Docs
Embedded Files
What you can do with Docs
What you can do with Docs
Write reports, create joint project proposals, keep track of meeting notes, and more.
With Google Docs, you can create and edit text documents right in your web browser—no special software is required. Even better, multiple people can work at the same time, you can see people’s changes as they make them, and every change is saved automatically.
Create a new Document
Create a new Document
On your browser, open a Google Docs
Click Create Blank Document
At the top of the page, click Untitled document and enter a new title.
Create a file from a template
Create a file from a template
You can create and use templates like resumes, budgets, and order forms.
On your computer, go to Google Docs
At the top right , click Template Gallery.
Click the template you want to use.
A copy of the template opens.
Tip: If the template you choose has "Add-on" next to it, you may have to install an add-on to use it. Learn more about add-ons.
Edit text
Edit text
Format your document
Format your document
Depending on what you want to change, choose an option:
To customize margins, page color, and orientation, click FilePage setup.
To customize text, images, tables, and more, use the toolbar options.
Add images, tables, links, and more
Add images, tables, links, and more
Image: Insert an image from your computer, the web, Drive, and more.
Table: Select the number of columns and rows to create a table.
Drawing: Create pictures, flowcharts, diagrams, and more.
Link: Add a link to a webpage or a header or bookmark in your document.
Chart: Add different types of charts, or add a chart from Sheets.
Bookmark: Add shortcuts to specific places within your document.
Table of contents: Create an autogenerated table of contents that links to each heading (where you’ve applied heading styles).
Copy, email, or version your document
Copy, email, or version your document
Make a copy: Create a duplicate of your document.
Download as: Download your document in other formats, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.
Email as attachment: Send a copy of the document to people. You can change the format.
Version history: See all the changes you and others have made to the document or revert to earlier versions.
Publish to the web: Publish a copy of your document as a webpage, or embed your document in a website.
Create an automatic outline in Docs
Create an automatic outline in Docs
Navigating long documents can be time-consuming and difficult. Google Docs automatically outlines your document so you can jump between sections. You can then edit the outline as necessary.
To temporarily close the document outline: At the left, next to "Outline," click Close document outline .
To completely hide the document outline: At the top, click View Show outline.
Tip: If there's a checkmark next to "Show outline," the document outline icon will still be visible in the top left of your document.
Add and edit images
Add and edit images
You don’t have to switch to another application or own additional software to create great images for your documents. Crop, recolor, and more right in Google Docs. Or, get suggestions for relevant images based on your content, and add them to your document.
Add an image
On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Slides.
Click Insert Image.
Choose where to get your image from.
Upload from computer: Insert an image saved on your device.
Search the web: Search the web for an image.
GIFs and stickers: Insert a GIF or a sticker to your slide.
Drive: Use an image saved to your Google Drive.
Photos: Use an image from your Google Photos library.
By URL: Insert a link to your image or insert a .gif.
Click Insert or Open.
Learn how to add images in Sheets.
Crop an image
You can trim the edges of an image or remove an unwanted section.
On your computer, open a document or presentation.
Click on the image you want to crop.
Click Crop .
Around the border, click and drag the blue squares into the shape you want.
When you’re done, press Enter on your keyboard or click anywhere else in your file.
Get suggestions for images
On your computer, open a document in Google Docs.
At the bottom right, click Explore .
At the top, search for a document, presentation, image, chart, or webpage. Search results will show in categories:
Web: Info from the web related to your document.
Images: Images from the web related to your document.
Drive: Documents saved in your Google Drive.
Add an item from your search:
Add an image or chart: Click the item you want to add. At the top, click Insert.
Add a footnote: Point to your search result. Click Cite as footnote .
Add a link: Point to your search result. Click Insert Link
Add flowcharts and diagrams
Add flowcharts and diagrams
Flowcharts and diagrams make difficult concepts easy to understand. Create them right in your browser with Google Drawings, no software needed.
Create a flowchart, diagram, or other type of drawing
On your computer, open a document.
In the top left, click Insert Drawing From Drive.
Click the drawing you want to insert.
Click Select.
Add your drawing to a document
On your computer, open a document.
In the top left, click Insert Drawing From Drive.
Click the drawing you want to insert.
Click Select.
The inserted drawing is linked to the original drawing.
To update the drawing—Click the drawing. In the top right, click Update.
To unlink the drawing—Click the drawing. In the top right, click Unlink .
Translate a document
Translate a document
If you work with an international team or organization, use Google Docs to translate documents written in foreign languages to a language you know.
Create a translated copy of a Docs file
On your computer, open a document in Google Docs.
In the top menu, click Tools Translate document.
Enter a name for the translated document and select a language.
Click Translate.
A translated copy of your document will open in a new window. You can also see this copy in your Google Drive.
Tip: If "Translate document" isn't visible, you're likely in Microsoft Office editing. To translate, convert your file to Google Docs. Learn about Microsoft Office editing and how to convert Microsoft Office files.
