How to Find and Replace with Adobe Acrobat? Step by Step

Are you looking for a way to edit large PDF documents quickly? Then, the answer you’ve been seeking is find and replace. Adobe Acrobat provides this useful tool for text editing, though it could be confusing for those without prior knowledge.

In this blog, we’ll provide easy-to-follow guides on finding and replacing text in Adobe Acrobat. Additionally, if you require a powerful and cost-effective alternative to Acrobat, we’ll introduce you to UPDF, a versatile tool to help you easily manage PDFs. If you’d like to try out UPDF for yourself, you can do so using the link below.

Part 1: How to Use Acrobat to Find and Replace

Adobe Acrobat’s find-and-replace tool is quick and easy to use when you need to replace text in PDF documents. It should be noted, however, that this method allows you to replace text one word at a time rather than replacing multiple words at once. While this is great for smaller documents, working with larger ones can become time-consuming. Below is a step-by-step guide on locating and using the find and replace tool in Adobe Acrobat.

Locating the Find and Replace Tool

You’ll see a “Magnifying glass” icon at the top right of your screen; alternatively, you can press “Ctrl+F” on your keyboard. Next, click the three dots and choose “Replace text.”

Input Your Word

This step is simple: just type in the word you’d like to replace.

Replacing the Word

In the second box underneath your original word, input the word you’d like it to be replaced with. Lastly, click “Replace” to replace the first instance of the selected word, continue to hit “Replace” to replace the next one, and so on.

Part 2: How to Use Acrobat to Find and Replace All?

If you’re working with a large PDF document or just want the luxury of replacing all words at once, Adobe Acrobat alone doesn’t provide this feature. To achieve this, you’ll need to use Acrobat to convert your document into a Word file, use Word's find and replace tool, then convert the document back to PDF, as seen below.

Converting Your PDF to Word

Open the PDF you’d like to work with in Adobe Acrobat. Next, click “Convert” at the top left of your screen, ensure the “Microsoft Word” option is checked, and hit the blue “Convert” button.

Locating the Find and Replace Tool in Word

Open your newly converted document in Microsoft Word, and on the right-hand side of your toolbar, you’ll see “Replace.” Click this to bring up a new window.

Replacing Your Text

Make sure “Replace” is selected from the three options at the top of this new window. Type in the word you’d like to replace in the “Find what” text box and the word you’d like to replace it with in the box labelled “Replace with.” Next, click “Replace All” to replace every instance of the original word.

Converting Back to PDF

Once you’re happy, click “File” followed by “Save As” and pick “Download as PDF” to return the document to its original PDF format.

Part 3: FAQS About Finding and Replacing with Adobe Acrobat

Q1. How to Find and Replace in Multiple PDF Files?

As of this writing, there is no method for finding and replacing text across multiple PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat. You would need to open each document individually and perform the find-and-replace process one by one.

Q2. How to Find and Replace Text in PDF Online Free?

If you want to find and replace text in a PDF without downloading software, there are several online tools available. However, most sites require a subscription to use the find and replace feature. Here’s a quick guide on how to use these online tools.

1. Head to the PDF site of your choice and upload your document.
2. Enter the text you’d like to replace in the find and replace text box, as well as the text you’d like to replace it with.
3. Download the updated PDF.

Q3. Why Can’t I Find and Replace with Adobe Acrobat?

If you’re using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, you won’t have access to the find and replace feature. This tool is only available in the paid version of Acrobat.

Part 4: Bonus Tip: The Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative

If you find Adobe Acrobat too expensive or are just looking for a more cost-effective alternative, we have the perfect solution. UPDF is a powerful, feature-rich tool that costs one-sixth of the price of Acrobat without sacrificing any of its key features. It's an excellent choice for those looking to save on their PDF editing needs.

Beyond just pricing, UPDF stands out with its incredibly intuitive interface, making it easier to navigate and use effectively, even if you’re not tech-savvy.  Just click the button below to download UPDF and give it a try.

Whether you need to view PDFs, edit documents, annotate, convert, or anything else, UPDF has your needs covered with a host of amazing features such as:

• PDF Editing: Edit text, images, and links in existing or newly created documents.
• Annotation Tools: Add highlights, notes, and more to your PDFs.
• Convert PDFs: Convert your PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Images, or vice versa.
• Batch Creation: Create or combine multiple PDFs at once.
• OCR: Extract text from scanned documents or images.
• AI Assistant: Summarize PDFs instantly, chat with AI, and translate entire documents.
• Mind Maps: Use AI to create easily digestible mind maps out of your documents.
• Cloud Syncing: Backup your documents to Cloud storage and access them anywhere on any device.

These are just a few of the many features UPDF has to offer. If you’d like to learn more about UPDF and how it compares to Adobe Acrobat, check out this in-depth review. Or if you’d prefer, check out the video below to learn why UPDF is the best PDF editor on the market.

UPDF is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and can be downloaded for free via the link below. If you’re happy with UPDF, consider upgrading to the pro version for full access to all of UPDF's features.

Final Thoughts

In summary, we’ve discussed two efficient ways to find and replace Adobe Acrobat text with the guides featured above. While Acrobat offers basic find and replace features, you’ll have to convert to Word for larger PDF documents to replace all text.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Adobe Acrobat, we recommend switching to UPDF for all your PDF needs. UPDF is fast and reliable, has a budget-friendly price, and offers many amazing features. Why not try UPDF for yourself by clicking the download link below?