How Do I Convert a Google Document Into a Word Document?

Google Drive, formerly Google Docs, provides many advantages that word processors in the past have not offered, such as worldwide accessibility and easy file sharing. If, however, you need to use a Google document as a Word document on your computer, you can easily download and convert it to meet your needs. If you have multiple files to download, you can even download them all at once rather than individually.

Converting Google Documents usually doesn't take more than a few moments.

Convert & Download One Document

While viewing a Google document in Google Drive using a Web browser, click "File," select "Download as" and select "Microsoft Word (docx)." In the window that appears, you can name the file and navigate to the location on your computer where you want to save it.

Convert & Download Multiple Documents

Before downloading multiple documents, determine which Google Drive version you're using. On the main Google Drive page, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right corner. If you see the option "Experience the New Drive," you're using the classic Google Drive.

To download multiple files using the new Google Drive, simply click and drag the mouse to highlight everything you want to download, or press and hold "Control" while clicking individual files to select them. Click the More Actions icon (three vertical dots), select "Download" and confirm the action if prompted. Google automatically converts any Google documents to Word documents before downloading them.

To download multiple files using the classic Google Drive, check the boxes next to each file or folder you want to select, click the "More" button, select "Download" and confirm the action if prompted.