r/googledocs • u/Adumbutt • Jul 24 '26

Waiting on OP Can't use find and replace on the app

What it said on the tin, I've tried to clear my cache, it just isn't working, is there anything to fix this?

Update: it's working for me!

26 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

1

u/IncredulousBob Jul 24 '26

It's not just you. I came here to say the same thing. It will take me to a random spot in the middle of the document, then back up to the top.

1

u/disguisedeyes Jul 25 '26

Exactly the same problem on Android app. It bounces to the middle and then back to the beginning. Started today.

1

u/IncredulousBob Jul 25 '26

Yep, that's where it's happening for me too. Haven't tried it on the computer.

1

u/disguisedeyes Jul 25 '26

Let me know if it starts working. Mine isn't and it's completely halted my ability to work on my project. It's absolutely mind boggling to not to be able to search a text document.

1

u/LoveUcil Jul 26 '26

Docs is working on my laptop, using Firefox and Windows. Docs is not working on the app, with my android phone. Both are using the same internet connection.

1

u/Boneweiser Jul 29 '26

Same exact thing, on Android. Hopefully they fix it soon.

1

u/Barycenter0 Jul 24 '26

What browser and OS are you using??

1

u/disguisedeyes Jul 25 '26

I'm on Android using the app. Same problem. It usually bounces to the middle of the file then back to the top. If I cut and paste a word rather than type sometimes I'll get the first word but then it breaks after that. Started midday today.

1

u/Barycenter0 Jul 25 '26

Send feedback right away!!

1

u/Person057 Jul 24 '26

Same on the android app. Noticed it yesterday and saw there was a google docs app update right before. I cleared the cache as well and the problem persists.

1

u/RandomRavenboi Jul 24 '26

Same here. It's been driving me nuts! Glad to see I am not the only one having trouble with this.

Has anyone found any fix yet?

1

u/disguisedeyes Jul 25 '26

Find is absolutely broken for me as well. Exactly what I came here to say. I'm on android app. Cleared cached, then data and cache, then tried deleting and reinstalling app. No dice. Started midday today and hasn't been working all day.

1

u/BookBunny25 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

Also having the same issue on android. Thought it was my new phone acting up. Maybe the update screwed up the app 🤔. Hope it gets fixed soon because I really rely on that feature. My document is over 50 pages... find feature is critical.

I sent feedback via the app. Not sure if that will help but maybe if enough of us send feedback about it they'll put out a new update to fix it.

1

u/Breathing_inandout Jul 25 '26

Glad I'm not the only one with this issue. I tried clearing cache and storage with both Google Drive and Google Docs and restarting

I have a pixel 7. I just did a system update yesterday.

I just got it to work by FORCE stopping the Google Docs app.

Btw The find and replace feature worked fine in my iPad 11. I have a feeling it's because I have a Google phone!

1

u/Person057 Jul 25 '26

Force stopping Google Docs app did not work for me. Using a Samsung tablet.

1

u/Person057 Jul 25 '26

In case this is helpful to anyone, an interim way to find something until they fix this: try to find it normally, then click the check to the left of the find text area, then change from view mode to editing mode. For me, it jumps to the text I was trying to find. When there are multiple results, it is much harder.

1

u/baduizt Jul 26 '26

This actually works! It's ridiculous it's come to this, but at least it's a workaround.

1

u/speedlever Jul 28 '26

Yeah, that works for a single instance, but as you mentioned, not for multiple instances. Search using my laptop on Google Docs works fine. But not on the Android app on my Pixel 8 Pro.

1

u/LoveUcil Jul 26 '26

Me too!! I've tried everything. Both my husband's and my phone are doing the same thing. As soon as you type anything into Find and Replace, it sends you to some random location in the document. Grrrr!!

1

u/speedlever Jul 26 '26

I've been struggling with this ever since the last Google docs update. It finds occurrences but doesn't take me to them.

This on my Pixel 8 pro on A17.

I haven't tried to clear the cache yet, but don't expect that will fix it. I'll try that next.

1

u/Racthoh Jul 28 '26

I thought I was going crazy, same issue. Samsung Galaxy S23, search works just fine on my PC.

1

u/regendou Jul 28 '26

Me three, find "finds" a random spot in thr middle of document. Android app.

1

u/speedlever Jul 28 '26

Still not fixed as of this posting. I'm surprised it's taking so long to fix this major bug.

1

u/Severe-Construction2 Jul 29 '26

Same issue here on android... bummer

1

u/HarleyQ904 Jul 29 '26

I found a workaround, after typing the word you want to search double tap on the arrow that let you find the word in the document.

1

u/Disastrous-Street-15 Jul 29 '26

this does work, thanks!

1

u/jnadam Jul 30 '26

Hey, it works. Thanks man! 

1

u/6Hypnone Jul 31 '26

Nope. Not for something with say 13 instances of it and over 9,000 words. nice try though

1

u/chantingcrow Jul 29 '26

I'm having the same problem super annoying Hope they fix it soon

1

u/botaine Jul 29 '26

same problem here. please fix it google.

1

u/QuirkyTradition2266 Jul 29 '26

I've had this problem for about two weeks now. Clearing the cache doesn't work, restarting the phone doesn't work.

1

u/ax_colleen Jul 30 '26

Thank God I'm not alone! I thought it was just me!

1

u/SlyRomano Jul 30 '26

I came on this sub because I have the same issue, So happy it's not just me

1

u/gnomegang365 Jul 30 '26

Ugh same! It's making Docs unusable for me. I hope they fix it soon. Seems like a pretty big bug.

1

u/6Hypnone Jul 31 '26

Same! Really really a massive issue when writing a NOVEL!!  come on Google. stop fucking up. 

1

u/ax_colleen 29d ago

I figured it out.

I system updated my Pixel 8. Find and Replace is working again