How to Control+F Search on iPhone & iPad in Safari

Apr 25, 2022 - 6 Comments

Control F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari

Many computer users associate Control+F with searching for text on a web page, and if you’re coming to the iPhone or iPad from the Windows world, you may be wondering how you can use the equivalent to the Control+F search in the Safari browser on iPhone and iPad.

The Safari web browser on iPhone and iPad has a built in Find On Page search feature that easily allows you to search for matched text on a webpage, mimicking the behavior of Control+F search for users who are coming to the platform from Windows. And arguably, the iPhone and iPad method is even easier to search matched text for than using Ctrl+F, as you’ll see in this walkthrough.

How to Use the Control+F Equivalent in Safari for iPhone & iPad

Ready to search for matching text on a web page in Safari? Here’s all you need to do:

  1. Open the Safari browser if you haven’t done so and visit the web page you want to search for matched text on
  2. Tap the arrow button flying out of the box in the Safari toolbar
  3. Use Control F equivalent to find text on page on iPhone

  4. Scroll down and tap on “Find On Page”, this is the Control+F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari
  5. Using Control F equivalent to find text on page on iPhone

  6. Enter the text you want to find on the web page
  7. Using the Control F equivalent to find matched text on page on iPhone

  8. Use the arrows to navigate to the next or prior instance of the matched text if desired, when finished tap “Done”

There you go, is that easy or what?

This works exactly the same on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Depending on which versions of iOS or iPadOS are in use, the Find On Page option in the menu may appear as a line option or a button, but it’s always available in Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Bonus Trick: Command+F is Control+F equivalent for iPad Safari Users

One added trick is available for iPad users that have an external keyboard or keyboard case connected to their device, like the Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard.

  1. From Safari on iPad, hit Command+F on the keyboard to bring up Find On Page instantly
  2. Type the text you want to search for on page and hit return to find the matching text on the web page

The Command+F for Find On Page keystroke on iPad with keyboard is also the same for using Find On Page in Safari for Mac, and even Chrome for Mac.

Command+F as Control+F replacement should be extra simple for iPad users to remember, since the keystrokes are so similar.

What do you think? Do you find selecting the Find On Page item easier than using the Ctrl-F keyboard shortcut? Do you think the Command-F keyboard shortcut for iPad is simpler or the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks

6 Comments

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  1. Dan says:

    On Macs, the correct keys are Command-F. What, are you on Windows or something?

    • Paul says:

      Correct, Command+F is Find on Page on the Mac. This is aimed at people coming to iPhone or iPad from a Windows background and who are used to Control+F to search things on webpages.

  2. Naphtali Knox says:

    On my iPhone, using Safari, I don’t have anything like what you’re showing. There are no windows in which to type

  3. Dan says:

    Good tip. Easier still: just type your search keywords in the Safari address bar, then tap “Find ” from the list. Saves a few steps, no need to use the Share dialog.

  4. Pere says:

    thanks for this, anyway you don’t need to use the share sheet, just write in the search bar and it expands to down, and that’s it, one of the options is “find on page”

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