How to find the address of cells containing specific text in Excel?
When you need to locate cells containing specific text, Excel can display the address of every match in a selected range, worksheet, or workbook. If you need to search several open workbooks at once, Kutools for Excel provides a broader search scope and lists all matching cells in one pane.
Find the addresses of cells containing specific text with Find and Replace
Find the addresses of cells containing specific text across open workbooks
Compare the methods for finding cell addresses
| Method | Available scope | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Excel's Find and Replace | A selected range, the active worksheet, or the active workbook | Built into Excel and suitable when the search is limited to one workbook. |
| Kutools for Excel | A selection, the active sheet, selected sheets, the active workbook, specific open workbooks or worksheets, or all open workbooks | Searches the chosen open workbooks in one operation and displays all matching cells in the Navigation pane. |
Find the addresses of cells containing specific text with Find and Replace
Excel's built-in Find and Replace feature can list the cells containing specific text and show each cell address. Follow these steps:
- Select the range you want to search, and then press Ctrl + F to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
- On the Find tab, enter the text you want to locate in the Find what box, and then click Find All.
All matching cells are listed in the Find and Replace dialog box. Their addresses appear in the Cell column.
Find the addresses of cells containing specific text across open workbooks
The Find & Replace in Multiple Workbooks feature of Kutools for Excel can search a selection, specific worksheets or workbooks, or all open workbooks and list the addresses of the matching cells.
- Click Kutools > Find > Find & Replace in Multiple Workbooks.
- In the Find and Replace pane, configure the following options:
- On the Find tab, enter the text you want to locate in the Find what box.
- From the Within drop-down list, select All Workbooks or another scope you need. The open workbooks are displayed in the Workbooks list.
- Click Find All.
All matching cells within the selected scope are listed at the bottom of the pane, where you can view their workbook, worksheet, and cell addresses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Excel's built-in Find feature search all open workbooks at once?
No. Excel can search the active worksheet or the active workbook. To search other open workbooks, you must switch to and search each workbook separately. Kutools can search specific open workbooks or all open workbooks in one operation.
How can I find only cells whose entire content matches the search text?
Expand the search options and select Match entire cell contents in Excel or Match entire Cell in Kutools. Without this option, cells containing the search text as part of a longer value may also appear in the results.
Do the search results update automatically when the worksheet changes?
No. The results show the matches found when the search was performed. Run Find All again after changing the data to refresh the list.
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