How To Save A Google Doc As A PDF?

Working in Google Docs provides a collaborative and quick way to create documents. As a frequent Google Docs user, I frequently find myself wanting to save my documents in different formats, especially PDFs. Saving a Google Doc as a PDF is very useful for sharing, printing, or preserving formatting.

But how do you save a Google Doc as a PDF? I’ll provide step-by-step instructions for converting a Google Doc to a PDF on different devices, including PCs, iPhones, Android phones, and other mobile devices.

Why Would You Want To Save A Google Doc As A PDF?

Before we get into the technical aspects, let’s explore why PDFs are preferred in certain situations.

• All the formatting elements like fonts, styles, margins, line spacing, and even images are locked in place. And your document retains its professional or creative look, even if the recipient doesn’t have the same fonts or software installed.
• PDFs can be widely accessible on almost every device and operating system. Your document looks exactly as you formatted it, whether the receiver is using a Windows PC, a Mac, a smartphone, or even a tablet.
• Unlike other file types, PDFs won’t suffer from unexpected font substitutions or layout adjustments when sent to a printer. This makes them ideal for producing tangible copies of your Google Docs without losing quality.
• By saving your Google Docs as PDFs, you can ensure that the documents remain accessible and unchanged for years to come. This is extremely helpful for important documents, legal agreements, or presentations that you may need to refer back to in the future.
• PDF is a fixed format that can only be viewed but not edited. This is useful for sending out final reports, brochures, and formal documents.

How To Save A Google Doc As A PDF?

Now that we’ve covered the advantages of saving a Google Doc as a PDF, let’s jump into the step-by-step process. We will take a look at all the platforms, including iPhones, Android phones, desktops, and other mobile devices.

On Your Computer

If you prefer to use a computer, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to docs.google.com.

2. Sign in to your Google account if you haven’t already.

3. Find the document you want to save as a PDF and open it.

4. Click on “File” in the top-left corner of the screen.

5. From the dropdown menu, select “Download” and then “PDF Document.”

6. Choose the destination folder on your computer where you want to save the PDF file.

7. Click “Save” to save the Google Doc as a PDF.

On Android Smartphone

For Android users, the process is slightly different.

1. Open the “Google Docs” app on your Android phone.

2. Find the document you wish to save as a PDF and open it.

3. Tap the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of the screen.

4. From the dropdown menu, select “Share & export.”

5. Choose “Save as PDF” from the export options.

6. Select the location where you want to save the PDF file.

7. Tap “Save” to save the Google Doc as a PDF.

On an iPhone

If you’re an iPhone user, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Google Docs” app on your iPhone.

2. Locate the document you want to save as a PDF and open it.

3. Tap the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of the screen.

4. Select “Share & export” from the dropdown menu.

5. Choose the “Send a copy” option.

6. Tap “PDF” in the export options.

7. Select your preferred method of sharing or saving the PDF file.

On Other devices

Follow these steps if you use tablets or smartphones running different operating systems.

1. Open the “Google Docs” app on your mobile device.

2. Find the document you want to save as a PDF and open it.

3. Look for the “Export” or “Share” option within the app.

4. Choose the “Save as PDF” or “Export as PDF” option.

5. Select the location where you want to save the PDF file.

6. Tap “Save” to save the Google Doc as a PDF.

How To Save A PDF In Google Drive?

Now that you are familiar with “How to save a Google Doc as a PDF”, let’s learn to save this PDF in your Google Drive.

1. Open your Google Doc, and click on File

2. Select “Download” from the dropdown.

3. Choose “PDF Document (.pdf)”. This will create a PDF version of your Doc and save it to your Downloads folder (or wherever you have downloads set to go on your computer).

4. Go to Google Drive.

5. Click “+” icon to upload the PDF to your Drive.

Ways To Troubleshoot Common Issues

You may encounter some common issues while saving your Google Doc into a PDF. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help resolve them:

• If the formatting of your Google Doc doesn’t appear correctly in the PDF, try converting it to a different file format, such as Microsoft Word (.docx), and then saving it as a PDF.
• If the images are missing in your PDF, make sure the images are properly inserted and not linked from external sources. Consider embedding the images within the document before saving it as a PDF.
• If the generated PDF file is too large, try compressing the images within your Google Doc before saving them to PDF. You can also use online compression tools to reduce the file size further.
• If the PDF doesn’t display your desired fonts, ensure that you’re using standard fonts that are available on most devices. You can also convert the text within your Google Doc to outlines to preserve the font style.
• If you want to protect sensitive information, you can use password protection for your PDF files. This adds an extra layer of security and ensures that only authorized individuals can access the contents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

We hope this blog helped you! Now you can confidently email your report to your boss, share your holiday plan with friends without formatting issues, and print your grocery list worry-free.

If you ever get stuck or have another question, simply Google “saving Google Docs as PDFs.” This guide will always be available to you. Happy sharing!