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Save Article Icon A bookmarkWant to make a Google Docs document available offline? Downloading a document from Google Docs makes this possible. Once it downloads, you can edit or share the document as you would any other file.
The steps below will help you download a Google Doc on a computer running a Windows, MacOS, or ChromeOS operating system.
1. Open a web browser and navigate to Google Docs.
2. Open the document that you want to download.
3. Select File from the toolbar.
4. Navigate to Download. A sub-menu with a list of available document file types will appear. Select the file type you prefer to download.
AdvertisementYou can also download a Google Doc through the Google Drive interface. Google Drive, unlike Google Docs, will let you select and download multiple files at once. The document will download in the Microsoft Word file format (.docx).
1. Open a web browser and navigate to Google Drive.
2. Select and right-click the document you want to download. You can also hold the shift button on your keyboard to select multiple files at once, then right-click.
3. Select Download.
AdvertisementYou can download a Google Doc on an iPhone with the Google Docs app.
1. Open the Google Docs app.
2. Find the document you want to download in the list of available documents.
3. Select the three-dot ellipsis (. ) next to the document that you want to download.
4. Tap Send a copy.
5. You'll see a prompt to choose between a PDF or Word document. Select your preference and tap OK.
6. A new menu will appear. Select Save to Files.
7. Navigate to the location where you want to save the file and tap Save.
AdvertisementFollow these steps to download a file from the Google Doc app on an Android device.
1. Open the Google Docs app.
2. Find the document you wish to download from your available documents.
3. Select the vertical three dots next to the document you wish to download.
4. Tap Download to save as a PDF, or select Save as Word (.docx) to save as a Word document.
Google Docs will save the document to the Downloads folder on your Android device.
Quick tip: Google Docs has an alternative to downloading called Make available offline. This lets you edit a Google Doc without an internet connection; changes sync once a connection is restored. Make available offline is ideal if you want to download a Google Doc for offline editing and don't need to open it in another program.
Matthew S. Smith is a freelance consumer technology journalist and general-purpose hardware geek with more than 13 years of industry experience. In 2014, Matthew joined Digital Trends as Computing Editor. He was promoted to Senior Editor, and then to Lead Editor of Reviews. In that role, he oversaw the site’s entire product review program. Matthew’s team reviewed more than 1,000 devices, from iPhone to iRobot, every year. He started his career writing about PC hardware for PC Perspective, TechHive, and MakeUseOf, with additional bylines in GamesRadar, The Escapist, and Consumer’s Digest. Over time, his expertise grew to cover smartphones, wearables, gaming, and electric bikes. Matthew has attended CES every year since 2009. He also had boots on the ground at IFA, E3, Computex, Microsoft Build, and Oculus Connect, among others. A casually-hardcore gamer, Matthew owns a custom-built gaming PC and all major modern consoles. He’s often found flying the virtual skies in " Microsoft Flight Simulator . " Follow him on Twitter @matt_on_tech
