Microsoft office excel cannot find the data youre searching for

Symptoms

When you try to use the Find utility to search for data in an Excel workbook, you may receive an error message similar to the following:

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Workaround
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How do you fix we couldn't find what you were looking for in Excel?
Why is my find search not working in Excel?
How do you stop Excel from searching for external links?
Why is Excel not allowing me to find and replace?

Microsoft Excel cannot find the data you're searching for. Check your search options, location and formatting.

Cause

This issue may occur if you are searching for text, values, or formatting that is contained in a filtered list, and the filtering criteria prevents the text, values, or formatting from being displayed.

Workaround

To work around this issue, set the filter criteria to Show All on each worksheet in your workbook before you perform the search. To do this, follow these steps:

Start Excel, and then open the workbook that you want to search.
On the Data menu, point to Filter, and then click Show All.
Repeat step 2 for each sheet in the workbook.
Perform the search.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Excel 2003.

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Question
I have a sheet in and Excel file with a lot of data in it.
When I try to search for a word in this particular sheet I get: "Microsoft Excel cannot find the data you're searching for" even for words that are present in the sheet.
when I go to other sheets in the file search function works properly.
What's going on?
thanks

Answers

Hi
In the Find dialog click the Options button and check the options for matching case, match entire cell contents.
Also look at what you have selected when you try to use search. If you have more than one cell selected then the search is restricted to the selected cells.
G North MCT
- Marked as answer by Friday, September 9, 2011 9:12 AM

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Question
When doing a search in Excel workbook, the search does not find data that has been filtered. Is there a workaround to include the filtered data in the search? We are working on large shared spreadsheets and I currently have to go and remove filters from all sheets before the search works properly. (As other users filter the data.)
- Edited by CuriousGeorgina Wednesday, January 16, 2019 12:51 PM

All replies

Hi,
As far as I know, this issue always occurs if you are searching for text, values, or formatting that is contained in a filtered list, and the filtering criteria prevents the text, values, or formatting from being displayed.

To work around this issue, set the filter criteria to Show All on each worksheet in your workbook before you perform the search. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Start Excel, and then open the workbook that you want to search.
2. On the Data menu, point to Filter, and then click Show All.
3. Repeat step 2 for each sheet in the workbook.
4. Perform the search.
Hope it helps. If you have any updates, feel free to post back to let me know.
Best Regards,
Herb
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact .
Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Office 2019.
- Proposed as answer by Herb GuMicrosoft contingent staff Thursday, January 17, 2019 8:03 AM
Hi,

I am checking the status of this issue. Do you have any update for it?
If my reply is helpful to this question, please remember to mark it as answer. Your action would be helpful to other users who encounter the same issue and read this thread. Thanks for your understanding.
Anything unclear or any questions, feel free to post them back to let us know. I will be glad to follow up and help you.
Best Regards,
Herb
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact .
Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Office 2019.

How do you fix we couldn't find what you were looking for in Excel?

Workaround.

Start Excel, and then open the workbook that you want to search..

On the Data menu, point to Filter, and then click Show All..

Repeat step 2 for each sheet in the workbook..

Perform the search..

Why is my find search not working in Excel?

The most common reason for the error is that the string you're searching doesn't exist. Say you have a data set with prices in Columns A, B, and C. If you enter text that doesn't exist in the workbook in the Find what box and click Find All, Excel will open an error message.

How do you stop Excel from searching for external links?

Go to the 'Data' ribbon..

In the 'Queries & Connections' section, select 'Edit Links'.

The Edit Links dialog box will appear with a list of external links..

Select each of the links and click the 'Break Link' button for each..

Why is Excel not allowing me to find and replace?

If your Excel find and replace not working then check whether your Excel sheet is password protected. If it is protected then find and replace option won't work. So, you need to unprotect Excel worksheet first.

Data Excel error