Insert charts
Insert charts
Help people visualize data in a presentation or document by adding charts from Google Sheets.
Because your chart is linked to your Sheets data, your document updates with the click of a button.
Add a chart from Google Sheets to a document
On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides.
Click Insert Chart From Sheets.
Click the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select.
Click the chart you want to add.
If you don't want the chart linked to the spreadsheet, uncheck "Link to spreadsheet."
Click Import.
Open and edit a chart
On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides.
Click a chart or table to select it.
In the top right corner of the chart or table, click Link options Open source.
You can now change the original file.
Update the data in your chart
If you make a change on the fly, you might want to make sure any data is updated.
On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides.
In the top right corner of the chart, table, or slide click Update.
Insert smart chips & building blocks
Insert smart chips & building blocks
Insert smart chips in your Google Doc to include information about:
Other users with Gmail or Workspace email addresses
Other Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides files
Dates or Google Calendar events
Places and map directions
Where there’s a smart chip in your document, you and other users can hover or click on a chip to get more information.
You can also insert placeholder chips, time trackers, and dropdowns, and use building blocks to track projects, files, and more.
Add smart chips for people, files, dates & events
On your computer, open a document in Google Docs.
Type "@" anywhere in your document or click the "@" button on a blank line.
To narrow your suggestions, select from the list of suggestions or enter letters, numbers, or symbols.
Tip: To add a people smart chip, start typing the name or email address of the person you want, or type @me to add yourself.
Tip: To add a file smart chip, enter the file name or related keywords.
To add a smart chip that a collaborator can fill in, select "Placeholder chip." Then select the type of information you want your collaborator to add when they fill in the smart chip.
Hover over the chip to view related information.
Important: When you mention another user in a smart chip, they don't automatically get access to your document. To grant access to another user, you must share your document.
With Google Docs, you can add and customize dropdown chips that display multiple options. You can also use building blocks to insert table templates that help you track projects, files, and more.
Track drafts in one place
Track drafts in one place
In the past, you might have kept multiple drafts of your files in case you needed to refer to them or switch to earlier versions. Drive keeps all your drafts in one file, and you can easily look at or restore earlier versions with the revision history. So don’t worry about making big edits—if you change your mind, you can always go back.
View or revert to earlier versions of Docs, Sheets, and Slides files
Note: You need Owner or Editor access to see the version history.
In Drive, open your file.
Click FileVersion historySee version history.
Click a timestamp to see a previous version of the file. Below the timestamp, you’ll see:
Names of people who edited the document.
A color next to each person’s name. The edits they made appear in that color.
(Optional) To revert to this version, click Restore this version.
Upload a new version of a file to Drive
On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
Click the file you want to replace.
At the top right, click More Manage versions Upload new version.
Share a document with specific people
Share a document with specific people
On your computer, go to Google Drive.
Select the file you want to share Share .
Enter the email address you want to share with. If you use a work or school account, you can share with suggested recipients.
Tip: To turn off suggested recipients, go to your Drive Settings . Uncheck "Show suggested recipients in the sharing dialog."
Decide how people can use your file. Select one:
Viewer
Commenter
Editor
If you use an eligible work or school account, click Add expiration to add an expiration date.
When you share your file, each email address gets an email.
Optional: Add a message to your notification email.
If you don't want to notify people, uncheck the box.
Click Send or Share.
Unshare a document
Unshare a document
Stop sharing a document you own
Stop sharing a document you own
Find the file or folder in Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.
Open or select the file or folder.
Click Share or Share .
Find the person you want to stop sharing with.
To the right of their name, click the Down arrow Remove access.
Click Save.
Collaborate with your team: Comment on a document
Collaborate with your team: Comment on a document
On your computer, open a document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
Highlight the text, images, cells, or slides you want to comment on.
To add a comment, in the toolbar, click Add comment .
Type your comment.
Click Comment.
Chat with collaborators in a document
Chat with collaborators in a document
On your computer, open a document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
At the top right, click Show chat . This feature won't be available if you're the only one in the file.
Tip: If there are many collaborators in the file, at the top right, to the right of the avatars, there will be a blue circle showing the number of additional collaborators. Click the blue circle Join chat .
Enter your message in the chat box.
When you’re finished, at the top right of the chat window, click Close .
Make suggestions in a document
Make suggestions in a document
On your computer, open a document at Google Docs.
Select the text you want to change. A button appears on the right margin. Click Suggest edits .
If you don't find Suggesting on the toolbar, choose an option:
At the top right, click Editing .
From the drop-down, select Suggesting .
Click Request edit access.
Ask the file owner to share the document with you as a Commenter or Editor.
Edit the document.
You’ll see your change in a new color. Anything you delete will be crossed out.
To add more detail, click your suggestion and type a comment. Then click Reply.
The owner of the file will get an email about your suggestions and can decide whether to keep them.
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