How to use Google

Docs: Basic tutorial,

plus tips and tricks
Google Docs has really solidified its position as the premier cloud-based
alternative to Microsoft Word, but there are still many people who haven’t
made the switch. If you’re one of those completely new to the service, don’t
worry! We’re here to help with a beginner’s guide to how to use Google Docs.

There are far too many features to cover in a single Google Docs tutorial, but
this should provide a solid foundation to get you started. As you get more
comfortable you’ll discover all kinds of unique capabilities, and Google has
been very active in adding new features every year.

We’ll start off with the basics that everyone needs to know, then touch on a
few more advanced Google Docs tips and tricks. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents
● What is Google Docs?
o How does Google Docs work?
● How to use Google Docs: Basic tutorial
o How to create a new document
o How to delete a document
● How to use Google Docs: Advanced tips and tricks
o How to use Google Docs offline
o How to check word counts in Google Docs
o How to change margins in Google Docs
o How do you share and collaborate in Google Docs?
o How do you use strikethrough and subscript in Google Docs?
● FAQ

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What is Google Docs?

Google Docs is a cloud-based word processor that’s an integral part of

Google’s office suite, called G Suite. Alongside Google’s other cloud-based
services like Google Drive, Sheets, Slides, and of course, Gmail, Google
Workspace offers a comprehensive productivity platform for businesses and
students alike.

In many ways, you can think of Google Docs as the Microsoft Word of G
Suite. It allows you to compose and format a wide variety of documents and
features some neat integrations with Sheets that lets you quickly add a graph
or table from a Google Sheets spreadsheet. It also supports templates and
add-ons to make it even more versatile for niche tasks.

Best of all, Google Docs is completely free to use. All you need is a Google
account,

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How does Google Docs work?

Google Docs is entirely cloud-based, which makes it work differently than

traditional word processors like Word. Instead of saving documents on your
hard drive, the files live in Google Drive.

This offers a number of advantages over traditional word processors such as

collaborative editing in real-time and automatic backups. It’s also fully cross-
platform, so you can access it from any browser or mobile device.

That said, when it comes to how to use Google Docs, it’s very similar to Word
or other alternatives. It has the same tool ribbon across the top of the screen
and the same keyboard shortcuts you’ve been using for years. You simply
access your document in a browser rather than a standalone application.

How to use Google Docs:

Basic tutorial
How to create a new document

The first thing you’ll need to learn how to do is creating a new document. You
can do this from any computer browser or mobile device, although we
recommend using a computer. Most of the steps and instructions in this
Google Docs tutorial are based on the browser version, which has far more
capabilities.

To create a new document on the web, navigate to the Google Docs website

(https://docs.google.com/) and log in if you haven’t already. Then, click any
of the templates across the top of the screen to create your document. The
first template is blank, but the others have specific purposes like business
letters or resumes. If you don’t like the colors or formatting they can be fully
customized once created, too.

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On the website

On mobile. When you open the Google Docs App

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On mobile, you can still use your browser but it’s easier to use the Google
Drive app. Just tap the plus icon in the bottom right, then tap Google Docs.
It will default to a blank template, but it will also autosave to the cloud so you
can edit it later.

On mobile when you open the Google Drive App and when you press the plus
icon

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No matter how you create your first document, make sure to give it a name in
the field at the top of the screen. Otherwise, it’s very easy to lose in your
Google Drive folders!

On PC after you click the plus sign before you rename. To rename change the
name on the encircled part.

After you rename

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For beginners, you should really learn how to use Google Docs on a computer
first. You have a lot more options to format your documents, plus, you know,
an actual keyboard to type on.

Open, and rename in mobile.

Click the plus sign when you open google docs, then choose new document.

Click on the upper right to rename and change the name.

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After you rename, press the back arrow button to return in the home of
google docs and you will see you document is saved.

How to delete a document

Since everything saves automatically in the cloud, it’s possible to accidentally

create a file that sits empty in your Google Drive storage. Fortunately, it’s just
as easy to delete them as it is to create them.

In a browser, all you need to do is find the document on the Google Docs

website, click the three dots next to its name, then click Remove. You can
also delete it by opening the document then clicking File and Move to Trash.

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To delete docs in mobile phone:

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Note that once removed, files can still be found in the Trash folder of Google
Drive. Unlike Google Photos and Gmail, these files never expire and will
remain in your Trash folder until you manually clear your trash.

To clear your trash and permanently delete the document, navigate to

your Google Drive Trash( https://drive.google.com/drive/trash), select the
files, and click the delete icon in the top right. In the confirmation pop-up,
select Delete Forever and enjoy your freed-up storage space.

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How to use Google Docs:
Advanced tips and tricks
How to use Google Docs offline

One of the scariest things about moving to cloud-based platforms is the

thought of what happens when you lose your internet connection. One power
outing or network maintenance and you’re stuck waiting for hours until you
can get back to work.

Google is more than aware of this concern, and Google Docs makes it easy to
access or even edit your documents while offline. The only catch is that it only
works on the Chrome browser and you need to be signed in to your account
on the browser. Note that for Chromebook users the task is already done and
Google Docs will work offline right out of the box.

The first thing to do is to make sure you have the Google Docs offline
Chrome Extension ( https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-
offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi ). It may already be installed, but
to check just click the link and see if it says Install or Remove. Once that’s

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done, navigate to your Google Drive
settings (https://drive.google.com/drive/settings ) and check the box next
to Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer
so that you can edit offline.

