Have you ever wondered how you could edit a Google Doc using MS Word? If your answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place. Google Docs provides several ways to download a document.
You can choose to download a Google Doc directly while you have them already opened. Or, you can access those files on your Google Drive to download one by one or by bulk.
Now, there are about four ways to download a Google Doc.
4 Ways to Download a Google Doc
- Through Google Drive using your computer
- Through Google Docs using your computer
- Through Google Drive using your smartphone
- Through Google Docs using your smartphone
If you’re feeling overwhelmed just by learning that there is more than one way to download a Google Doc, don’t be. We’ve outlined each step for each of the four methods with beginners in mind. Rest assured that, after going through them, you’ll feel more confident about handling Google documents than ever.
We’ll walk you through every step of the way about how to download a Google Doc in this guide below. Basically, you can either download a Google Doc from either your Google Drive or Google Docs.
Downloading from Google Docs, however, gives you more options to download your document in your preferred file type.
Without any delay, let’s get right to it!
Why Should You Download a Google Doc?
Like physical files and folders are kept in boxes or file cabinets, digital files should also be stored somewhere for archiving. Let’s say you’re managing different shared documents on a daily basis. You share some of these files with clients or colleagues. Others, you share with a different group of people.
Now, when the processing of these documents is done, what do you do with it? Well, you can leave them as they are, where they are. You can tag each one by perhaps moving them to a different folder.
Or, you can download each one of them as a PDF file for documentation and safekeeping purposes.
Now, that’s just one typical situation for when downloading a Google Doc can prove to be a vital part in the overall document processing. This is why knowing how to download a Google Doc is an essential skill to have.
We reckon you might have come to read this article with a different purpose in mind. But, allow us to give you a couple more situations to identify when it’s most suitable to download a Google Doc. Knowing how to download a Google Doc may come in handy when:
- You want to keep a personal copy of the Google document.
- You want to keep a copy of the Google document for documentation and safekeeping.
- You want to save a copy of the document in a different file type.
- You want to use Microsoft Word or other word processors to edit the document.
Now, Google Docs offers a lot of ways to download documents. Whether you’re downloading from a PC or your mobile phone, Google Docs made it easy with a few simple clicks.
With that being said, here’s how you can download a Google doc.
Method 1: Download a Google Doc through Google Drive Using Your Computer
In this method, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to download a Google Doc through Google Drive using your PC. This is a typical case when you access Google Drive every time and work on shared documents in your browser.
Here’s how you can download a Google Doc through Google Drive.
Step 1: Go to Google Drive.
Before anything else, log in to your Google Drive in your browser. Then, locate the file you want downloaded.
Step 2: Download your file.
Once the file is located, click the file to select it. Now, right-click on the file to show the context menu and select Download from the choices.
Alternatively, you can click the three dots found on the upper-right corner of your Google Drive window. This is the More actions icon indicating, well, more actions. Move your cursor all the way to the last option and select Download.
Congratulations! You’ve just downloaded a Google Doc through Google Drive using your PC.
Method 2: Download a Google Doc through Google Docs using your Computer
This method is most suitable to use when you’re actually doing something in Google Docs and want to download it from the same window. Google Docs also offers different options to download, like a PDF, MS Word, or Rich Text Format document, among others.
Here’s how you can do that.
Step 1: Go to Google Docs.
First off, go to Google Docs and double click on the file that you want to download.
Step 2: Go to the File menu.
Once the Google Doc is opened, go to the File menu and hover over the Download horizontal drop-down menu. This will show a list of file types on the right.
Select a file type that is most suitable for what you need. If you can’t decide which one, go to the Download a Google Doc in a Different File Type section.
Congratulations! You’ve just downloaded a Google Doc through Google Docs using your PC.
Method 3: Download a Google Doc through Google Drive Using Your Smartphone
There will definitely be a time when you’re not in front of your computer and need to download a Google Doc. This method is most suitable when you’re mobile most of the time and using either a smartphone or a tablet.
Here’s how you can download a Google Doc using your smartphone.
Step 1: Go to Google Drive.
Before we get started, you’ll need to launch your Google Drive on your smartphone. Once opened, select the file that you want to download.
Step 2: Download the file.
When you’ve located your file, tap the three dots or the More actions icon across it. Tap Download found somewhere in the middle of the pop-up menu.
Alternatively, touch and hold the file to show the pop-up menu.
Voila! You’ve just downloaded a Google Doc through Google Drive using your smartphone.
Method 4: Download a Google Doc through Google Docs Using Your Smartphone
In this method, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to download a Google Doc, particularly when you’re in the act of editing a Google document. You’ll find this significantly helpful when you want to download your work in a different file format.
Here’s how you can do just that.
Step 1: Go to Google Docs.
On your smartphone, launch the Google Docs app. Then, locate the file that you want to download.
Step 2: Download the file.
Tap the three dots or the More actions icon on the right side of the file. Tap Download to download the file. By default, Google Docs will download your file as a PDF document.
Alternatively, you can select Save as Word (.docx), so you can later open the file with your MS Word app.
Download a Google Doc in a Different File Type
When you’re downloading a document through Google Docs, you might feel intimidated by the number of options to choose from. Don’t worry as we’ve outlined here a quick rundown of each of the file types.
Here are the file types Google Docs offers:
Microsoft Word (.docx)
Use this when you want to edit your document using MS Word.
OpenDocument Format (.odt)
Use this when you want to edit your document using OpenOffice Writer, LibreOffice Writer, and other word processors.
Rich Text Format (.rtf)
Use this when you want to edit your document using common word processors with limited formatting. This makes it more compatible with more office applications and text editors.
PDF Document (.pdf)
Use this when you want to keep a copy of your document and later open them without worrying about compatibility issues. PDF files can be opened with any web browsers like Chrome, Safari, etc.
Plain Text (.txt)
Use this when you want to remove all formatting and keep a simple text file to later open with other applications with ease.
Web Page (.html, zipped)
Use this when you want to keep a copy of your document as a web page. HTML files can easily be opened using any web browsers.
EPUB Publication (.epub)
Use this when you want to keep a copy of your document readable as eBook files. EPUB files can easily be opened using your smartphone, tablet, or PC.
Download Multiple Google Docs in Bulk
If you need to download more than one Google Doc, simply select the files by clicking each of them while holding the CTRL key. Right-click on any part of the highlighted files and select Download from the context menu. This will initiate the download process.
Once done, you’ll notice the downloaded files are in a compressed zipped folder.
If you’re new to this, don’t fret because it’s just how the Internet moves multiple files between computers. It’s basically a special type of folder that requires unzipping before use. Simple double click the downloaded folder to open Windows Explorer then click the Extract button.
Unfortunately, downloading by bulk on Google Drive or Google Docs apps on smartphones is not supported.
Conclusion
You’ve finally reached the end of this guide. We hope we’ve helped you figure out how to download a Google Doc, be it on a PC or a mobile phone. Here’s a quick recap of what we discussed today.
Learning to download a Google Doc is a useful skill, whether you’re a PC or a smartphone user. Keeping a copy of digital files is usually done for documentation and safekeeping purposes. In this tutorial, we covered four ways to download a Google Doc.
You can use your PC or smartphone to download a Google Doc. Either way, you can easily do so through Google Drive or Google Docs.
Google Drive is straightforward, while Google Docs gives you more options to select different file types to suit your needs.
We hope you’ve found this article helpful!