PDF has been everyone's favorite file format for sharing documents. It's by and large because it retains all the text formatting and graphics inside it, and also the end-user doesn't really need anything to open information technology except for a gratuitous PDF reader software. The only downside of the PDF format is that you can't search for text inside these files every bit easily as you can with other files.

Notwithstanding, there are a few methods that allow you perform the PDF search operation then you lot can search for a specific discussion in multiple PDF files at one time on your machine. The following guide teaches yous how to do but that.

How To Search Multiple PDF Files Using Acrobat Reader

The near popular manner to search a PDF or multiple PDF files is to utilise the Acrobat Reader software on your figurer. Hither's how yous perform the task in the software.

  1. Open the Acrobat Reader on your estimator.
  2. Click on the Edit bill of fare and select Advanced Search.
  3. Select All PDF Documents in and then choose your PDF folder.
  4. Enter your search term in the input box.
  5. Click on the Search button.
  6. Hit Permit in the prompt on your screen.

The software will search for your given term in all the PDF files in your specified folder. Yous'll see the results right in the search pane.

Searching For A Specific Search Term In Multiple PDF Files

Most PDF readers allow you search for any text y'all want in your PDF files. It's because PDFs are scannable documents, and like Microsoft Discussion files, their characters are likewise recognizable past your arrangement.

What you can't do easily with your PDF files, though, is that you can't search for a specific term in multiple files at in one case. Pressing the Control + F key only searches the current document that's open up in the software just it doesn't search any other PDF files.

If you accept a lot of PDF files lying effectually and you're looking for something specific in them, your best option is to use the advanced search feature of Acrobat Reader. It lets you look for your specific search terms in all the PDF files bachelor in a single location on your figurer.

Here'due south the entire procedure to do so with Acrobat Reader:

Download and install Acrobat Reader if you don't already take it on your computer.

Launch the software and you'll encounter your recent files list. The selection you're looking for is located in the Edit card. Click on the Edit menu at the top and select the option that says Advanced Search. Alternatively, you tin printing Shift + Ctrl + F.

On the following screen, set the options equally the following:

Where would you lot like to search? – select All PDF Documents in and then use the dropdown menu to select the folder where your multiple PDFs are saved.
What give-and-take or phrase would you similar to search for? – enter the discussion you want to search for in your PDF files.

Y'all can apply the boosted options to customize how your word is searched, such as tick-mark the Case-Sensitive checkbox and so your search query is case-sensitive, and so on.

Finally, click on the Search button to begin searching.

You tin and so review the results when they announced on your screen.

Using Windows Search To Search Within PDF Files

PDF files tin can also exist searched using the default Windows search option on your Windows motorcar. You demand to start enable an option though equally shown below.

Caput to Command Panel > Indexing Options and click on Avant-garde.

Select the File Types tab on the following screen and look for pdf in the list. Tick-marking the box for pdf. And then enable the Alphabetize Backdrop and File Contents selection and click on OK.

It'due south time to add the PDF folders into the alphabetize list. To do then, open the same Indexing Options dialog box and click on Change. Then choose the folder where your PDFs are and click on OK to get the folders added for PDF indexing.

Once Windows has finished indexing your PDFs and their contents, you'll exist able to search for text inside multiple PDF files at in one case.

Use SeekFast To Search PDF Files

SeekFast also lets you lot easily search for your terms in various file types including PDF. Here'southward how it works.

  • Download and install the software on your calculator.
  • Launch the software, enter in your search term into the search box at the top, click on the Browse button to select your PDF binder, and finally hit Search.

It'll search for terms in all the PDF files located in your chosen directory.

Performing A PDF Search Using Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader also comes equipped with advanced search capabilities and you lot can use it to discover whatever it is you lot want in your multiple PDF files.

Get the software installed on your calculator and then launch it.

Click on the search icon next to the search box at the elevation-right carte. It opens advanced search options.

On the following screen, select your PDF folder from the first dropdown card, enter in your search term in the search box, checkmark other filters if you want to apply them, and finally striking that Search push.

Your search results should at present be on your screen.

How To Employ UltraFinder To Search PDF Files

UltraFinder is an advanced search tool for Windows machines and it can exist used to search for text inside your PDF files as well.

Install and launch the tool on your Windows computer.

Fix the options equally the following and then it searches the contents of your PDF files. Then hitting the green play push to starting time searching.

Observe matches past – File contents
Find what – enter your search term here
Find where – add the directory where your PDFs are located
In files/types – *.pdf

It'll list out all the PDF files that it found your search word in.