How to save Google docs as pdf

Working on Google Docs is convenient and easy to collaborate on. If you are new to this, I wrote an article on What is google docs and how to start using Google Docs. Collaborating with people sometimes requires saving documents on the computer. Documents can be saved in a number of formats. This blog focuses on how you can save google docs as PDF.

• To save Google Docs as PDF,  Click File menu –> Download > Choose PDF.
• You can also Convert Google Docs to pdf using “Email as attachment”, “Save as pdf”, “Save to Google drive”, etc.
• You can also use the Google docs to PDF convertor online third party tools.

3 Different ways to access Google Docs

There are three ways to access Google Docs

1. From Gmail using the Apps on the right corner 
2. By directly logging on to Google Docs and 
3. By accessing it through Google Drive

Accessing the Google Docs from Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud storage option by google that allows you to save Files, Documents, pictures, etc. It comes free with your Google account. Almost all phones and computers have an option where you can save your data directly on Google drive. Similarly, it also saves all Google docs as soon as they are created.

To retrieve them you need to log in to your Google account and go to Google Drive or open Google Drive and login to your account. You will be able to see your Google Doc as an Icon under My Drive.

Right-click on the Document > Open with > Google Docs

How to convert Google Docs to PDF?

Want to learn Google docs to pdf converter ?. There are a few ways to convert a Google Doc into a PDF file. 

• Convert google docs to PDF using “Download as PDF”
• Using “Email as attachment” .
• Using “Save to Google drive” option.
• Using “Save as pdf” option.

How to save Google Doc as PDF On Computer

To save Google Docs (DOCX) to PDF, Google Docs offers a free download option. With the help of this option, you can follow a few simple steps and download the document as a PDF.

Step 1. Open Google Doc using any of the methods stated above

Step 2: from the File menu click Download > PDF Document (.pdf)

Step 3: Choose the desired download location on your computer where the file will be saved. 

Note: If you do not receive a prompt to choose a file location, the file will directly get saved in the Downloads folder. You can access it from the and move it to the desired location. 

Step 4: just double-click and open the Google Doc saved as PDF.

The above method is a good option if you wish to download one Google Doc as a PDF. What happens if you need to download multiple files? 

Download Multiple Google Documents as PDF

Here is a method that will not consume much time and will help convert files in a jiffy. Google offers a service called Google Takeout which helps you download multiple files from data stored on your Google account. As well as data synced from various devices and those stored on Google Drive

Data can be exported using these simple steps

Browse takeout from your browser and log in to your google account.

After logging in to your Google Account from the Google takeout page, you see a list of all the data saved on your account, this includes Google Drive. From the data listed, you can include data you would like to download and ignore irrelevant data.

Tip: The Deselect all option is a good way to speed up the selection process.

To choose specific data from Drive click All Drive data included this will give you a list of all the files on the drive you can select specific files from that list. Other programs on the list will have similar tabs to help you select. This way you download only files that you require and not the entire list.

In order to specify the format of the files after download, you need to specify the desired format beforehand. Select file > Multiple formats

As Word is the default format you will have to change the option to PDF.

Move on to choosing the file type and frequency by clicking the Next step

Here you can change the delivery method which specifies how you would like to export the documents. Dropbox, Drive, OneDrive, and Box are the different options available. Along with an option to receive it as a downloadable link via email.

Downloading the converted Files

After choosing the method you could choose to make multiple exports over the year. Or just this one time.

Lastly, the file type needs to be specified – either .zip or .tgz

Click Create export once you are satisfied with the selection.

Once the export process is complete you can download the files by clicking the Download

Convert google docs to PDF using “Email as attachment”

If you wish to send a Google Docs document as an email attachment, the best way is to convert it to a PDF file. Google docs allow you to directly send your google docs as a PDF file.

You can also send one copy to yourself for future reference.

• Head up to google docs website and sign in to your account.
• Click File > select Email as attachment

• Fill the required details for the email including the subject, recipient, and a message.
• Make sure that PDF is selected at the bottom of the window. If not, click on the drop-down icon and select the “PDF” option.

 If you wish to have PDF in your inbox, you have two options.

• You can also select the “send yourself a copy” check box to send one copy of the converted pdf file to yourself.
• You can use your email address so that the converted PDF file will be delivered to your inbox.

 The recipient will receive the PDF file as an email attachment, which they can then download.

Convert Google Docs to PDF using “Save to Google drive”

If you wish to keep your converted PDF file from Google Docs in your Google Drive account or share it from that source, you can follow the below instructions.

• Google docs newsletter template
• How to add or delete Google docs page break

How to convert Google Docs to PDF in Google drive on your Computer?

• Sign in to your google docs account.
• Open your document in Google Docs 
• Click File > Print
•  The print window will be opened
•  Click the drop-down box “Destination”
• Click “Save to Google Drive”

• Specify margins, scale, and pages option if you want and click “Save”.

• Your converted PDF file will be saved into your google drive account.

Convert google docs to PDF using “Save as pdf”

You can download your google docs document as a PDF file by various methods.

How To Save Google Doc As PDF On Phone

It’s quite easy to save Google doc as pdf on phone.

Let’s follow the below steps to convert Google docs to PDF on Android.

1. Open the Docs app on your mobile or android device and then open your Google Docs document that you wish to save as PDF or convert PDF.
2. You need to tap on the three-dot menu that is present at top right corner of your mobile screen.

