While many people that you interact with at school or work will have access to applications like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you might still need to send PDF (Portable Document Format) copies of your documents to others.
In the past, creating such a file would have required some PDF conversion utility, but many popular applications can convert to the PDF file format now, including Google Docs.
Our tutorial below will show you how to save your Google Docs file as a PDF so that you can send it to someone that needs that specific type of file.
How to Convert from Google Docs to PDF
- Open the document.
- Click the File tab.
- Choose Download.
- Select the PDF option.
Our guide continues below with additional information on how to save a Google Docs file as a PDF, including pictures of these steps.
Google Docs is one of the most popular document-editing and creation tools around.
It provides many of the same features that you would find in other paid document applications, but it’s available for free to anyone with a Google Account.
One of the drawbacks to Google Docs, however, is that it uses its own file type when you create new documents. This isn’t a problem if you want to print the document or share it with other Google users, but it does present an issue when you need the file in a different format.
Luckily Google Docs gives you the ability to download your documents in a variety of different formats.
Our guide below will show you how to save a Google Doc as a PDF that you can then share or edit in the same way that you would any other PDF file.
Check out our guide on how to get rid of background color in Google Docs if you have a document that you are editing that has a page color you don’t want or need.
How to Make a PDF Copy of a Google Docs File (Guide with Pictures)
The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser, but will also work in other desktop Web browsers like Firefox or Safari.
Step 1: Open your document in Google Docs.
Step 2: Click the File tab at the top-left of the window.
Step 3: Choose the Download option, then click PDF Document.
The file will then download to your computer.
Now that you know how to save a Google Docs file as a PDF you will be able yo use this option whenever you need a PDF version of a document.
Note that there are a handful of other options you can choose from as well, including Microsoft Word, Plain text, and more.
The PDF document that you download is a separate file from the Google Docs file saved in your Google Drive. Any changes made to the PDF file, or to the Google Docs file, will not be reflected in the other version of the file once it has been downloaded.
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.