Troubleshoot finding and replacing data

I can't find or replace values that I know exist.

• If the Find and Replace dialog box doesn't find records that meet the criteria you specified, and you know the records exist, check whether the field you're searching in is a Lookup field. A Lookup field looks up values from another table and stores the references to values in the current table. If it is a Lookup field, you need to select the Search Fields As Formatted check box in order for Microsoft Access to find the records.
• When you try to find or replace data in a Microsoft Access project, Access performs the operation only on the data that is stored on the client. If your datasheet  or form has reached its maximum record limit, there is more data on the server. To find or replace all the data on the server, set the maximum record limit to no limit by using the maximum record limit button to the right of the navigation buttons.
• When looking for values in a datasheet with a subdatasheet, or form with a subform displayed as a datasheet, Microsoft Access only looks in the datasheet, subdatasheet, or form where you've placed the insertion point.
• When you use the Find and Replace dialog box in a form, Access doesn't search for values in unbound controls.
• If Access doesn't find expected values when replacing date or time values, try selecting the Search Fields As Formatted check box.

I can't find or replace text in a field with an input mask.

If you add an input mask to a table that already contains data, the Find and Replace dialog box may not find the text when the field's data does not meet the criteria of the input mask. To resolve this, you can remove the input mask, use the Find and Replace dialog box, and then add the input mask back. Alternatively, you can modify the data in the field with the input mask to meet the criteria of the input mask.

It takes too long to find and replace data.

For the fastest searches, search for whole field values or the first character within a single indexed field. If you search the same nonindexed field repeatedly, index the field.

I can't find the data I want when I use wildcards.

In a Microsoft Access database where the ANSI SQL query mode has been set to ANSI-92 SQL, you must use ANSI-89 wildcards instead of ANSI-92 wildcards in the Find and Replace dialog box. For example, if you are searching for data that begins with the letter "B", type B* in the Find What box instead of B%.