Pages 11.2 - Find and Replace Not Working

I have this problem frequently. So far, it works to just close that specific pages file and then opening it again. But honestly, it's super annoying and stupid. Can I throw my (minuscule) weight behind an effort to get Apple to pay attention to this? Does someone have a link to that?

Making a Partial Clone is my answer to this ridiculous find problem. This problem has haunted me for a long long time.

I have the latest M1 mac pro and all the latest software and even though the Pages files work well on the iPhone not on the Mac with find. Sometimes an emergency replace is done on the phone.

The only successful way I have found is to create a new copy of the text in a new formatted sheet:

1. I have a bare bones document set up that represents my chapters. I merge them all later.
2. I go to the issue infected file and do a Select All then I go to a duplicate of the bare bones document and I paste and save.
3. It always fixes the find issue.

rebooted in safe mode - same problem. restarted normally, now it is working again

What works for me, is making sure I close all open documents before quitting. Then, when I open Pages the next time, Find and Replace works.

Just close all documents and quite pages.

Then open one and it should work.

I just closed and re opened the document. Also I restarted pages... It worked fine!!

Use "Duplicate" under "File" to make a new copy of your document. Find and Replace should work in the new document.

Until Apple fixes this major bug in Pages, this workaround works for me.

I tried the suggestions above, but closed all documents and programs first. Shut down, then open again. It worked! Thank you.

This reply is to UncleFinsky

I just installed the update that was released today for Pages, and the search problem is now fixed.

No, just in Pages. For me, any time I restart the app or close and reopen the individual file, it starts working again, only to go down later.

I test before I post and certainly tested this Find/Replace issue with the OP's exact sentence. I have no issues with Find/Replace here and Pages v11.2, or I might have submitted a bug report myself.

If there is any anti-virus software running on the Mac (not on mine) that may cause nagging issues with running applications.

Sometimes, a simple boot into Safe Boot Mode, followed by a normal reboot clears up Pages gremlins. Usually, but not always.

The recommended solution appears to work only on a very limited basis - very few documents open and then only for a short time.

The problem has gone away and reappeared twice for us with the same document. Closing any one document and reopening it will allow Find, F&R, Spellcheck, etc to work again. After a bit of time though they no longer work and the document must be again closed and reopened.

ALL of the other stuff (rebooting, etc.) in the recommended solution is unnecessary and makes no difference.

We typically use Find several times per day and are often working on numerous documents at a time. This is a basic function that really needs to be fixed.

Sometimes merely restarting pages doesn't work. The following solution worked for me, M1 Macbook Pro:

1. Boot in safe mode;
2. Uninstall Pages;
3. Power off and enter in safe mode again (Because you can't reinstall pages unless restart and re-enter safe mode);
4. Install Pages and check if the search function works properly. Mine does;
5. Just restart, you'll automatically enter normal mode.

VigingOSX ... Thanks for your post. I was having the same issue ... your post helped me get the functionality to work again. I "unselected" the "whole words" option and the find is now working as expected. Thanks.

I have Pages version 11.1 (presume 11.2 will come eventually)

I have MacOS version 12.0.1 (Monterey)

Grinnin and DP, I just tested your thesis and found that Find and Replace does work (of course first you have to close and reopen the **** document) but Replace isn't selectable until you type something into the Replace line.