To find and replace text in Word 2013, press Ctrl + H (or click Replace on the Home tab), type the word you want to change in Find what, type the new word in Replace with, then click Replace All. The More button adds options such as matching case and whole words. The same steps work in newer versions of Word. Office 2013 reached end of support on April 11, 2023, so it no longer receives security updates; consider moving to a supported version.
Quick Answer
Ctrl + H > Find what > Replace with > Replace All. Click More for Match case and Find whole words only.
Steps to Find and Replace in Word 2013
- Open the document and press Ctrl + H, or go to Home > Replace at the right end of the ribbon.
- In Find what, type the text to look for.
- In Replace with, type the new text. Leave it empty to delete every match.
- Click More >> if you need Match case, Find whole words only or wildcards.
- Click Find Next and Replace to go one at a time, or Replace All to change every match at once.
- Word reports how many replacements it made. Press Ctrl + Z if the result isn’t what you wanted.
Useful Options Under More
| Option | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Match case | Only “Apple” should change, not “apple” |
| Find whole words only | You don’t want partial matches inside longer words |
| Use wildcards | Patterns, such as ? for any single character |
| Special | Paragraph marks, tabs and page breaks (for example ^p) |
| Format | Find or apply bold, fonts or styles |
| Search: Up / Down / All | Limit the direction of the search |
Troubleshooting
- Too many words changed: Undo with Ctrl + Z, then tick Find whole words only and Match case.
- “Word found no items”: Check spelling and clear any formatting set under Format, shown below the Find what box.
- Removing empty paragraphs: Search for ^p^p and replace with ^p; see deleting blank lines in Word.
- Highlight every match instead: Use Find > Reading Highlight, or see highlighting all in Word.
- Spelling keeps flagging replaced words: Check the proofing language; see changing Word to UK English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace text in only part of a document?
Yes. Select the section first, then open Replace; Word works on the selection and asks whether to continue with the rest.
Does Replace All work in headers and footers?
Generally yes, when the search is set to All. Check headers, footers and text boxes afterwards to be sure.
Is there a keyboard shortcut just for Find?
Ctrl + F opens the Navigation pane search. Ctrl + H opens Find and Replace directly.
Summary
- Press Ctrl + H.
- Enter the old and new text.
- Use More for case and whole-word options.
- Click Replace All, and undo if needed.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.