If Excel Find is not working on your Windows 11/10 PC, read this post to learn how to fix the issue. A few users have reported experiencing an issue where Excel’s Find function fails to locate specific data in a worksheet, even though it appears visible in the cell. When they try to use the function, it does not work and throws an error that reads:
We couldn’t find what you were looking for. Click Options for more ways to search.
or
Microsoft Excel cannot find the data you’re searching for.
If you’re experiencing the same issue, read further to learn about some effective troubleshooting tips.
Why does the find not work in Excel?
Excel may not find the data you’re looking for due to various reasons:
- Incorrect formulas: Errors in formulas or improper references to data ranges can prevent Excel from locating the desired information.
- Missing or incomplete data: Merged cells, hidden rows/columns, or improperly imported data may lead to search failures.
- Incorrect search settings or techniques: Filters, formatting restrictions, or mismatched search criteria can also impact results, leading to errors.
- Protected sheets: If the worksheet is protected, Find might not work properly.
Fix Excel Find is not working
To fix the Excel Find function if it is not working on your Windows 11/10 PC, use these solutions:
- Reset search settings
- Unhide hidden data and clear filters
- Search special characters using a tilde (~)
- Unprotect worksheet
- Repair Office and update Windows
Let us see this in detail.
Note: Before searching, verify the term you’ve entered is correct and matches the data you’re trying to find. Even small mistakes in the search term can prevent Excel from locating the information. If you’re using a case-sensitive search, ensure that the case of the letters in the search term exactly matches the data.
1] Reset search settings
Excel Find may not work if the Find dialog box has incorrect options selected (e.g., searching in formulas instead of values).
Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog box. Click Options >> to expand settings. Now do the following:
- Make sure the Format box says ‘No Format Set‘. If it doesn’t, clear any formatting by clicking Format > Clear Find Format.
- If a group of cells is selected in Excel, the Find function will only search within the selected cells, not the entire worksheet. De-select the selection by clicking anywhere outside the highlighted area. Then make sure ‘Within:‘ is set to Sheet or Workbook (as needed) in the Options >> menu.
- Set ‘Search:‘ to By Rows or By Columns based on your data layout.
- Ensure that the ‘Look in:‘ option is set correctly for your search. By default, ‘Look in’ is set to Formulas, meaning Excel will search the actual formulas in cells. If you’re searching for displayed values instead of the formulas, switch it to Values. If you’re using the Find function with ‘Look in: Formulas‘, ensure formulas are error-free and reference the correct ranges. You may use Ctrl + Grave accent (`) to quickly toggle between the formula view and value view to check formulas.
- Uncheck ‘Match case‘ if case sensitivity isn’t required.
- Uncheck ‘Match entire cell contents‘ if partial matches should be included.
2] Unhide hidden data and clear filters
Excel does not search within hidden rows, columns, or filtered data by default. To ensure the Find function works, unhide any hidden rows or columns.
To locate hidden rows/columns, select the worksheet, press Ctrl + G, and click Special. In the Go To dialog, select Special > Visible cells only, then click OK.
This will highlight all visible cells, and the borders of rows and columns adjacent to hidden rows and columns will appear with a white border. Now right-click the hidden row/column and select Unhide.
Also, look for a small filter icon (a funnel) in the column headers. If the icon is present, a filter is active. To clear the filter, click the Data tab, then click Clear in the Sort & Filter group.
3] Search special characters using a tilde (~)
Excel treats certain special characters (like ?, *, and ~) as wildcards during searches. For example, a search for ‘Item?123’ will match any value like ‘ItemA123’, ‘ItemB123’, etc., because ‘?’ is a wildcard that matches any single character.
To search for special characters literally, use a tilde (~) before the special character.
4] Unprotect worksheet
When a worksheet is ‘protected’, certain actions such as editing, formatting, or searching might be restricted. This can prevent the Find function from working or limit its ability to search across the entire sheet.
To fix it, click the Format dropdown within the Cells section of the Home tab and select Unprotect Sheet. If a password was set to protect the sheet, you will be prompted to enter it to remove the protection.
5] Repair Office and update Windows
A few users have been able to successfully resolve the issue after installing pending Windows updates. Make sure both your OS and MS Office are up-to-date. If the problem persists, consider repairing your Office installation using this guide.
I hope this helps!
Read: Excel not opening on Windows computer.
Why can’t I control find in Excel?
If ‘Ctrl + F‘ is not working in Excel, it could be due to keyboard or system issues, such as malfunctioning keys, outdated drivers, or disabled or conflicting shortcut keys. Additionally, worksheet-specific problems, such as protected sheets or hidden cells, can restrict search functionality, preventing Excel from locating data properly.
Read Next: Excel Toolbar not working.
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