How to quickly find and replace across multiple open Excel files?
Excel's built-in Find and Replace feature can search or replace text in a worksheet or throughout the active workbook. However, it cannot run the same replacement across multiple open workbooks at once. This tutorial shows how to use Kutools for Excel to complete the task more efficiently.
- Kutools for Excel vs. Excel's built-in Find and Replace
- Quickly find and replace across multiple open workbooks
- Frequently Asked Questions
Kutools for Excel vs. Excel's built-in Find and Replace
Excel's built-in Find and Replace feature is a practical choice for a selected range, the active worksheet, or the active workbook. Kutools for Excel includes these common scopes and extends them to selected worksheets, specific open workbooks, or all open workbooks. It also provides additional search targets and a single pane for managing cross-workbook results.
| Capability | Kutools for Excel | Excel's built-in Find and Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Search and replacement scope |
|
|
| Selecting exact files and sheets | The Workbooks list displays open workbooks and their worksheets, allowing you to include only the specific workbooks or sheets needed. | There is no central list for choosing worksheets from multiple open workbooks. The operation is limited to the active workbook. |
| Batch replacement across workbooks | Set Within to All Workbooks, or choose specific targets, and then run Replace Allonce across every included workbook. | The same find-and-replace operation must be repeated separately in each workbook. |
| Searchable content types | Use Look in to search formulas, values, comments, hyperlinks, or chart titles. It can also replace values, hyperlinks, and chart titles across the included worksheets and workbooks. | The standard Find feature supports formulas, values, notes, and comments within the active search scope. It does not provide Hyperlinks or Chart Titles as dedicated Look in targets or process them across multiple open workbooks. |
| Cross-workbook results | Displays results from all included worksheets and workbooks together at the bottom of the Navigation pane. | Find All lists matches only from the current sheet or active workbook. |
Quickly find and replace across multiple open workbooks
With Kutools for Excel installed, you can use the Navigation pane to find and replace text across multiple open workbooks in one operation.
After installing Kutools for Excel, follow these steps:
- Open all the workbooks in which you want to find and replace the specified text.
- Click Kutools > Navigation to open the Navigation pane. Then click the Find and Replace button to open the Find and Replace pane.
- On the Replace tab, enter the text you want to find in the Find what box and the replacement text in the Replace with box. Then choose All Workbooks from the Within drop-down list.
Tip: If the Within drop-down list and Workbooks list are not visible, click the Expand button to display the advanced Find and Replace options.
- Click Replace All. The matching text in all open workbooks is replaced.
Note: By default, the keyboard shortcut for opening Kutools' Find and Replace pane is Win + Shift + Q. If you prefer Ctrl + F, open the Navigation settings and select Pressing Ctrl + F to apply Find and Replace of Kutools. After this option is enabled, pressing Ctrl + F opens Kutools' Find and Replace pane.
Kutools for Excel's Navigation pane also lets you switch between recently used worksheets, list open workbooks, worksheets, columns, and names, and save frequently used formulas or pictures for reuse. Learn more about the Navigation pane.
Download Kutools for Excel for free
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all the workbooks need to be open?
Yes. The All Workbooks scope applies to workbooks that are currently open in Excel. Open every file you want to include before running the replacement.
Can I replace text in only certain worksheets?
Yes. Choose Selected Sheets from the Within drop-down list, then select the worksheets you want to include from the Workbooks list.
What types of content can Kutools search?
The Look in list can include formulas, values, comments, hyperlinks, and chart titles. The available choices may differ depending on whether you are using the Find or Replace tab.
Does Replace All change the original workbook content immediately?
Yes. Replace All overwrites matching content in the specified locations. Check the text to find, the replacement text, and the selected scope before running the replacement.
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