As the amount of time we spend online continues to rise steadily, and always-on internet connections become the rule instead of the exception, businesses and consumers are switching to cloud-based productivity tools like Google Docs for word processing tasks (if you need a Chromebook to get the job done, we’ve got you covered). Although Google Docs might not have the advanced technical features of Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer, it’s easy to use and available on every device that can connect to the internet, which is enough to make it the text editor of choice for many.
One of the first issues new users run into with Google Docs is how to save their work. To save documents in a traditional word processor, you’d select Save from the File menu or click the floppy disk icon. In a cloud computing environment like Google Docs, you don’t need to manually save a document because Docs saves it to Google’s cloud with every tap on the keyboard.
How to download your Google Docs documents
Sometimes it’s not enough that a document is saved and ready for retrieval from the cloud. You may need a text document in a specific format to send to teachers, editors, clients, or hiring managers. The process of converting your Google Docs document into a traditional document format is simple.
How to download a Google Docs file in a web browser
- Click File in the upper-left corner of the menu bar.
- Hover over Download in the drop-down menu.
- Select the file type you’d like to save your document as.
Docs saves the document to your browser’s default download destination.
How to download a Google Docs file from your Android or iPhone
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Select Share & export.
- Tap Save As.
- Select the file type you’d like to save your document as.
One quirk of saving on mobile is that Google Docs saves your file to Google Drive, which means there’s one more step to make a copy on your device.
How to download a Google Docs file from Google Drive
Google Docs is a great tool for word processing, but it’s not very good at organizing files. Although it’s not perfect, Google Drive does a better job of helping you find and organize your Google Docs document. Here’s how to download documents when you’re in your Google Drive.
Download a Google Docs file from Google Drive on your Android or iPhone
- Open the Google Drive app.
- Find the document you wish to download and touch the three-dot menu to the right of the document title.
- Drag the menu up and tap Download.
- You’ll see a notification on your phone when the file finishes downloading.
Download a Google Docs file from Google Drive on your desktop
- Navigate to Google Drive in your browser.
- Right-click the document you wish to download.
- Click Download.
Like downloading from the Google Docs web app, Google Drive saves your document in the default download directory of your browser. Google Drive always saves files in DOCX format, so if you want to convert your file into a PDF, you’ll need to do it through the Google Docs web app, not Google Drive.
Why you should save your Google Docs files offline
Saving your Google Docs is straightforward. And there are several reasons why you should save your files offline. Even if you need the power behind a name-brand word processor, Google Docs is a great tool to start your document before you export it to Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer. Or perhaps you need a file in a particular format to print the brochure you designed. Plus, Docs has a lot of functionality you’re probably unaware of, including a massive library of add-ons to make it more than capable for most of your word-processing needs.
