How to Save Documents in Google Docs as PDF on iPhone and Web

Google Docs automatically saves your work to the cloud or locally on your device at short intervals when you’re working in its editor. For versatile use cases like simple file sharing, you can export a Google Doc as a PDF file. Let’s show you how to do it in the Google Docs app on iPhone or iPad and in a web browser on Mac or PC.

Mac or PC

Follow these steps to save a document in Google Docs as PDF on your computer:

1. Open a Google Docs document in a web browser or Progressive Web App.
2. Click “File”in the top right corner.
3. Then hover over “Download”and click “PDF Document”(.pdf). Google Docs will automatically download your document as a PDF file. Go to your downloads folder to access it.

app for iphone or ipad

Here’s how to export Google Docs as PDF files on iPhone or iPad:

1) Open the Google Docs app and enter the document.

2) Click the button with three dots at the top.

3) Select Share & Export.

4) Then select “Send a copy”, select the PDF format and click “OK”.

5) Once the PDF is prepared, the iOS shared sheet will open. Click “Save to Files”to save this PDF to iCloud Drive, locally on your iPhone, or add third-party services. Alternatively, you can send this PDF via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, Slack, or one of the available media.

In addition to the above option, you can also search for the desired document on the first screen of the Google Docs app, usually under the heading “Last opened by me”. From here, click the three-dot button at the bottom right corner of the document tile. Finish by clicking Send a copy > PDF.

Use the print trick

Finally, another option to export Google Docs as PDF involves using the print trick. Here’s how:

1. Start by clicking the three-dot button on the document tile and choose Print. If you’re opening a document, click the three-dot button > Share & Export, and then select Print.
2. On the Printing Preferences screen, touch the document thumbnail with two fingers and spread them apart.
3. Click the share icon and select one of the options on the share sheet to save or send the PDF document.