Find Previous Match in Excel
Find Previous Match allows you to navigate to the previous occurrence of a searched value, text, or number in Excel. It complements the Find Next feature, making data navigation faster and more efficient.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Shift + Ctrl + F4 | Cmd + Shift + G |
What Does Find Previous Do?
After performing a search in Excel, this shortcut moves the cursor to the previous cell that matches your search criteria.
How to Use Find Previous
- Open Excel and perform a Find search (Ctrl + F / Cmd + F)
- Press Shift + Ctrl + F4 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + G (Mac)
- The selection moves to the previous matching cell
- Repeat the shortcut to continue navigating backward
Use Cases
- Auditing previous values or formulas
- Reviewing repeated entries in reverse order
- Checking data consistency across worksheets
- Efficiently navigating large datasets
Tips & Best Practices
- Combine with Find Next for full navigation control
- Works across selected cells or entire worksheet
- Ensure consistent search settings (match case, entire cell)
FAQ
- Q: Do I need to reopen the Find dialog?
- No, this shortcut works as long as the search context is active.
- Q: Can it find matches inside formulas?
- Yes, it searches text within formulas as well.