How to Perform Multiple Searches in Notepad++

Introduction

Notepad++ is a popular text editor with a wide range of features, making it a preferred choice for programmers, web developers, and writers. It is known for its powerful search and replace functionality, but many users don't realize it can also search for several terms at once. In this article, we will guide you through performing multiple searches in Notepad++ so you can streamline your workflow and find specific content more efficiently.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Notepad++ and Load a Document

Launch Notepad++ on your computer. If you don't have it installed, you can download it from our website. Then create a new document or open an existing one from the "File" menu.

Step 2: Open the Find Dialog

Press Ctrl + F, or click "Search" in the menu bar and select "Find…". This opens the Find dialog, the main tool for searching in Notepad++.

Step 3: Perform the First Search

Type your search term in the "Find what" field. Choose options such as "Match case" or "Match whole word only" to refine your search if needed. Click "Find Next" to jump to the first occurrence. The match will be highlighted.

Step 4: Find Subsequent Occurrences

Click "Find Next" again (or press F3) to move to the next match. Repeat to step through every match in the document.

Step 5: Search for Multiple Words at Once with Regular Expressions

This is the fastest way to search for several terms in one go. In the Find dialog, under "Search Mode", select "Regular expression". In the "Find what" field, separate your terms with a vertical bar, for example cat|town. Then click "Find All in Current Document". Notepad++ opens a "Find result" panel at the bottom of the window listing every line that contains any of your terms, with each match highlighted. Double-click any result to jump straight to that line. Turn on "Match case" if you only want exact capitalization.

Step 6: Use the Mark Feature

To highlight every occurrence directly in the document, open the "Mark" tab in the Find dialog, enter your term (or a regular expression like cat|town), and click "Mark All". Notepad++ highlights every match. Check "Bookmark line" if you also want a bookmark placed on every line that contains a match, which lets you jump between them or copy all marked lines.

Step 7: Search Across Multiple Files

To search many files at once, select "Search" > "Find in Files…" (Ctrl + Shift + F). Enter your search term, choose the directory and file filters (for example *.txt or *.*), set your search options, and click "Find All". Notepad++ lists every match across all files in the results panel.

Conclusion

Notepad++ offers powerful search capabilities that help you find content quickly. By using regular expressions, the Mark feature, and Find in Files, you can search for multiple terms efficiently, saving time and improving productivity. Whether you need to locate lines of code, references, or information in a large document, Notepad++'s search tools make it easy. For more tips, see how to change text to uppercase in Notepad++.