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How to search for a word in a PDF in Windows, Mac, Android and iOS? Step by step guide

How to search for a word in a PDF in Windows

While it is true, the PDF format is a favorite of online users when sharing any document. This, mainly, for the great lightness of its size and also for the reliability that it maintains in terms of appearance with the original. Taking into account that it also became an open format and such files are increasingly common .

Because of this, such documents also have the ability to maintain the integrity of the design , even regardless of the device from which it is observed. Either on a Windows or Mac computer, on Android or iOS devices. Well, for this, it is essential to learn how to handle a PDF document and thus, manage them perfectly.

Thus, one of the biggest requirements presented with these PDF documents is to find a specific word . Either to locate information of interest, confirm a fact or simply curious. Moreover, when it comes to extensive documents. Therefore, in this post we will show you the steps to take to get one or several words in a PDF , easily.

Steps to search and find one or more words within a PDF document

Luckily, the procedures to follow in order to search and find a word or phrase in a PDF document, are completely simple to carry out and regardless of the device or operating system of which do it.

Consequently, know below the step by step to achieve this task without any complications and whatever your case, below, you will find the most effective solution :

Using a combination of keys for Mac and Windows

Mediante una combinación de teclas para Mac y Windows

While it is true, when accessing a PDF document and interacting with it, the most commonly used tool is Adobe Acrobat Reader . Which, is a completely free software that in addition to having a Spanish version, offers a lot of functions to simplify the user experience. Bearing in mind that, adds a powerful search engine .

In this way, there are several mechanisms to reach the word or phrase you want. Thus, in the first instance, we will focus on how to achieve this from your Windows or Mac computer, only using a combination of keys that supports the famous software already mentioned.

In this regard, we know the steps to follow to perform a simple search in a PDF document, as follows:

  • Once Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed on your computer, proceed to open the PDF document that you want to investigate.
  • Now, press the following keys , depending on the operating system you are using:
    • On Windows: “ Ctrl + F ”.
    • On Mac: “ cmd + F ”.
  • Upon completing the above action, the software will show you a search box at the top of the document , on the right hand side.
  • With this, you can enter the word you want to find or the phrase you want to get. Then, proceed to click on the “ Next ” button.
  • At this point, the program will start its search process throughout the PDF document and in a matter of seconds , you will highlight all found items that match your search criteria .
  • Finally, you can use the “ Next ” or “ Previous ”, if you want to move from one element to another throughout the document.

On the other hand , there is also a trick that you can use using a key combination, when you need to perform a more complex search within a PDF file.

If this is your case, you must carry out the following process:

  • As in the previous case, access the PDF document with the software already indicated.
  • Subsequently, perform the following key combination > on your computer:
    • If it is a Windows: “ Shift + Ctrl + F ”.
    • If it is a Mac: “ Shift + cmd + F ”.
  • Now you can see that, contrary to the previous situation, in this type of search they show you a window that It contains many more options . Within them, the search is placed by full word or even, a search in which both upper and lower case letters are taken into account. Like, the possibility of doing your search on all PDF documents saved on the hard drive.
  • Having seen the above, you can click to enter your search criteria and finally , click on “ Search ” to find what you need.

On Android or iPhone phones

In the case of Android or iPhone mobiles, the procedures to follow are different. Therefore, let’s start with the steps you must take to place a word in a PDF document , if you are an Android user.

What you should do on an Android device

It is important to note that, to execute this process, you must rely on an application that simplifies the management of your PDF document .

So, let’s start:

  • To perform this procedure, it is valuable to have an application installed that allows you to open files with extension represented.pdf•.
  • The one we recommend, is identified as “ OfficeSuite + PDF Editor ”. To obtain it, simply go to Google Play Store , search for it with the indicated name and proceed to click on “ Install ”.

Lo que debes hacer en un dispositivo Android

  • Subsequently, wait for the app installation process to complete automatically and press “ Accept ”.
  • Now, you will access the main page of the application and to be able to execute it, you have to admit the terms and conditions, just by clicking on “ Accept and continue ”.
  • In the main window of OfficeSuite + PDF Editor , click on the “ PDF ” option and when you load a window similar to the one observed above, choose “ Browse ”.
  • After that, choose the folder containing the PDF file to inquire and once you select it, it will open.
  • When entering the document, you must press in the pencil editing icon located at the bottom of the screen.
  • Later, go to the “ Start ” tab at the top and click on the option n “ Search ” (with a magnifying glass icon).
  • Finally, will open a navigation bar at the top and there, you have You enter the word or phrase to search. In a short time, the app will shade all the matches found and to review each one, you just have to press the right or left key that is in the same search bar.

Lo que debes hacer en un dispositivo Android

To search on iPhone

The procedure to be followed by iPhone users is much faster and easier. However, they must also use a mobile application .

Thus, the steps to take are:

  • To start, open the “iBooks” application on your iPhone (it can also be done on an iPad, if you wish). Being this platform, an Apple Inc. software app

Para efectuar la búsqueda en iPhone

  • Within iBooks, proceed to locate the PDF document that you have in your library, to open it.
  • After that, they will show you a menu in the part top of the screen and there, you have to press the magnifying glass icon .

Para efectuar la búsqueda en iPhone

  • To complete, a search bar will be displayed where you can type the word or phrase to be located and now, click on the “ Search ” option of the keyboard of your iPhone so that the application shows you all the results obtained, in a matter of seconds.

Using the Google Chrome browser

The famous Internet browser, Google Chrome; It is also considered as an excellent mechanism to easily open a PDF document and, in addition, to be able to search for a word or phrase contained therein. The best thing is that, the process to follow with Chrome is totally versatile and free.

In this way, let’s see the step by step you have to do with this web browser:

Utilizando el navegador Google Chrome

Advanced word search in PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

In the previous section, we will show you how to execute the word search using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software using quick key combinations that work perfectly. But, you also need to know another way to use this program to locate a specific word or phrase .

Well, for that, you just have to open the PDF document from the main menu of the suite or even, through the simplified menu that they show you after having used the program for several opportunities .

Later, when entering the file, click on the “Edit” option located in the top horizontal menu and in the new drop-down menu, you have to select “Search” , which will show you a box to enter the word you want to get and when you type it, just click on “ Next ” to find all matches.

For its part, there is also the possibility of performing an advanced word search with this program and it is about, the facility that it issues to search for the same combination of letters in more than a PDF document , simultaneously.

To carry out this kind of search, the process is as follows:

  • Open the PDF document with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC as we indicated in the previous part and click on the option “ Edition ”.
  • Now, in the new drop-down menu that opened, locate the option “ Advanced Search ” and click on it. This one is found just after the “ Search ” button.

Búsqueda avanzada de palabras en un PDF usando Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

  • Later, you will access a new window where you can choose the selection “ All PDF documents in ” with just check .

Búsqueda avanzada de palabras en un PDF usando Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

  • Now, you must select the folder where all your files are . To do this, start the simultaneous search for the word you need to find.

In addition to that, the advanced search menu in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC also gives you the simplicity of using other functions such as searching for a phrase accurately, matching matches with capital letters and lowercase, search bookmarks, include in comments , etc. In this way, you can greatly refine the search process within several PDF documents.