Google Docs is a great option for people that need to create and edit documents.
It’s a free application available to anyone with a Google account, and it has many of the same feature that you would find in other paid word processing applications.
Google Docs gives you the ability to share your files with other Google users, and you can even embed a Google Docs file on a Web page.
But occasionally you will need to share your Google document in a format that can be viewed in a different application, like Microsoft Word.
Fortunately Google Docs makes it possible for you to turn your document into a Microsoft Word file so that it can be read and edited by someone that wishes to use Microsoft’s word processing program.
How to Download a Google Docs File in the Microsoft Word Format
The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser, but will work in other desktop Web browsers as well.
Step 1: Sign into Google Drive and open the Docs file.
Step 2: Select the File tab at the top-left of the window.
Step 3: Choose the Download option, then click Microsoft Word.
Depending on your browser’s download settings you may be given the option to choose the download location. Otherwise it will download to your default Downloads folder.
The file that you download will be in the .docx file format, which can be opened in any version of Microsoft Word after 2010. There are compatibility downloads for earlier versions of Word that let you open .docx files as well.
Note that the downloaded Word file is only a copy of the original Docs file. You will still have the Docs file in your Google Drive.
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.