How to Search Inside Office Documents on macOS: Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Seconds
May 27, 2025
If you’ve ever tried to find a specific number in a massive Excel spreadsheet, or a particular phrase in a long Word document, you know just how quickly frustration sets in. Most Mac users end up opening file after file, scrolling endlessly and hoping they’ll spot what they need. It’s the same story for PowerPoint decks especially if you’re dealing with hundreds of slides or dozens of presentations.
This is a problem that Spotlight, Finder, and even some third-party apps just don’t solve well. File name search is easy, but searching inside the actual content? That’s where things fall apart.
Why Searching Inside Office Files is So Difficult
Spotlight, the built-in search tool on macOS, does a decent job with file names and basic content in some documents. But it often misses text buried inside Excel sheets, tables in Word, or speaker notes in PowerPoint. If you’ve ever wondered why Spotlight isn’t showing you the result you need, you’re not alone. For more on Spotlight’s strengths and weaknesses, you can check out our complete guide to Spotlight search on Mac.
Even advanced users sometimes turn to command line tools or spend time importing files into other apps, just to search through content. The whole process is clunky and feels outdated.
The Fenn Solution: Real Content Search, Instantly
Fenn was built for people who work with information, not just filenames. When you install Fenn, it automatically indexes the text inside your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, so you can search for any keyword or phrase and instantly see where it appears, no matter how many documents you have.
It works with .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx formats, as well as many legacy and open-source variants. Fenn’s AI engine reads through tables, slides, headers, footers, and even comments or notes, so nothing is missed.
If you also work with PDFs or scanned images, you’ll love how Fenn lets you search inside scanned PDFs and photos on your Mac. Everything is searchable, all in one place.
How to Search Inside Office Documents with Fenn
Open Fenn on your Mac.
Type your search term: Fenn instantly scans all indexed files including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—for matches.
Preview the result: You’ll see a snippet of the text, plus the file name and location.
Jump right in: Click to open the file at the relevant section, ready to edit or copy.
Whether you’re a student searching class notes, a business analyst combing through spreadsheets, or a project manager digging for details in old presentations, this workflow will save you hours every week.
Why Fenn is a Game Changer
No missed details: Fenn finds text, numbers, and data in all your Office files, even in tricky places like tables and slides.
Lightning fast: Instant results, even with thousands of documents.
Private by design: Everything is indexed and searched locally on your Mac. No uploading or cloud syncing required.
Try Fenn !
If you’re ready to stop wasting time and start finding what matters, download Fenn for macOS and give it a try. You’ll be amazed at what you can find in just a few seconds.