-up menu is displayed.

Click the Find... option.

3. Step 3

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Find what: field highlighted

The Find and Replace search box is displayed.

Enter the appropriate information you want to search for into the Find what: field.   

For this example, you want to find the employee Starwood Demopolis. In the Find what: field, enter " Starwood ".

4. Step 4

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Find Next button highlighted

Click the Find Next button.

Note: The Find Next option finds every occurrence of the information, displaying each instance in the search results one at a time. To scroll through multiple results, continue pressing Find Next until the option you need is displayed.

5. Step 5

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Close button and Column C highlighted

An instance of the search criteria is displayed.

Within the Find and Replace window, click the Close button.

6. Step 6

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Replace tab highlighted

You might also search for values in a worksheet if you want to replace them with different values.

In the Find and Replace window, click the Replace tab.

7. Step 7

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Replace what: field highlighted

Enter the appropriate information you want to find into the Find what: field.    

Example shown here: "Starwood Demopolis" into the Find what: field.

8. Step 8

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Find what: field highlighted

Enter the value you want to replace with into the Replace with: field. This value will replace all of the instances of the data entered into the Find what: field.

Example shown here: "Glenn Hadley" in the Replace with: field.

9. Step 9

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Replace All button field highlighted

Click the Replace All button.

10. Step 10

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the OK button highlighted

A confirmation of the replacements and the number of instances replaced is displayed.

Click the OK button.

11. Step 11

Excel Spreadsheet displayed with the Close button highlighted

Click the Close button.