Converting a Google Doc to PDF is built into Google Docs and takes only a few taps or clicks. You can save the file as a PDF, email it as a PDF attachment, or use the Google Docs mobile app to send a copy. Here are the standard methods for desktop and phone, what happens when you export from Google Drive, and which settings to check before you export.
Download a Google Doc as PDF on Desktop
On a computer, the quickest way to save a Google Doc as a PDF is through the File menu.
- Open the Google Doc you want to convert.
- Click File in the top left corner.
- Hover over Download.
- Select PDF Document (.pdf) from the list.
Your browser saves the file as a standard PDF. This is the same action that matches the phrase google docs download as pdf. The PDF includes all the text, images, and formatting from the original file. If your source material contains many large images, the resulting PDF may be large. You can reduce its size later using a tool like the site's Compress PDF tool.
Email a Google Doc as a PDF from Desktop
You can also send a Google Doc directly as a PDF attachment without saving it first. This is useful when you want to share a PDF copy through email quickly.
- Open the file in Google Docs.
- Click File.
- Hover over Email.
- Select Email this file.
A new email window opens with the PDF already attached. The subject line and body are pre-filled with the file title, but you can edit them before sending. This method matches the phrase google docs email as pdf and works with any email account connected to your Google Drive.
Set Page Size and Margins Before Exporting
The PDF you get matches the page layout of your Google Doc. If you want a specific paper size or different margins, adjust those before you export.
Click File then Page setup. Here you can choose the paper size, for example Letter or A4, and set the margins. These settings affect how the content fits on each page when you export to PDF. Changing them before you save helps avoid odd cuts or extra white space in the final file.
Convert Google Docs to PDF on Phone
You can also convert google docs to pdf on phone using the Google Docs mobile app for Android or iOS. The process is slightly different from the desktop version but still uses built-in options.
Save a Copy as PDF
- Open the Google Docs app and tap the file you want to export.
- Tap the More icon (three dots, often shown as ⋮) in the top right corner.
- Tap Share & export.
- Tap Save as.
- Choose PDF Document (.pdf) from the format list. The file saves to your phone.
Send a Copy as PDF
- Open the file in the app and tap the More icon (⋮).
- Tap Share & export.
- Tap Send a copy.
- Choose PDF as the format, then select an app like Gmail or another email app to send the file.
Both options let you get a PDF version of your file directly from your phone without needing any third-party converter.
What Happens When You Download from Google Drive
If you try to save a Google Doc directly from the Google Drive file list, the result is not a PDF. When you right-click a file in Drive and select Download, Drive converts it to Microsoft Word format (.docx) by default. This is the google drive download docx behavior.
To get a PDF from Drive, open the file in Google Docs first and then use the File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf) method described above. Saving directly from Drive always gives you a .docx file unless you use a different export option inside the file itself.
Compress Image-Heavy PDFs After Export
Files that contain many high-resolution images can produce large PDFs. If your PDF is too big to email or upload easily, you can reduce its file size without losing too much quality. The site's Compress PDF tool can shrink image-heavy PDFs. This is a separate step you can take after you have saved the PDF from Google Docs.