How to Convert Google Docs File to PDF on Desktop and Phone

Google Docs lets you create various files, including resumes, invoices, flyers, and brochures, using templates. However, when sharing these files, it’s advisable not to use the default Google Docs file format.

You can share Google Docs files as read-only PDFs. Follow these steps to convert a Google Doc to a PDF on desktop and mobile:

1. Open the Google Doc that you want to convert.

2. On desktop, click on “File” in the top menu, then select “Download” and choose “PDF Document”.

3. On mobile, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, choose “Share & export”, and select “Save as PDF”.

Converting your Google Docs files to PDF ensures a more professional look when sharing resumes or flyers. It’s a simple and effective way to make a better impression.

Convert Google Docs File to PDF on Desktop

To convert the Sales quote created in a third-party Google Docs template into a PDF, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Google Docs on the web.

Step 2: Open a Google Doc or create a new one.

Step 3: Edit the existing Sales quote template by adding relevant details for items, businesses, and dates.

Step 4: Once all changes are made, click on File in the menu bar.

Step 5: Select Download from the File menu. Step 6: Download Google Docs file as PDF document, and it will get saved to the Downloads folder.

You can now share PDF files via email or Slack or Teams. The ability to convert Google Docs files isn’t limited to the web version only. You can also do so from the Google Docs Android app.

Google Docs App for Android

Google Docs is the default app on Android phones. It has a different user interface on Android compared to iPhone. Follow these steps to convert a file to PDF using Google Docs.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs app on Android and choose a file.

In this example, we created a software developer proposal in Google Docs on Android and now want to convert it to a PDF file.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.

Step 3: Select Share & export and tap Save As.

Step 4: Choose PDF format and click ok.

Google Docs converts files to PDF format and saves them on Android phones. The PDF file is ready to share.

Google Docs App on iPhone

If you have an iPhone, the steps to make a PDF file out of a Google Docs file are slightly different compared to the Android counterpart. Here’s how you can do it on your iPhone:

1. Launch the Google Docs app on your iPhone.

2. Select the file you want to convert to PDF.

3. Make any necessary changes and tap on the More menu at the top.

4. Choose the option for Share and export.

Step 5: Tap on Send a copy from the menu.

Step 6: Choose PDF format and hit ok.

Google Docs converts the document to PDF and opens the share menu. You can share the file with others or save it in the Files app on your iPhone.

Edit PDFs Before Sharing

If you need to make last-minute changes to a PDF file or fix a typo, you can’t do it directly in Google Docs. Instead, you’ll need to convert the PDF to a Word file and then open it in Google Docs for editing. However, this process can be time-consuming and inconvenient.

To make your life easier, we recommend using a PDF editor specifically designed for Mac or Windows. For Mac users, we highly recommend the PDFexpert app. It’s specifically built for the Mac platform and offers a wide range of editing features, including the ability to sign PDF files.

If you are using Windows, we have a separate post on the best PDF editors for Windows. Choose any software from the list to start editing PDF files before sending them.

Send Google Docs File as PDF

Google Docs offers a PDF conversion tool for desktop and mobile, which can be handy for certain documents. Simply convert your Google Docs file to PDF and easily share it with others.