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How to search by worksheet name in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

Normally we can find/search cells easily with Find and Replace feature. But occasionally we need to search by worksheet name. For example there are dozens of worksheets squeezing in sheet tab bar, and we need to quickly find out a worksheet and jump to it. So how? This article will discuss both methods to solve it easily.


Search by worksheet name with VBA

This method will introduce a VBA macro to search worksheet in active workbook easily.

1. Press the Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and then paste following VBA code into the new opening Module window.

VBA: Search by worksheet name

Sub SearchSheetName()
Dim xName As String
Dim xFound As Boolean
xName = InputBox("Enter sheet name to find in workbook:", "Sheet search")
If xName = "" Then Exit Sub
On Error Resume Next
ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(xName).Select
xFound = (Err = 0)
On Error GoTo 0
If xFound Then
MsgBox "Sheet '" & xName & "' has been found and selected!"
Else
MsgBox "The sheet '" & xName & "' could not be found in this workbook!"
End If
End Sub

3. Press the F5 key or click the Run button to run this VBA.

4. A Sheet search dialog box comes out, please type the worksheet name that you will search, and click the OK button. See screenshot:
type the worksheet name in the dialog box

Another dialog box will come out and tell whether the worksheet has been found or not. Just close it.

a prompt box appears to remind the sheet is selected    a prompt box appears to remind the sheet does not exist

Note: This VBA requires exactly matched worksheet name. Only you enter the exactly full worksheet name, you can find out this worksheet with this VBA.


Search by worksheet name with Navigation Pane of Kutools for Excel

If you have Kutools for Excel installed, you can easily search worksheets by sheet name on the Navigation Pane. Please do as follows:

Kutools for Excel offers over 300 advanced features to streamline complex tasks, boosting creativity and efficiency. Itegarate with AI capabilities, Kutools automates tasks with precision, making data management effortless. Detailed information of Kutools for Excel...         Free trial...

1. By default the Navigation Pane is opening. If closed, please click Kutools > Navigation Pane to display the navigation pane, and then click Workbook & sheet icon (Workbook & sheet) at far left side of Navigation Pane.
click Navigation feature of kutools

2. Go ahead to check the Filter checkbox in the Navigation Pane, and type the specified keywords into following box. Now all worksheets whose names contain the specified keywords will be found out and listed in the below box. See screenshot:
type the specified keywords into the filter box to search the sheets

Note: Clicking the search results will jump and open the corresponding worksheet at once.


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