How to Convert Word to Google Doc

Check this out: How to Convert PDF to Word

So next time you’re on the go, you can simply convert your Microsoft Word documents to Google Docs format using any of the following ways.

Convert Word to Google Doc using Google Drive on a computer

This method works in any modern browser, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.

1. Open Google Drive (drive.google.com) and sign in with your Google account. In Chrome, you can also click the Google apps grid (the 9-dot icon) on the Google homepage and choose Drive.
2. Click the New button in the top-left corner and choose File upload.
3. Select your Word file (.docx or .doc) and wait for the upload to finish.
4. Double-click the file to open it. It opens in Google Docs in Office editing mode, and you will see a .DOCX label next to the file name.
5. Click File > Save as Google Docs.

Google creates a new Google Docs copy of your document and opens it. Your original Word file stays in Drive as well, so you can delete it if you don’t need it.

Convert all uploads to Google Docs automatically

If you upload a lot of Word files, you can tell Drive to convert them automatically:

1. In Google Drive, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
2. In the General section, find the option to convert uploads and tick the box Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format.
3. Close the settings. From now on, newly uploaded files will be converted.
4. Click New and choose File upload or Folder upload. For a folder upload, move all your Word files into one folder on your computer first, then select that folder.

With this setting on, Excel spreadsheets are converted to Google Sheets, PowerPoint presentations to Google Slides, and Word documents to Google Docs. It only affects files you upload after turning it on; files already in Drive are not changed.

Wait! Learn how to convert your Excel to PDF!

Convert Word to Google Doc on Android and iPhone

1. Install the Google Drive and Google Docs apps if you don’t have them.
2. In the Drive app, tap the + (New) button, tap Upload and choose your Word file.
3. Open the uploaded file. It opens in the Google Docs app, where you can read and edit it as a Word file.
4. To convert it, tap the 3-dot menu and look for the option to save it as a Google Docs file (on some versions it is under Share & export).

Convert a Word attachment from Gmail

If someone emails you a Word document, you don’t need to download it first. Open the email in Gmail on a computer, hover over the attachment and click the Edit with Google Docs (or open with Google Docs) button. The file opens in Google Docs, and you can then use File > Save as Google Docs to keep a converted copy in your Drive.

How to download a Google Doc back as Word or PDF

To download the uploaded file from Google Drive in another format, for example Word or PDF:

1. Open the document in Google Docs.
2. Click the File menu > Download and choose the format you want, such as Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF document (.pdf). The download will start automatically.

Note that this menu used to be called “Download as”; in current versions of Google Docs it is simply Download.

Tips and things to know

• Check the formatting. Simple documents convert almost perfectly. Complex layouts, unusual fonts, text boxes and some advanced Word features may look slightly different, so review the document after converting.
• Tracked changes and comments. Word comments are usually kept, and tracked changes are generally brought in as suggestions you can accept or reject.
• Macros don’t carry over. Word macros do not work in Google Docs.
• Password-protected files. Remove the password in Word first, otherwise Google Docs may not be able to open the file.
• You don’t always need to convert. Google Docs can edit .docx files directly in Office editing mode, which is handy if you need to send the file back as Word.

Frequently asked questions

Is converting Word to Google Docs free?

Yes. All you need is a free Google account. Converted Google Docs files are stored in your Drive and count towards your Google storage.

Does converting delete my original Word file?

No. When you use Save as Google Docs, the original Word file stays in your Drive alongside the new copy.

Can I convert old .doc files too?

Yes. Google Docs supports both the older .doc format and the newer .docx format.

We hope this guide helped you convert your Word documents to Google Docs. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.