How to Save a Google Doc as a PDF

Feb 23, 2021

You don't actually "save" a Google Doc as a PDF file; you "download" the Google Doc as a PDF file. In this guide, we'll show you how to save a PDF in Google Docs.

Benefits of saving a Google Doc as a PDF file

It's recommended to use PDF files, as opposed to Google Doc files, when you need to make sure that the recipient of the file sees the formatting exactly the way you intended it. Often, when we transfer files over email or via upload, our formatting gets lost. A PDF file will ensure that the file formatting is retained.

Google Workspace

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

To save a Google Doc as a PDF:

Go to File.
Select Download.
Choose PDF Document.

You will be prompted to either open the new PDF document or save it to a location on your computer.

You should be able to open and view your new PDF file in Adobe Acrobat or whatever PDF viewer you use. You'll still have the original Google Doc saved in Google Docs, as well.