Excel Find Function Not Working? Here’s How To Fix It

The Find operate in Excel is a textual content operate that returns the place of a set character on a cell merchandise. As the operate is difficult to make use of, many new Excel customers expertise points in operating the Find operate.

The Find operate is case-sensitive in nature. This means you should match the case of the character you need the operate to return the worth for. If you don’t match the case, you may encounter the #VALUE! Error. There are different rookie errors as such that may create issues when using the Find operate.

Use Proper Syntax

If you don’t use correct syntax whereas getting into the FIND operate, you’ll run into the #NAME? error code. The components for the FIND operate is written within the following format:

=FIND(find_text, within_text, [start-num])

You can both confer with a cell or enter a textual content instead of “find_text”. If you’ve entered textual content, be sure you enter it inside double quotes. Similarly, be sure you use commas to separate your arguments.

In this instance, we set the find_text worth as I. As we didn’t enclose it inside double quotes, Excel triggered the #NAME? error.

To remedy this, enter your textual content in double-quotes. The FIND operate returns 1 because the letter “I” seems solely as soon as in “Image”.

Recheck Your Formula

You might have entered an incorrect worth within the find_text part. If Excel can’t discover the worth you’ve requested within the set cell location, it’ll return the #VALUE! error.

Check your components to see should you’ve accurately entered your values. If you’ve used a special case in your components, change it to match the case.

We’ve entered the find_text worth as “A” within the grid above. The FIND operate will search for this character in A2, which is “apple”. As the case for the letter “a” is completely different, the FIND operate won’t work.

You can remedy this error by altering the case for find_text to “a”.

Change start-num Value

You can add a start-num worth on the finish of your FIND components. This specifies a place within the character Excel can begin in search of your set worth. If you’ve set a start-num worth that comes after your set character, Excel won’t register that character. 

For instance, we’ve entered our components to search out the variety of instances the letter “a” has been repeated in apple. However, we’ve set the start-num worth to 2, which comes after “a” within the worth. Excel can’t find “a” within the remaining textual content, so it returns the #VALUE! error. 

To repair this, we will change the start-num worth to 1. However, you may select to not enter 1 in any respect as Excel units the start-num worth to 1 by default.

Use Find Command in Excel

If you’re having hassle using the FIND operate in Excel, you may all the time discover the Find command. You can configure the Find command to Match case and Match complete cell contents with the worth you enter. 

Similarly, you may alter the place Excel seems on your set worth. You can run the Find command inside your sheet or your entire workbook. You may also select if the command searches by rows or columns in formulation, values, or feedback.

1. On your workbook, hit Ctrl + F.
2. Click on the Options>> button.
3. Enter your worth within the Find what part and configure the search settings accordingly.
4. Select Find All.

The Find command will find all cells that match your set worth.

Repair Office

You might be coping with corrupt or lacking program recordsdata if non of the options apply. You can carry out a web based restore on the Office app as your final resort to the Find operate not working in Excel.

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Head to Apps > Apps & options.
3. Enter Microsoft Office within the search bar.
4. Click the three-dot menu and choose Modify.
5. Choose Online restore > Repair.