To turn a Word document into a Google Doc, upload the file to Google Drive with New > File Upload, then right-click the uploaded file and choose Open with > Google Docs. Google converts by making a copy in Docs format, so your original Word file is not changed.
Applies to: Google Drive and Google Docs on the web (personal Google accounts and Google Workspace), plus the Google Drive and Docs apps for Android, iPhone, and iPad; Word files in .docx and .doc format. Checked against Google Support on October 6, 2026.
Before you start
- A Google account. Google Drive and Google Docs both work from the same account, and you need to be signed in to upload anything.
- The Word file saved where you can find it. Google lists both .docx and .doc among the document formats its editors can work with. If the document is still open in Word, save and close it first so you upload the latest version.
- A file within Google’s size limits. A document converted to Google Docs format can be up to 50 MB, and a Google Doc can hold up to 1.02 million characters.
- An internet connection. Uploading and converting both happen in Google Drive online.
Opening a Word file versus converting it
These two things sound alike, but they give you different results, and mixing them up is the most common reason people think the conversion “did not work.”
| What you do | What you get | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Edit the Word file directly in Google Docs | The file stays a Word document. Google says all changes are saved automatically to the file in its original Office format. | You will send the file back to people who use Microsoft Word. |
| Convert the Word file to Google Docs | A separate copy in Google Docs format. The Word original stays in your Drive. | You plan to keep working in Google Docs from now on, or you want Docs-only features. Google names add-ons, Apps Script, and translate options as examples. |
If you only need to read or make a quick edit, you do not have to convert anything: in Google Drive, double-click the Word file and it opens for editing in Google Docs. Our guide on how to open a Word doc in Google Docs covers that route. The rest of this article is about making a real Google Doc.
How to turn a Word doc into a Google Doc on a computer
These are the steps Google documents for importing and converting an existing document in a web browser.
- Open Google Drive. On your computer, go to drive.google.com and sign in if you are asked to. You should see your Drive files.
- Start the upload. At the top left, click New, then click File Upload. A file browser window opens.
- Choose the Word document. Find the .docx or .doc file on your computer, select it, and confirm. An upload progress window appears in Drive and reports when the upload is complete.
- Find the uploaded file. In the Upload complete window, click Show file location. Drive takes you to the folder that holds the file.
- Convert it. Right-click the file, point to Open with, and select Google Docs. The document opens in a new browser tab in the Google Docs editor.
- Read through the result. Scroll the whole document and compare it with the original before you share it. See the formatting section below for what to look for.
According to Google, converting a file from another program creates a copy of the original in Docs format, which you can then edit in your browser. That means you end up with two items in Drive: the Word file you uploaded and the new Google Doc.
You can also skip the New button: open the Drive folder where you want the file and drag the Word document from your computer into it. The upload works the same way, and you continue from step 5.
Convert every Word file automatically when you upload it
If you have a lot of Word files to move, or you never want Office-format files in your Drive, Google Drive has a setting that converts uploads for you.
- On a computer, go to drive.google.com/drive/settings. The Drive settings page opens.
- Next to Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format, check the box.
- Upload your Word files with New > File Upload, or use Folder Upload for a whole folder. Each supported file arrives in Drive already converted.
The setting only affects files you upload after you turn it on. Clear the same check box when you want uploads to stay in their original formats again.
Turn a Word doc into a Google Doc on a phone or tablet
Google’s mobile apps include Office editing, which Google calls Office Compatibility Mode, so a Word file opens for editing as soon as you tap it. Converting it takes one more step.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the Google Drive or Google Docs app.
- Open the Word file.
- Tap More.
- Tap Save as Google Docs. The file is converted to a Google Doc.
Android
- Open the Google Drive or Google Docs app.
- Open the Word file.
- Tap More.
- Next to the Office Compatibility Mode entry, tap the question mark.
- Tap Save as Google Docs. The file is converted to a Google Doc.
How to confirm it worked
- Look next to the document name. When a Word file is open in the Docs editor, a file extension chip appears beside its name. A converted Google Doc does not carry that Word file extension.
- Look in Drive. After converting, the folder holds two items with the same name: the original Word file and the Google Doc.
- If the document is still in Word format, you are editing the original Office file rather than a converted copy. Look in the editor’s File menu for an option to save the file as a Google Doc (Google documents this option, Save as Google Docs, for its mobile apps). If you do not see one, turn on the automatic conversion setting above and upload the file again, which is the route Google documents for computers.
Check the formatting after you convert
Text, headings, and simple lists usually come across cleanly. Google lists a few Word features that do not survive as editable content:
- Macros are not supported.
