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Google Sheets is a powerful spreadsheet software that allows users to organize and analyze data. One useful feature of Google Sheets is the ability to filter cells based on specific text. This means that users can easily search for and extract data that contains certain words or phrases. To use this feature, one can simply select the filter option and input the desired text in the search bar. Google Sheets will then display only the cells that contain the specified text, making it easier to find and work with relevant data. This feature is particularly useful for large datasets or when trying to find specific information within a sheet.
Google Sheets: Filter for Cells that Contain Text
You can use the following syntax to filter for cells that contain certain text in Google Sheets:
=FILTER(A1:C17, REGEXMATCH(A1:A17, "East"))
This formula filters the cells in the range A1:C17 to only return the rows where cells in the range A1:A17 contain the word “East”.
You can also use the following syntax to filter for cells that contain one of several values in Google Sheets:
=FILTER(A1:C17, REGEXMATCH(A1:A17, "East|West"))
This formula filters the cells in the range A1:C17 to only return the rows where cells in the range A1:A17 contain the word “East” or “West”.
The following examples show how to use this syntax in practice.
Example 1: Filter for Cells that Contain Text
Suppose we have the following data in Google Sheets:

We can use the following formula to filter for rows where the Region is equal to “East”.

Notice that only the rows where the Region is equal to “East” are returned.
Example 2: Filter for Cells that Contain One of Multiple Texts
Once again suppose we have the following data in Google Sheets:

We can use the following formula to filter for rows where the Region is equal to “East” or “West”:

Notice that only the rows where the Region is equal to “East” or “West” are returned.
Additional Resources
Cite this article
stats writer (2024). How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-google-sheets-to-filter-for-cells-that-contain-specific-text/
stats writer. "How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2 Jul. 2024, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-google-sheets-to-filter-for-cells-that-contain-specific-text/.
stats writer. "How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2024. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-google-sheets-to-filter-for-cells-that-contain-specific-text/.
stats writer (2024) 'How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-google-sheets-to-filter-for-cells-that-contain-specific-text/.
[1] stats writer, "How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, July, 2024.
stats writer. How can I use Google Sheets to filter for cells that contain specific text?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2024;vol(issue):pages.
