Create, view, or download a file

You can create, find, and download files like: 

  • Documents
  • Spreadsheets
  • Presentations
  • Forms 
  • Videos

Your files are available to edit, share, and work on with others.  Learn how to find files in Google Drive .

Important:If you try to open a file suspected of phishing or malware, you may get a warning. Use caution when you open the file.

Create a file

  1. On your computer, open a Google Docs , Sheets , Slides Forms  or Vids   home screen.
  2. Click Create.

You can also:

Save a file

  • When you're online, Google automatically saves your changes as you type. You don't need a save button.
  • If you aren't connected to the Internet, you can set up offline access to save your changes .
  • Once offline access is turned on for Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Forms, changes will save to your device as you enter text, and will save to Drive once reconnected.
  • You can save a file as an .mp4 in Google Vids . Next to "Share," click Quick sharing actionsExport to Drive.
Tip:To save in Google Sheets, click outside of the cell you typed in. 

View a file

To view files that you’ve created or opened on any computer and other documents like Microsoft® Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files :

  1. On your computer, open a Google Docs , Sheets , Slides  or Vids home screen.
  2. Click the document, spreadsheet, presentation, or video you want to view.

Tip: If you shared your file with someone else, you’ll get their changes as they make them. 

Rename a file

When you create a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation, or video, it's automatically named “Untitled document,” “Untitled spreadsheet,” or “Untitled presentation” or “Untitled video.” To rename the file:

  1. Click the name at the top of the file.
  2. Type a new name.
  3. Press Enter.

Tip: If you shared your file with someone else, you’ll get their changes as they make them. 

Make a copy of a file

  1. On your computer, open a Google Docs , Sheets , Slides , Forms  or Vids home screen.
  2. Open the file you want to make a copy of.
  3. In the menu, click File Make a copy.
  4. Type a name and choose where to save it.
    • If you want to copy comments from a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or video, click Copy comments and suggestions . You can choose to include resolved comments and suggestions in your new copy.
  5. Click Ok.

Download a copy of a file

  1. On your computer, open a Google Docs , Sheets , Slides , Forms or Vids home screen.
  2. Open a document, spreadsheet, presentation or video.
  3. At the top, click File and then  Download.
    • In Google Vids, click File Download as MP4.
  4. Choose a file type. The file will download onto your computer.
    • Tip:Vids files download as .mp4s and are typically larger and take longer to download. 

Tip:To download a large Google Docs file as a .pdf file on Chrome: 

  1. On your computer, open a Google Doc .
  2. At the top, click File Print
  3. At the left, next to "Destination," select  Save as PDF.
  4. At the top, click Save.  
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