3. Select the “Share & export” option as highlighted below.

4. Now, select the “Save As” option on the Share & export window.

5. Choose the “PDF Document (.pdf)” option and then tap on the “Ok” button to save the document as PDF. Now your PDF document will get saved in Google drive.

6. Click on the “Download” button to download the PDF document to your mobile phone.

How To Save Google Doc As PDF On iPhone or iPad

Well, It’s quite easy to Convert Google Doc as PDF on iPhone or iPad by following the below instruction.

1. Open Docs app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open the Google Docs document that you wish to save as a PDF and then tap on the three-dot menu (…) that is present on the top right corner.
3. Select the “Share & export” option on the next menu.
4. On the Share & export window, tap on the “Send a Copy” option.
5. Select the PDF option on the “Send a Copy” window and then click on the “Ok” button.
6. Now, you can either select the Save to Files option for saving it on your iPhone or iPad or if you wish to share the document with others, you can select any of the sharing options like Whatsapp or Gmail, etc based on your need.

How To Convert Google Doc To PDF On Mac

Want to convert Google Doc to PDF on Mac? Here are a few quick steps for converting Google Docs to PDF on Mac.

1. Navigate to https://docs.google.com/ on your Mac and open the Google Docs document that you wish to save as or convert to PDF.
2. Click on the “File” menu from the top left.
3. Choose the “Download” option –> Select “PDF Document (.pdf)“.

4. Now the document will get downloaded to the default download path on your Mac.

How To Convert Google Doc To PDF On Chromebook

1. Open the Docs App on your Chromebook.
2. Click on the File Menu.
3. Select the Download As option –> Choose the PDF Document (.pdf) option.
4. Now, the PDF file will get downloaded on your Chromebook.

How to open google docs as PDF

In this blog, we have seen different ways in which a user can save Google docs as a PDF. The document can easily be located and opened by simply double-clicking.

Google Docs Not Saving As PDF

If you are facing issues while saving Google docs to a PDF then make sure to follow the below instructions.

Approach-1: Clear Browser Cache On Your PC

Try clearing the Browser Cache on your PC using the below steps.

1. Open Chrome Browser from your computer or PC.
2. Click on three-dot menu that is present at the top right corner –> Then Select the Settings option.

3. Click on the Advanced option.

4. Click on the Privacy and Security option from the left navigation and then click on the Clear browsing data option.

5. Make sure to select the “Cached images and files” option and then click on the “Clear data” button.

Approach-2: Clear Docs App Cache on Your Mobile

If you are using your mobile or Android device and getting errors while saving the Google doc to PDF then clear the Google Docs App cache using the below steps.

1. Open “settings” on your mobile or Android device.
2. Tap on “Apps & notification” option.
3. Then Tap on See All Apps option.
4. Locate the Docs app and then tap on that.
5. Now, tap on the “Storage & Cache” option.

6. Finally, tap on the “Clear Cache” button.

Approach-3: Try Using another Browser

Once, you have cleared your browser cache and still facing the same issue then you can try using another browser to open Google docs and try doing the same operation that might fix the issue for you.

Approach-4: Use Print Feature To Save Google Doc As PDF

1. Navigate to https://docs.google.com/ and click on the document that you wish to save as PDF.
2. Click on the File menu –> Select the Print option.

3. Select the “Save as PDF” from the “Microsoft Print to PDF”.

4. Then, click on the Save button to save the document as a PDF.

How to make PDF in Google Drive App on your Phone

If you wish to make an image or a document as a PDF in Google Drive, you can easily do that using the below quick steps.

1. Open the Google Drive app on your Mobile –> Tap on the + icon.

2. Tap on the Scan (Camera icon) option as the next step.

3. Allow the Drive to take pictures by tapping on the option “While Using the App” or “Only this time”.

4. Take a picture of the image or document –> tap on the tick icon.

5. Rename the PDF then it will be the file name.pdf –> tap on the Save button as shown below.

Is it Possible to Save Google Docs to PDF format?

Yes, it is possible to save Google Docs to PDF format.

What Are the Benefits of a PDF file?

• Sharing files between computers made easy with PDF format that retains fonts, text sizes, and other settings look exactly how it did when it was saved. The formatting is locked into the document that prevents undesired changes.
• PDF looks professional and allows visual elements like clip art, digital images, and photographs more polished. The format uses internal compression that ensures less space than other file types, making it ideal for emailing, printing, and uploading documents to the web.
• PDF also removes unnecessary and distracting elements from digital documents, like margins and outlines.
• Legal forms, such as contracts, leases, and bills of sale, invoices, resume, cover letters, online portfolios, Downloadable materials such as ebooks, product manuals, white papers, and research papers go well with PDF formats.

Online Google docs to PDF convertor

• Google docs to HTML Converter

You can also install third-party software or various online tools available on the web to convert the Google docs document to PDF files. But with these converters often have security issues.

If you would like to know more about Google docs check out our other blogs:

• How to send Google doc as an attachment in Email
• Google docs vs Microsoft word
• How to use voice typing in Google docs?
• How to delete a page in Google docs
• Google docs vertical alignment
• How to make Google docs available offline
• How to download images from Google Docs?

Wrapping Up

Converting Google Docs files to PDF format is a great way of distributing reports more accessible. Follow the above instruction to download or save Google Docs as PDF.