How to Convert Google Docs to Word [Easy Steps]

To convert Google Docs to Word files, go to the File menu and choose the option from the download menu. Below, I’ll show exactly how to do this.

When you convert Google Docs to Word without loss of formatting, you can easily share and edit your documents with others.

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How to Convert Google Docs to Word

Converting your Google Docs to Word format is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. Follow the steps below to learn how.

Step 1. Open the document you want to convert and click “File.”

To get started, open the Google Doc you want to convert. Then, click the “File” button located in the top-left corner of the screen.

How to Convert Google Doc to Word — select file

Step 2. Click “Download” and select “Microsoft Word (docx.)”

Hover over the “Download” button from the drop-down menu. This will show you a list of format options to choose from, such as:

Since we’re talking about how to save a Google Doc as a Word doc, choose “Microsoft Word (.docx)” as the file type.

Click Download then Microsoft Word

Step 3. Save Google Docs in a Word Format

Finally, once you click the “Microsoft Word (.docx)” option, the document will be converted and downloaded as a Word format.

Downloaded Word file

How to Convert Google Docs to Word in Google Drive

Can you save a Google Doc as a Word doc without actually opening the document you wish to convert? Of course!

To convert Google Docs to Word within Google Drive, simply follow the steps below:

Download Google Docs file

  1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in if you haven’t yet.
  2. Look for the Google Docs document you wish to convert to Word format.
  3. Right-click on the Google Doc and select “Download” from the drop-down menu.

Once the download is complete, a Word file will be saved on your computer.

Note: Any formatting or features in the Google Doc that are not supported by Word may be lost during the conversion process.

The downside of converting in Google Drive is that you won’t have other format options to choose from, like ePub or PDF, but on the plus side, it gets the job done quickly if you just need to convert it to Microsoft Word (.dox).

Converted and downloaded to Word file

Alternatively, you can also select the Google Doc and click on the “More actions” (three dots) icon at the top right corner of the screen. Then, select “Download” from the drop-down menu, and the document will then be automatically downloaded as a Word file.

Click the three-dots icon and download

How to Convert Multiple Documents at Once

In case you need to convert multiple Google Docs into Word formats simultaneously, you can use Google Drive’s “Download” feature mentioned above, but with a few additional steps.

Here’s what you should do:

Select multiple Google Docs files

  1. Open Google Drive and select all the Google Docs you want to convert to Word format by holding down the “Ctrl” key (Windows) or the “Command” key (Mac) while clicking on each file.

Download multiple Google Docs files

  1. Right-click on any selected files and select “Download” from the drop-down menu.

Upon clicking, Google Drive will then compress all selected files into a single .zip folder and download it to your computer.

Google Docs zip folder downloading

Once the download is complete, extract the .zip folder, and you’ll have all your Google Docs in Word format.

Extract zip folder

Keep in mind that this method may take longer depending on how many files you are converting and the size of the files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Can’t I Save Google Docs as Word?

If, for some reason, you can’t save a Google Doc as a Word file, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

What’s the easiest way to convert a Google Doc to Word format?

Download the file as a .docx format from the “Download” option in the “File” menu, and open the file in Microsoft Word once the download is complete.

Is a DOCX the Same as a DOC?

DOCX and DOC are file formats used by Microsoft Word to store documents, but they’re not exactly the same. DOC is the default extension of MS Word 2003, while DOCX is the newer default file format used by MS Word 2007 and higher. DOCX files are said to be better since they are easier to read, open, and transfer files to.

Regarding compatibility, newer versions of Microsoft Word (2007 and later) can open and edit both DOC and DOCX files, while older versions of Microsoft Word may have difficulty opening DOCX files.

Other word processing software programs such as Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, and Apple Pages can usually open and edit DOC and DOCX files.

Conclusion

I hope this guide helped you learn how to convert Google Docs to Word. Google Docs and Microsoft Word are two popular word-processing tools used by millions of people around the world. While both tools are great for creating and editing documents, they aren’t always compatible with each other. If you need to collaborate on a document with someone who uses Word but prefers using Google Docs, you might encounter issues with formatting and text.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution: convert your Google Docs to Word format and vice versa. Despite all their similarities and differences, it’s good to know that converting Google Docs to Word and vice versa is as easy as A-B-C.

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