To go to settings click the settings icon on the upper right. (Check photo
below) or copy and paste the link (https://drive.google.com/drive/settings )

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Then check the offline option below language.

This will allow you to open any of your files in Google Docs while offline, but
you will need to take one further step to be able to edit and save them.
Simply right-click on the document you want to edit offline and toggle the
switch for Available Offline. Here are those steps again in brief:

How to use Google Docs offline

1. Log into your Google account in a Chrome Browser.

2. Install the Google Docs offline Chrome Extension.
3. Navigate to Google Drive settings and toggle Sync Google Docs,
Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you can
edit offline.

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 4. Right click on a Google Doc to edit offline and toggle Available Offline.

5. Open google drive just paste the link and open the
https://drive.google.com/ on your google chrome, then all the files
available offline will be available for editing.

How to check word counts in Google Docs

Whether preparing an assignment for school or working on an article as a

freelance writer, word counts are important. Google Docs not only makes it
easy to check word counts once you’re finished, it even has a feature to see a
word count as you write.

To check the current word count, you first need to open the Google Doc you
want to check. Click Tools at the top of the screen, then Word count.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+C.

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The pop-up window will display the current page count, word count, character
count, and character count without spaces. Beneath that you’ll also find a
toggle for Display word count while typing. This will leave a small box in the
corner with a constantly updating word count, which can be incredibly useful
for hitting word requirements without filling your writing with fluff after you’re
finished.

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How to change margins in Google Docs

There are two ways to change margins in Google Docs: document-wide

settings and specific sections. Let’s start with document-wide changes, which
is what most users will want to do.

The process is virtually identical to Microsoft Word and other word processors.
Just open your document, click File in the top left, then Page setup from the
drop-down menu. From here you can change the margins in the pop-up
window, and set them as default if you want all future Google Docs to use
these settings.

Knowing how to change margins in Google Docs for a specific section is a bit
more complicated, but still similar to what you’re probably used to from other
word processors. What you need to do is select the section of text to adjust,
then click and drag the blue triangles at the top of the screen. The numbers
displayed are the difference between the current setting and the default
margin, rather than the distance from the edge of the page.

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How do you share and collaborate in Google Docs?

One of the biggest strengths of Google Docs is sharing and collaborating. Not
only is it easy to share documents with anyone via a simple link, but both
parties can also edit the document at the same time and all changes are
visible in real time.

To share a Google Doc, you first need to open the document. From there,
click the large blue Share button in the top right. The box that pops up offers
two separate ways to share your document. The first is entering the email
addresses of everyone you want to share with. If the Notify people box is
ticked, an email will be sent to all parties notifying them of the change, and the
document will appear in their shared Drive folders.

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The default settings allow anyone you share with via email to edit the
document, but you can adjust this by changing the drop-down on the right-
hand side. You can also enter a custom message for the email in the text box
at the bottom.

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More importantly, the default settings also allow anyone with editing
permissions to share and change permissions, which you may not want when
sharing with people you don’t entirely trust. To change this, click the Settings
cog in the top right and uncheck the box for Editors can change
permissions and share.

The second way to share a Google Doc is via a hyperlink that you can send to
anyone on the web. Note, however, that the default Restricted setting will still
limit accessibility to just the email addresses you’ve already shared the
document with. By changing the setting to Anyone with the link, anyone,
including those who don’t even have a Google account, can open the
document. You can also adjust the permissions on the right to allow people
with the link to not just view the document but also comment on or even edit it.

How do you use strikethrough and subscript in Google Docs?

Strikethrough, subscript, superscript, and other special formatting settings are

easy to change in Google Docs, although some are hidden away in the menu.
The main ribbon only has buttons for bold, italic, and underline formatting.

The rest can be found by opening the Format tab at the top of the screen,
then expanding Text. Here you can see all six formatting options, as well as
the keyboard shortcuts for each. We’ve also listed those keyboard shortcuts
below for your convenience.

How to use strikethrough, subscript, and other special formatting in

Google Docs

● Bold — Ctrl+B
● Italic — Ctrl+I
● Underline — Ctrl+U
● Strikethrough — Alt+Shift+5
● Subscript — Ctrl+,
● Superscript — Ctrl+.

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FAQ
Q: Are Google Docs private/secure?
A: Yes. All Google Docs are private and secure unless explicitly shared with
another party. If shared, the share icon in the top right of the screen with the
document open will feature a different icon.

Q: Is Google Docs really free?

A: Yes, Google Docs is completely free for personal use. However, there is
also a business version called G Suite Essentials with some added security
and collaboration features. It does not add any functionality to Google Docs,
but it does boost Google Drive storage to 100GB or more depending on the
plan.

Q: Are Google Docs and Microsoft Word compatible?

A: Starting in 2019, Google Docs began supporting all Word file types
(.doc, .docx, and .dot). Docs can also be saved in these formats as well,
making the two almost fully compatible.

Q: Can Google Docs be saved as PDF?

A: Yes, Google Docs can be saved as PDFs by opening the File tab,
clicking Download, then selecting PDF Document (.pdf).

Q: Does Google Docs save automatically?

A: Yes, all documents are saved periodically to the cloud, although you can
also force it to save by pressing ctrl+s. If editing offline, it will save in your
browser cache and update the cloud version as soon as you’re online. You
can also see the last save timing at the top of the screen.

Q: Is Google Docs HIPAA compliant?

A: Google Docs is HIPAA compliant, but you will need to sign a BAA with
Google first. This is offered to Google Workspace Enterprise (formerly G Suite
Enterprise) customers.

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