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How to Search for a Name in a PDF on Mac
Open your PDF in the Mac Preview app, type the name in the toolbar search field, and use the Next or Previous buttons to find matching text.
To search for a name in a family history PDF on a Mac, open the PDF in the Preview app and type the word or phrase into the search field in the toolbar Apple Support. Once located, you can select and copy the text from the PDF, then paste it into another document like a text document or email message Apple Support.
Open the PDF and search in Preview
Go to the Preview app on your Mac and open a PDF Apple Support. In the Preview toolbar, type a word or phrase in the search field Apple Support. You may need to resize the window to see this search field Apple Support.
Adjust search settings for exact or partial names
If you type a phrase, Preview searches for that exact phrase Apple Support. To search for any word included in the phrase, click the magnifying glass, then choose Any Match Apple Support.
Navigate matches and clear the search
To go to the next or previous search result, click the Next button or the Previous button Apple Support. When you are finished, click the Delete button in the search field Apple Support.
Copy text from the PDF to other documents
You can select and copy text from a PDF opened in Preview, then paste it into another document such as an email message or text document Apple Support. To copy text, choose Tools > Text Selection, drag over the text, then choose Edit > Copy Apple Support.