How do you find and replace in multiple Excel files on a Mac?

By Kayabyte · Last updated 31 October 2026

Excel’s Replace (Ctrl-H on a Mac) works in one open workbook at a time, so replacing text across many files means opening each one, or running a macro. A text editor such as BBEdit cannot edit .xlsx files, because they are compressed packages, not plain text. Gridhand’s Find and Replace searches many workbooks at once, shows every match first, and writes only the files that have matches.

Manual method

Open a workbook and press Ctrl-H (Cmd-H hides the app on a Mac).
Click Options and set Within to Workbook to cover every sheet; set Look in to Formulas or Values.
Enter the text, click Replace All, save, and repeat for every file.

Useful options: Match case, “Match entire cell contents”, and the wildcards ? (one character) and * (any number) with ~ to search for a real question mark or asterisk.

Limits

One workbook at a time; ten files means ten rounds, and it is easy to skip one.
No regular expressions.
Replace All has no preview and Undo only works until you save.
A macro that loops over a folder can work, but you have to write and test it, and it edits the open workbooks, so keep backups.

With Gridhand

Gridhand Find and Replace takes a folder of workbooks and these options: plain text, match case, whole cell, or regular expressions (in the replacement, $1 is the first group), in values, formulas or both, optionally the digits of numeric cells, and a sheet filter. The preview is a table of every match across every file, before anything is written. Only files with matches are written, as new files in the output folder; files without matches are listed and not copied. Everything else in a file, macros included, stays as it was. Table headers are never changed, because Excel would repair the file.

When a formula is changed, its saved result is dropped and Excel recalculates when the file opens. Your originals are never modified.

Steps with Gridhand

Drop the workbooks, or a folder, into Gridhand and choose Find and Replace.
Type what to find and what to replace it with, and choose the options.
Read the match table in the preview. Fix the search until it shows exactly what you want.
Choose an output folder and press Run.

Free for up to 3 files per run; the preview works on any number of files. Gridhand Pro is USD 49 once. Download Gridhand

Questions

Can I use regular expressions? Yes. Turn on regular expressions and use $1, $2 in the replacement for groups.

Does it search formulas? Yes, if you choose formulas or both. Changed formulas lose their saved result until Excel recalculates.

Are files without matches changed? No. They are listed and not copied.

Can I search numbers? Tick “Numbers too” to search the digits of numeric cells.

Microsoft and Excel are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Gridhand is made by Kayabyte and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.