If you want to share DOCX documents and collaborate with others in Google Docs, for example, you must convert them to the GDOC format. Thankfully, it’s quite easy to convert your documents using Google Docs itself. Let’s check how you can convert DOCX documents to the GDOC format in both the Google Docs web app on desktop and the Google Docs mobile app for Android and iOS. Note: Converting DOCX to GDOC may result in formatting issues.
Convert DOCX to GDOC in Google Docs Web App
You can take multiple approaches to convert a DOCX file to the GDOC format using the Google Docs web app.
1. Upload to Google Drive and Convert in Google Docs
You can upload a DOCX file to the Google Drive web app, open it in Google Docs, and then save it as a GDOC. Step 1: Open the Google Drive web app, navigate to the location where you want to upload the DOCX file, and then right-click a vacant area. On the context menu that shows up, select Upload Files. Step 2: Select the DOCX file that you want to upload, and then click Open. Step 3: Right-click the uploaded DOCX document, point to Open With, and then select Google Docs. Step 4: Open the File menu in Google Docs, and then click the option labeled ‘Save as Google Docs.’ Google Docs will convert the file to the GDOC format and open it in a new tab. The web app will also save the file to the same location as the original DOCX file. If the converted document has no issues, you can delete the original if you want to.
2. Upload and Convert Files Directly in Google Docs
Alternatively, you can choose to upload a DOCX file directly via Google Docs itself. The web app will automatically convert the file to the GDOC format during the upload process. Step 1: Open Google Docs. Then, click the ‘Open file picker’ icon from the Home screen of the web app. Step 2: Switch to the Upload tab and click ‘Select a file from your device.’ Step 3: Select the DOCX file and click Open. Google Docs should upload the file, convert it to the GDOC format, and then open it. Step 4: Click the Move icon (located next to the document title), and then specify a location to save the converted GDOC file. Otherwise, Google Docs will save the file to the root folder of Google Drive. Unlike the previous method, Google Docs will not keep a copy of the original DOCX file in Google Drive.
3. Convert Previously Uploaded Files in Google Docs
If you’ve already uploaded a DOCX file to Google Drive, you can simply locate it in the Google Drive web app. Then use Steps 2 – 4, as shown in the first method, to convert the file to the GDOC format. However, you can perform the conversion by opening the file via the Google Docs web app itself. Step 1: Open Google Docs—on the Home screen of the web app, click the ‘Open file picker’ icon. Step 2: Switch to the My Drive tab, locate the DOCX file that you want to convert, and click Open. Step 3: Click Open With on the document preview window, and then select Google Docs. Step 4: Open the File menu, and then click Save as Google Docs. Google Docs will immediately convert the DOCX file to the GDOC format and save it to the root folder of Google Drive, even if the original file is located elsewhere. Use the Move option to shift it to another location if you want.
Convert DOCX to GDOC in Google Docs Mobile App
If you use the Google Docs mobile app on Android or iOS, you can convert a DOCX file to the GDOC format just as easily as on desktop. Once again, you must upload the file to the Google Drive app first. If you’ve already done that, start from Step 3 instead. Note: If you don’t have the Google Drive app installed, try sharing the DOCX file with Google Docs. Step 1: Open the Google Drive mobile app, go to the location where you want to upload the DOCX file to, and then tap the New icon. On the menu that shows up, tap Upload. Step 2: Tap Browse, navigate to the location of your device that contains the DOCX file, and then tap it to start uploading. Step 3: Tap the uploaded DOCX file in Google Drive to open it in Google Docs. Follow by tapping the More icon (three-dotted menu) to the upper-right corner of the opened document. Step 4: Tap the notice labeled Office Compatibility Mode. On the following screen, tap Save as Google Docs. Wait for the app to finish converting the file. After that, head back into the Google Docs Home screen. You should see the converted GDOC document listed to the top of the recently opened file list. By default, Google Docs will have saved the document to the root folder of Google Drive. If you want to move it to another location, tap the More icon (three-dots) next to the converted document within the Google Docs Home screen, and then tap Move.
Start Collaborating
Converting DOCX files to the GDOC format offers the best way to experience the fantastic collaborative features in Google Docs. Furthermore, native Google Docs files don’t count toward your Google Drive storage quota, so consider that another bonus for your efforts. However, there will be odd formatting issues that you may likely encounter in converted GDOC copies––you must expect them when changing file formats. Next up: Running into issues while working offline in Google Docs? Try these fixes. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
