Find and replace words in Google Docs for Android

Before you begin

Find and replace can update a repeated name or term throughout a document. Start with one match and inspect its context before changing every occurrence. The same word might form part of another name, a quotation or wording that should remain unchanged.

Check the document title and Google account before editing. A shared file may grant viewing, commenting or editing permission, which affects the controls available. For collaborative documents, agree on the intended change and avoid replacing another person's work without context. Review the result in the document itself, since the cursor's editing position does not always show the full page layout.

Follow these steps

Follow this sequence in the Android app.

1. Open the document in Google Docs, then choose More and Find and replace. Enter the target word with the appropriate spelling so the results do not combine unrelated terms.
2. Run the search and use the arrows to inspect several occurrences. Read the surrounding sentences, especially when the term appears in headings, tables and the main document text.
3. Choose Replace for a single occurrence, enter the new wording and inspect the resulting sentence. Perform this small trial before using Replace all so the effect is understood.
4. Use Replace all only when every occurrence should change. Afterward, search for the old term again and reread several sections to confirm that the resulting wording is consistent.

Check the result

Automatic replacement does not understand every sentence's meaning. Avoid replacing a fragment that also appears inside other names. In a collaborative document, explain a broad terminology change so contributors do not reintroduce the old spelling while editing later sections.