Need to find or replace text across hundreds of files in a folder? The free grepWin searches file contents and replaces matches, with regular expressions for precise patterns. Start a search from a folder’s Windows context menu, then narrow the results with file filters.
Search a folder with a text pattern
Choose a folder and enter the text or pattern to find inside its files. For a straightforward lookup, use ordinary text; regular expressions let you describe more specific search patterns and replacement text. grepWin’s controls provide ways to customize the operation, including restricting the search by file type or file size.
To begin from File Explorer, right-click a folder and select grepWin’s shell-menu entry. The selected folder is then available as the starting point for the search.
Reuse patterns with presets
Regular expressions can take time to write and refine. Save expressions you use often in grepWin’s presets, then retrieve them from the presets dialog instead of entering them again. This is handy for recurring searches across logs, source files, or other text collections.
- Use file-type and file-size limits to narrow which files are searched.
- Keep frequently used search or replacement expressions in the presets list.
Replace matches and open results
Use the replace controls to apply replacement text to matching files. After a search or replace completes successfully, grepWin displays the matching files at the bottom of its dialog. Double-click a result to open the file, or right-click it to show the standard Windows shell menu for that file.
Pros
- Searches and replaces text with regular expressions
- Limits searches by file type or size
- Saves frequently used expressions as presets
- Opens result files from the matching-files list
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11
Can grepWin search without regular expressions?
Yes. You can search for ordinary text, or use regular expressions for more specific patterns.
How do I start a search from a folder?
Right-click the folder in File Explorer and choose grepWin’s shell-menu entry.
What happens to matching files after a search?
They are listed below the search settings. Double-click a file to open it, or right-click for its Windows shell menu.