Open Google Drive and create a new document

Go to drive.google.com in any web browser. You need a Google account — if you don't have one, you can create one for free at accounts.google.com. Sign in with your email and password.

Once you're in Google Drive, look for the + New button on the left side of the screen. Click it, then select Google Docs from the menu that appears. A blank document will open in a new tab.

Google automatically saves your work as you type, so you don't have to manually save like you would in Microsoft Word. You'll see "All changes saved to Drive" appear briefly near the top when it saves.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create a Google Document by going to drive.google.com, clicking + New, and selecting Google Docs — no software installation needed.
  • Google Documents save automatically to your Google Drive, and you can access them from any device where you're signed into your Google account.
  • You can share a document with others by clicking the Share button and choosing whether they can view, comment, or edit.
  • Google stores your documents on their servers, so understand that Google can read the content of your documents as part of how their service works.

Name your document and organize it in folders

When you first create a document, it's titled "Untitled document" at the top. Click on that title to rename it to something you'll recognize later. Type the new name and press Enter.

To organize your documents, you can create folders in Google Drive. Click + New, select Folder, give it a name, and then drag documents into it. You can also right-click on a document and choose Move to place it in a folder without dragging.

Share your document with others

Click the blue Share button in the top right corner of your document. A box will appear asking who you want to share with. Type in the email addresses of the people you want to give access to, separated by commas if there are multiple people.

Before you click Share, choose what level of access each person gets. Click the dropdown that says Viewer, Commenter, or Editor. Viewers can only read the document. Commenters can suggest changes and leave notes but can't edit directly. Editors can make changes to the document itself.

You can also generate a shareable link by clicking the dropdown next to "Share" and selecting Copy link. This creates a URL you can paste into an email or message. Anyone with that link can open the document if you've set the sharing permission to allow it.

Edit text and use basic formatting

Click anywhere in the document to start typing. The toolbar at the top has buttons for Bold, Italic, and Underline — select text first, then click the button to explore the formatting. You can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+B for bold, Ctrl+I for italic, Ctrl+U for underline (or Cmd instead of Ctrl on a Mac).

To change font, font size, or text color, use the dropdown menus in the toolbar. The first dropdown shows your current font; click it to pick a different one. The second dropdown controls size. The "A" with a colored line underneath controls text color.

Use the bullet point and numbered list buttons to create lists. Click the button, then type your list items and press Enter after each one. Press Enter twice to end the list.

Add images, tables, and other content

To insert an image, click Insert in the menu bar, then select Image. You can upload a file from your computer, search Google Images, paste a URL, or take a screenshot. Google Images results are subject to copyright, so only use images you have permission to use.

To add a table, go to Insert and select Table. Choose how many rows and columns you need. You can add or delete rows and columns later by right-clicking inside the table.

You can also insert comments, drawings, charts, and links through the Insert menu. Drawings let you create straightforward shapes and sketches within the document.

Access your documents from different devices

Any document you create in Google Docs is stored on Google's servers, not on your computer. This means you can open the same document on your phone, tablet, or a different computer — just sign into your Google account and go to drive.google.com or open the Google Docs app.

If you want to work offline, click File, then Make available offline. Your document will sync when you reconnect to the internet. Note that offline editing only works on the device where you turned it on.

To read your document as a file on your computer, click File, then read. You can save it as a Word document (.docx), PDF, plain text, or several other formats.

Understand what Google can see in your documents

When you use Google Docs, your documents are stored on Google's servers. Google's terms of service allow them to read and analyze the content of your documents to improve their services, show you relevant ads, and detect spam or abuse. This is different from a document stored only on your computer, where only you and people you physically hand the file to can read it.

If privacy is a concern for you, consider what type of information you're putting in Google Docs. Sensitive financial records, medical notes, or personal information may not be documents you want Google's systems to process. For those, a document editor that stores files locally on your computer, or one with end-to-end encryption, may be a better fit.

You can review what Google knows about you by visiting myactivity.google.com. You can also delete your activity or turn off certain types of data collection in your Google Account settings, though this may limit some features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Docs without a Google account?

No, you need a Google account to create and save documents in Google Docs. However, someone can share a document with you via a link, and you can view and comment on it without signing in if they've set the sharing permission to allow that.

What happens if I accidentally delete a document?

Deleted documents go to your Google Drive trash folder for 30 days. Click the trash icon in the left sidebar of Google Drive, find your document, right-click it, and select Restore. After 30 days, it's permanently deleted.

Can multiple people edit the same document at the same time?

Yes. When you share a document with Editor access, multiple people can edit it simultaneously. You'll see a colored cursor showing where each person is typing, and you can see changes appear in real time.

Is Google Docs free?

Yes, Google Docs is free to use. You get unlimited documents and storage up to 15 GB across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos combined. If you need more storage, you can pay for a Google One subscription.

Can I convert a Word document to Google Docs?

Yes. In Google Drive, click + New, select File upload, and choose your Word document. Once uploaded, right-click the file and select Open with, then Google Docs. This converts it to a Google Doc format.