Open Notepad and go to Search > Find in Files (Ctrl Shift F). 2. Enter the text to find and replace, specify file filters (e.g., *.html), set the directory, and choose search mode (Normal or Regular expression). 3. Check options like Match case or Match whole word only if needed, and enable In hidden folders/subfolders when necessary. 4. Click Replace in Files and confirm the action. 5. Always back up files before proceeding, as global changes cannot be undone. 6. Use Find in Files first to preview matches and avoid unintended replacements. 7. Save files manually after replacement or ensure Auto-save is enabled. 8. For special characters, confirm files are in UTF-8 encoding via Encoding > Convert to UTF-8. 9. Use Regular Expression mode for advanced patterns, such as replacing id= followed by digits with id=999 using Find: id=(\d ) and Replace: id=999. 10. Resolve "No files found" errors by verifying the directory path, filters, and exclusion settings. This method provides an efficient GUI-based solution for multi-file find-and-replace in small to medium projects.
If you need to find and replace text across multiple files using Notepad , you're in luck — it has a built-in feature for exactly that. Here's how to do it efficiently and avoid common pitfalls.

? How to Find and Replace in Multiple Files
Open Notepad
-
Go to Search > Find in Files (or press
Ctrl Shift F
) -
Fill in the following fields:
- Find what: The text you want to search for
- Replace with: The replacement text
-
Filters: File types to include (e.g.,
*.txt
,*.html
,*.js
, or leave blank for all) - Directory: The folder where your files are located
- In hidden folders/subfolders: Check if needed
- Search Mode: Use "Normal" unless you're using regex (then choose "Regular expression")
-
Click Replace in Files
Confirm the action in the popup
?? Important: Always back up your files before doing bulk replace — mistakes can’t be undone globally.
? Tips for Better Results
Use filters wisely:
If you only want to change.html
files, type*.html
in the Filters box.
For multiple types:*.html; *.php; *.js
Case sensitivity:
Check Match case if you want exact case matching.Whole word only:
Use Match whole word only to avoid partial matches (e.g., replacing "cat" won’t change "category").-
Use Regular Expressions (Regex):
Enable Regular expression mode for advanced patterns.
Example: Replace all digits after "id=" with regex:- Find:
id=(\d )
- Replace:
id=999
(Note: Use\1
to keep original groups if needed)
- Find:
?? Common Issues & Fixes
-
"No files were found"?
Double-check:- The directory path is correct
- Filters aren’t too restrictive
- You didn’t accidentally check "Exclude" options
Changes not saved?
After replacing, the files are modified but you must save them manually if Notepad prompts. Or ensure "Auto-save" is on.Encoding problems?
If files have special characters (like é, ü), make sure they’re in UTF-8 encoding. You can convert via Encoding > Convert to UTF-8 before replacing.
? Pro Workflow: Search First, Then Replace
- Use Find in Files (without replacing) to preview matches
- Review results in the bottom panel
- Only proceed with Replace in Files when confident
This avoids accidental bulk changes.
Basically, Notepad makes multi-file find-and-replace fast — just be careful, use filters, and always back up. It’s not as powerful as command-line tools like sed
or grep
, but for GUI-based editing, it’s solid for small to medium projects.
The above is the detailed content of Notepad find and replace in multiple files. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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