How To Do Control + F on iPad & iPhone

Last Updated on July 27, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

If you are trying to find something specific on your iPad or iPhone It’s essential to know how to do Control F on iPad. This will save time.

In this article, we will unlock the mystery and reveal how to perform the “Control + F” equivalent on both iPads and iPhones. How to do it in Safari, Google Chrome, PDF’s, Google Docs, etc.

How To Do Control F with Keyboard on iPad

If you have a Magic Keyboard or any other keyboard, it’s pretty straightforward, you press Comand + F and the search box will appear and you can search straight away.

If you are trying to find an app on your home use the command + space function.

This will work on websites, PDF files, Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Pages, etc. If you don’t have a keyboard, it’s different, and here’s what you need to do.

How To Control + F on a Website (Safari or Google Chrome)

I’ll show you step by step guide with iPad and iPhone. Let’s start with the iPad

Command + F on a website with an iPad

1. Step: press on the share icon located at the top right corner
2. Step: Scroll down until you see “Find in page…”
3. Step: Enter the keyword and your iPad will highlight the keywords that you’re searching for

Control + F on a website with an iPhone

1. Step: located the share icon at the top right corner and click on it
2. Step: click on “Find in Page”
3. Step: enter the keyword or phrase that you are searching for

How To Control + F on a PDF file

iPad

Open up any PDF file on your iPad, and there will be a magnifying glass icon at the top right corner or a search icon if you will. Click on it, enter your phrase, and your iPad will highlight that phrase in the document.

iPhone

1. Step: Open any PDF file, and you will see a magnifying glass or search icon at the bottom, click on it
2. Step: Enter your search phrase, keyword

How To Control + F on a Google Document

iPad

1. Step: Open Google Docs, press on the 3 dots in the right corner
2. Step: Side bar will appear, and you need to press “Find and Replace”
3. Step: Enter your keyword or phrase in the search box. Ignore the “replace” unless you need it.

iPhone

There’s a magnifying glass icon at the top right, click on it, and the search bar will appear, and enter your keyword or phrase.

How To Control + F in Microsoft Word & Excel

For some reason, the Microsoft app doesn’t allow iPad & iPhone users to do the command + f function in their application. You can’t even use this function with a keyboard.

I can only assume that this is due to the fact that their apps are specifically designed for Windows users, and iOS users aren’t a priority, and this function has not been added.

Find Files & Apps on iPad

If you want to find files, apps, or anything else locally on your iPad, press: Command + Space. It will open up a search box right in the middle of your screen. This can help you locate any file you need. I use it often, it’s much easier to type in an app name than search through 100+ apps.

What If you don’t have a keyboard?

Step 1. Swipe down from the MIDDLE of the home screen or lock screen
Step 2. Enter your query in the search box

There’s even another option. Swipe right until your last page and swipe right again.

If you swipe right enough times, your App Library should appear, and a search box at the top. Press on it and enter the app you are searching for.

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