When you open a Google Doc you’re allowed to edit, Docs puts you in Editing mode by default. That’s convenient for writing, but it also means a stray keystroke or accidental drag can change the document. If you just want to read, present, or review a document without risking changes, you can switch out of Editing mode. Google Docs gives you three modes, and moving between them takes two clicks.
The Three Modes in Google Docs
- Editing: Make changes directly to the document. Everything you type changes the text right away.
- Suggesting: Your changes appear as suggestions (colored, with strikethroughs for deletions) that the owner or other editors can accept or reject. This works like Track Changes in Microsoft Word.
- Viewing: Read or print the document without making changes. Suggestions and comments are hidden from the page in this mode.
The mode you pick only affects you. Other people working on the same document stay in whatever mode they’ve chosen.
How to Get Out of Editing Mode on a Computer
Step 1: Find the mode button
Look at the top-right area of the toolbar, near the right end. You’ll see a button with a pencil icon and the word Editing. If your browser window is narrow, you may only see the pencil icon.
Step 2: Open the menu
Click the button to open a short menu listing Editing, Suggesting, and Viewing.
Step 3: Choose Viewing or Suggesting
- Choose Viewing to lock the document against accidental edits while you read.
- Choose Suggesting if you still want to propose changes without altering the original text.
The button updates to show your current mode. To switch back, open the same menu and choose Editing.
Use the View menu instead
You can also go to View > Mode and pick Editing, Suggesting, or Viewing from there.
Keyboard shortcuts
Google Docs offers shortcuts for switching modes. On Windows and ChromeOS, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Z switches to Editing, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X to Suggesting, and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C to Viewing. On a Mac, use Command+Option+Shift with the same letters. You can confirm the current shortcuts under Help > Keyboard shortcuts.
How to Get Out of Editing Mode on Android or iPhone
The Google Docs mobile app works a little differently. When you tap into a document to type, you enter editing. To leave it:
- Tap the checkmark in the top-left corner of the screen. The keyboard closes and the document returns to reading view.
- To avoid accidentally entering edit mode again, simply scroll and read without tapping the text, or tap the pencil button only when you want to edit.
To suggest changes on mobile, tap the three-dot menu and turn on Suggest changes.
How to Stop Other People from Editing
Switching to Viewing mode only changes your own view. If you own the document and want to stop others from editing it:
- Click Share in the top-right corner.
- Next to each person’s name, change Editor to Viewer or Commenter.
- Under General access, make sure link-sharing is set to Viewer if the link is shared.
- Click Done.
Commenters can leave comments and suggestions but can’t change the text directly.
Why Can’t I Switch to Editing?
If the menu doesn’t offer Editing, you probably only have view or comment access. Click Request edit access if it appears, or ask the owner to change your permission. Files in Microsoft Word format opened in Docs may also show limited options until you save them as Google Docs with File > Save as Google Docs.
Tips
- Use Viewing mode for presenting. If you’re sharing your screen in a meeting, Viewing mode prevents accidental typing and hides distracting suggestion markup.
- Use Suggesting mode for reviews. It lets the author see exactly what you’d change and decide what to keep.
- Check the mode before typing. If your typing is showing up in color, you’re in Suggesting mode, not Editing.
- Undo accidental changes. Press Ctrl+Z (Command+Z on Mac), or use File > Version history to restore an earlier version.
Related: Get out of suggestion mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does switching to Viewing mode affect other users?
No. Modes are personal. Changing yours doesn’t change what other people can do.
Will Google Docs remember my mode next time?
Docs typically opens documents you can edit in Editing mode, so you may need to switch again when you reopen the file.
Is Viewing mode the same as read-only?
For you, yes, while it’s on. To make a document truly read-only for everyone, change sharing permissions to Viewer.
Summary
To get out of Editing mode in Google Docs, click the pencil “Editing” button at the top-right of the toolbar and choose Viewing or Suggesting, or use View > Mode. On mobile, tap the checkmark to stop editing. To prevent others from editing, change their access to Viewer or Commenter in the Share settings.
Related: how to switch between editing mode and suggesting mode in Google Docs.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.