This article explains how to search a PDF file using a web browser, Adobe Reader, or the Preview app on Mac.

There are several ways to search for a word or phrase in a PDF, depending on the application you use to view it. The most common way to view a PDF is through a web browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Even if the PDF is on your computer rather than on the web, it will often open in your default browser. For Mac users, things are a little different. They’ll find a PDF on their Mac to open in Preview, a handy app that can view most files just fine.

Whether you use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari or Mozilla Firefox, searching a PDF for a specific word or phrase is fairly easy. Most web browsers open a PDF in a reader within the browser.

Search using the Find keyboard shortcut. On a Windows computer, use Ctrl+F. On a Mac, use Command+F.