Microsoft Word has long been the go-to word processor for many, especially students and professionals. But while incredibly efficient and loaded with excellent features, MS Word is predominantly an offline tool.
That means you have to buy Microsoft Office or subscribe to the service and use it on one or several personal devices. It’s no wonder, therefore, that there has been a substantial shift towards Google Docs since it’s entirely free and web-based.
If you, like many others, need a powerful tool that provides straightforward integration with other programs, Google Docs is the top choice.
In this article, we’re going to talk about how to convert a Word to Google Doc file. You probably have many .doc file and .docx file on your computer that you wish to open and edit via Google Docs.
It’s also important to understand how to convert a Word document to a Google Doc file and then share it with others if necessary.
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How to Convert Word to Google Doc: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Comparing Microsoft Word to Google Docs has its merits, but one of the most useful features of both is that they are very compatible.
At first glance, they almost seem like the same program, but the internet-based nature of Google Docs stands front and center.
Here’s a useful guide on how to convert Word to Google Doc files.
Step 1
The first step is to ensure that the Word document you want to covert is uploaded to Google Drive. You might already have a Word file or two there, but if you don’t, it’s a straightforward process. Log in to your Google Account and click on “New,” followed by “File Upload.”
You can even choose to upload an entire folder of Word files at once. Select the file and then click “Open.” In a separate browser tab, Google Drive will open your document.
Step 2
You’ll notice that the format of the uploaded document looks the same as the Word file. That’s how seamless the conversion between the two programs is.
To finish the conversion, you need to navigate to the “File” in the main menu and, from the drop-down menu, select “Save as Google Docs.” This will automatically save the file to Google Drive in a Google Docs file format.
Step 3
From there, you can choose to rename the new file. Just go to “File” on the main toolbar and select “Rename” from the drop-down menu.
Keep in mind that the original file in .doc or .docx still exists in Google Drive. If you don’t need it anymore, you can delete it and free up storage space in Google Drive.
Step 4
When you have saved the Google Doc file to Google Drive, you can download it again to your device in a different file format. From the “File” tab in the main toolbar, select the “Download” option.
You’ll notice that you can convert the Google Doc file to Office file again. If you need to work on it more offline rather than online, that’s a practical approach. But you can download the converted file to a PDF document the same way.
Step 5
Note that you can integrate Word documents to Google Docs even if you’re using a mobile device. All you need is to have the latest versions of Google Drive and Google Docs app on your smartphone or tablet. Then open the Google Drive app and tap on the “+” icon, followed by “Upload.”
Next, search for the Word file you want to convert. When it’s uploaded, tap to open the file. Google Docs will automatically save both versions of the document.
Step 6
As mentioned, one of the most common reasons why so many users choose to convert Word to Google Doc file is because it allows for online collaboration. If you’re working on a school or work project, this feature might be indispensable.
To share a Google Docs file with others, simply right-click on the file you want to share and create a sharing link. Or you can add the email addresses of your associates and send an invite.
Effortlessly Switch From Microsoft Word to Google Docs
It’s easy to see why some prefer Google Docs over Microsoft Word. But in reality, most people choose to use both word processing tools to get the most out of them. When it comes to online collaboration, Google Docs dominates.
Rather than creating a document from scratch, you can upload a Word document and edit it in Google Docs without missing a beat. And if you want to have the new document in Word format again, Google Docs makes that exporting process a matter of just a few clicks.