- Embedded charts and videos in Word files are converted to images.
- SmartArt is converted to Google Drawings.
Beyond that list, compare anything with a complicated layout against the original: multi-column pages, tables that span pages, headers and footers, text boxes, and unusual fonts are the usual places where spacing or page breaks shift. Fix those in the Google Doc rather than re-uploading. If a section arrives with stray styles that are hard to untangle, you can clear the formatting in Google Docs and reapply it.
Keep the Word original until you have checked the converted copy, especially for contracts, resumes, and anything you will print.
What to do with the original Word file
Because the conversion makes a copy, nothing is lost if the Google Doc is not what you wanted. To undo the conversion, delete the Google Doc and keep working from the Word file. To tidy up once you are happy with the Google Doc, delete the Word file instead: in Google Drive, right-click the file and click Remove.
Uploading the same Word document a second time does not have to overwrite anything. When Drive finds a file with the same name, you can select Keep both files.
Sharing is usually the reason for converting, so here is the short version of Google’s steps.
- Open the Google Doc and click Share.
- Enter the email address of the person you want to share with.
- Choose what they can do: Viewer, Commenter, or Editor.
- Click Send.
To share by link instead, click Share, click the down arrow under General access, choose Anyone with the link, pick a role, click Copy link, and then click Done. Sharing applies to the file you share, so make sure you send the Google Doc and not the Word original sitting beside it.
Turn a Google Doc back into a Word file
If someone needs the document in Word format later, open the Google Doc, click File, then Download, and choose the Word file type. The file downloads to your computer, and the Google Doc stays in your Drive.
Troubleshooting
Google Docs is not listed under Open with
Check that the file finished uploading and that it really is a Word document. Google lists .docx and .doc as the supported document formats. If the file is something else, such as a Pages or WordPerfect document, open it in the program that made it and save it as .docx first.
The file is still a Word document after I open it
Google Docs can edit Word files in place, and in that case your changes are saved to the Word file. That is expected behavior, not an error. Use the steps under “How to confirm it worked” to make a converted copy.
The document asks for a password
A password-protected Word file shows a password screen when you open it in Drive. Enter the password and select Preview to open it read-only, or select Edit to work on it. Be aware of what Google says about the second choice: in Edit mode the password is removed from the file for all users, and access is controlled by Drive sharing from then on.
The upload fails or the conversion will not finish
Check the size first. A document can be at most 50 MB when converted to Google Docs format, and a Google Doc is limited to 1.02 million characters. Large images are the usual cause of an oversized Word file, so compress the pictures in Word or split a very long document into parts, then upload again. A dropped connection also stops an upload, so retry on a stable network.
You are on a work or school account
Google Workspace administrators can manage how Drive and Docs behave for an organization. If an option described here is missing or you cannot change the conversion setting, ask your administrator, or use a personal Google account for documents that are yours.
You see Office Compatibility Mode in the File menu
That label means the Word file was opened through Google’s Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides extension for Chrome, which edits Office files without converting them. Your edits are going into the Word file.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting change or delete my original Word document?
No. Google states that when you convert, you make a copy of your Office file. The Word document in Drive and the one on your computer stay exactly as they were until you delete them yourself.
Can I edit a Word file in Google Docs without converting it?
Yes. In Google Drive, double-click the Word file and it opens for editing in Google Docs. Your changes are saved automatically in the original Word format, and other people can work on the file with you.
Will my formatting stay the same?
Most ordinary formatting does. Macros are not supported, embedded charts and videos become images, and SmartArt becomes Google Drawings. Complex layouts deserve a side-by-side check with the original.
Can I convert older .doc files?
Yes. Google lists both .docx and .doc as document formats that work in Google Docs.
Is there a size limit?
Yes. A document converted to Google Docs format can be up to 50 MB, and a Google Doc can contain up to 1.02 million characters.
Can I convert several Word files at once?
Turn on Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format in Drive settings, then upload the files or the folder together. Everything you upload after that is converted on the way in.
Do I need Microsoft Word installed?
No. Google says you can work with Office files even if you do not have Office installed. A browser and a Google account are enough.
For Google’s own reference on any of this, see Work with Office files in Google Docs Editors Help and Upload files and folders to Google Drive in Google Drive Help. Once your document is a Google Doc, the next step is to check its layout and share it with the people who need it.
Related: How to create a link for a Word document.
Related: How to add custom page numbers in Google Docs.
Related: How to download a Word document.
Related: transfer Word documents.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.