How To Find And Replace Text within A Text File

Finding and replacing text within a text file can be done using any text editor. Below is a listing of all the major text editors with information on how to replace text.

Tip: In most programs the Find and Replace option can be accessed by pressing the Ctrl + H or Ctrl + F keyboard shortcut on the PC. On Apple computers running macOS the shortcut key may be either Cmd + H or Cmd + F.



Replacing text within Notepad

Microsoft Notepad is included with all versions of Windows and can be used to replace text in plain text files. To replace text follow the steps below.

    Open the text file by double-clicking on the file.
    In Notepad, click Edit on the menu bar, then select Replace in the Edit menu.
    Once in the search and replace window enter the text you want to find and the text you want to use as a replacement. See our using search and replace and advanced options for further information and help.

Tip: Press the keyboard shortcut key Ctrl + H to open the Replace window.

Note: The Replace feature in Notepad is limited, if you need more than just replacing words consider a different editor.
Replacing text with WordPad

In the Microsoft WordPad ribbon Home tab (shown below) click the Replace link to open the replace window. Once in the search and replace window enter the text you want to find and the text you want to use as a replacement. See our using search and replace and advanced options for further information and help.

Replace text with Notepad++

Notepad++ is a powerful free and open source text editor that supports more options for finding and replacing text than any of the above suggestions. To open Replace in Notepad++ follow the steps below.

    Open the file containing the text you want to find in Notepad++.
    Click Search and then Replace. See our using search and replace and advanced options for further information and help.

Tip: Press the keyboard shortcut key Ctrl + H to open the Replace window.
Replace text in TextPad

Although not free for the full program, TextPad is another fantastic text editor with powerful search and replace features. Below are the steps on how to search and replace text in TextPad.

    Open the file containing the text you want to find in TextPad.
    Click Search and then Replace. See our using search and replace and advanced options for further information and help.


Find and replace text in Excel

Tip: The Ctrl + F and Cmd + F keyboard shortcut keys also work in Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs to open the Find and Replace text box.

In Microsoft Excel, older versions featured the Edit menu and the Replace option is found in that menu. Newer versions of Excel feature a ribbon menu and the Find & Select option is found on the Home tab, at the far right side as shown in the picture.

Once the shortcut key opens or you click the Find option under Find & Select a Find and Replace box opens, click the Replace tab, and enter the text you want to find and replace in the spreadsheet.