How to Use Control-F Search on iPhone or iPad

July 29, 2024

You can do a Control-F search on your iPhone and iPad in an internet browser or Messages.
Control-F is a computer shortcut that locates specific words or phrases on a webpage or document.
You can search for specific words or phrases in Safari, Google Chrome, and Messages.

Control-F is a handy computer shortcut for quickly locating specific words or phrases in a text-filled word document or a webpage.

If you've wanted to use this search function while browsing the web on your smartphone, great news — you can.

Can you use Control-F on an iPhone?

Yes, you can use a Control + F search on an iPhone. This is done in the iPhone browser by using the On This Page, Find in Page, or Share features.

Quick tip: You can also use Control + F search on iPad, and the steps outlined below are the exact same on each device.

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Safari

1. Open a webpage on the Safari app.

2. Type the word or phrase you want to find in the address bar (where the url is located).

3. Scroll down to On This Page, then tap Find "[word(s) you entered]."

Tap to find the words you entered under the "On This Page" heading. Kyle Wilson/Insider

4. Tap the up and down arrows at the bottom of the screen to see every instance of the word or phrase you're looking for. It will be highlighted in yellow.

Use the arrows to find instances of the word or phrase on the page. Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

5. When you're finished, tap Done at the bottom of the screen.

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Chrome

1. Open a webpage on the Chrome app.

2. Tap the icon with three dots (...) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Find in Page…

You'll have to scroll down in this menu to find and select "Find in Page..." Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

3. Type in the word or phrase you want to find in the search bar at the top of the screen.

Enter the word or phrase you want to find in the top bar. Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

4. Tap the up and down arrows to see every instance of the word or phrase you're looking for. It will be highlighted in yellow.

Tap the arrows to find each instance of the word(s) you're searching for. Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

5. When you're finished, tap Done at the top right of the screen.

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using the Share button

1. Open a webpage on the Safari or Chrome app.

2. Tap the Share icon. It looks like a box with an arrow pointing up.

Tap the Share button. Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

3. Scroll down, then tap Find on Page (Safari) or Find in Page (Chrome).

Tap "Find in Page" or "Find on Page." Abigail Abesamis Demarest/Insider

4. Type in the word or phrase you want to find in the search bar. Use the up and down arrows to see every instance of the word or phrase, highlighted in yellow.

5. When you're finished, tap Done.

How to Control-F on an iPhone in Messages

The iPhone also has two built-in features that allow you to search for words or phrases within the Messages app.

You can use either the search bar in the Messages app or the iOS Spotlight search function to search across your text message conversations for specific words.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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