How to Save a Google Doc on your Computer
Google Docs is a word processor program that allows you to create and edit documents for free online while also collaborating with others on the same document. In combination with Google Sheets, Google Slides and many others, Google offers a unique office suite package within its Google Drive service that offers a different and truly web-based software alternative to the Microsoft Office package. It is simple, easy to use and your documents may be saved more effectively.
On this OneHowTo article we explain how to save a Google Doc on your computer.
Steps to follow:
Save a Google Doc file automatically. Since Google Docs is an online word processor offered through Google Drive, if you open and edit a document it will automatically save the changes to the drive without having to click on the save button. You will see on the top right hand corner a message that will tell you the last time it was saved. However, this will only allow you to access the document through the drive.
Download a Google Doc file. If you want to save a copy of the document to your computer you must download the document. For this click on “File” and then scroll down to “Download as”. A menu list will open with a number of formats to save your document. The options include the formats .docx, .pdf, or .txt.
Install Google Drive. You are also able to install Google Drive in your computer, which will in turn download all your files to your computer as well. In order to do this, go to the main page of Google Drive and place your mouse over the button “Download Drive”, then select between Mac and Windows.
Once you download the drive, it will ask you to sign in to your account. A new folder will be created in your computer that will now store all your Google Doc files. Make sure that you save this folder in a place that you will remember in the future.
Save a Google Doc file offline. Google Drive has the advantage of synchronizing and saving your work automatically if you are working online, but offline all the changes made will not be saved.
The solution for this is to update your settings. First, open Google Chrome and head to your settings page on your Google Drive web-based account, click on the settings wheel at the top right hand corner of your screen, below your image. Then check the box in the “Offline” section where it asks you if you want to “Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline”.
Once you have completed this step you can now work on your documents while being offline. Your edits will be uploaded to your online drive as soon as you connect to the Internet. If you are sharing these documents with other people, they will also be able to see the updates you made on the file on their own drive.
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