To upload a document to Google Docs on a PC or Mac, go to drive.google.com, click New, then File upload, and choose the file on your computer. When the upload finishes, right-click the file and choose Open with, then Google Docs. Google Docs opens an editable version, saved as a Google Docs copy next to your original.
You can also drag files straight into Drive, turn on automatic conversion so every Word file becomes a Google Doc on upload, or edit a Word file in Google Docs without converting it at all. This guide covers each option and when to use it.
Quick Answer
- Open drive.google.com in your browser and sign in.
- Click New, then File upload.
- Select your document (for example, a .docx file) and click Open.
- In the upload window, click Show file location.
- Right-click the file, choose Open with, then Google Docs.
In This Guide
- What you need and which files work
- Method 1: Upload through Google Drive and open in Docs
- Method 2: Upload from inside Google Docs
- Method 3: Drag and drop into Drive
- Method 4: Use Google Drive for desktop
- Convert Word files to Google Docs automatically
- Edit a Word file without converting it
- Which option should you choose?
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
What You Need and Which Files Work
This guide follows Google’s help pages as of September 2026 and applies to Google Docs and Google Drive in a web browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox) on Windows, macOS and ChromeOS.
- A Google Account, signed in at drive.google.com or docs.google.com.
- An internet connection for the upload.
- The document on your computer, such as in your Documents or Downloads folder.
Two terms are worth knowing. Uploading puts a copy of your file in Google Drive, Google’s online storage. Converting turns that file into a native Google Docs document, which you can edit, share and collaborate on in real time. Google notes that converting creates a copy in Docs format, so your original file stays in Drive unchanged.
According to Google’s Office files help page, these document types can be converted to Google Docs:
- Word files: .doc (newer than Office 95), .docx, .docm, .dot, .dotx and .dotm
- Web pages (.html)
- Plain text (.txt)
- Rich Text Format (.rtf)
- OpenDocument Text (.odt)
Size limits from Google’s Drive file size page: a text document converted to Google Docs can be up to 50 MB, and a Google Doc can hold up to 1.02 million characters. Files you store in Drive without converting can be up to 5 TB.
Method 1: Upload Through Google Drive and Open in Docs
This is Google’s own recommended route for importing Word and other Office files.
- Go to drive.google.com. If you want the document in a specific folder, open that folder first.
- Click New at the top left.
- Click File upload. To upload a whole folder of documents, click Folder upload instead.
- In the window that opens (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac), select your document and click Open. To pick several files, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking. Expected result: An upload panel appears at the bottom right and shows progress.
- When it says the upload is complete, click Show file location in that panel. Expected result: Drive jumps to the file and highlights it.
- Right-click the file, choose Open with, then Google Docs. Expected result: The document opens in Google Docs, and a converted Google Docs copy is saved in the same folder.
Google’s steps for this are on its import Office files help page. Once your document is in Drive, you can organize it; see how to move a document to a folder in Google Drive.
Method 2: Upload From Inside Google Docs
If you already have Google Docs open, you can upload without switching to Drive. The labels below are the common ones and may vary slightly with updates.
- Go to docs.google.com, or open any document.
- From an open document, click File, then Open. You can also press Ctrl + O (Windows) or Command + O (Mac). From the Docs home screen, look for a folder icon that opens the file picker.
- Click the Upload tab.
- Click Browse and choose your file, or drag the file into the window. Expected result: The document uploads and opens in Google Docs.
Depending on your file type and settings, a Word file may open in Office editing mode (see below) rather than as a converted Google Doc. If you see a .DOCX label next to the title, it hasn’t been converted yet.
Method 3: Drag and Drop Into Drive
- Open drive.google.com and go to the folder you want.
- Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and find your document.
- Drag the file from your computer into the Drive browser window and release it. Expected result: The upload panel appears and the file shows up in the folder.
- Right-click the uploaded file and choose Open with, then Google Docs.
Drag and drop is the fastest option when you’re uploading many files at once.
Method 4: Use Google Drive for Desktop
Google Drive for desktop is a free app that adds a Google Drive location to File Explorer or Finder. Google’s upload help page explains that files you drag into that Google Drive folder sync to drive.google.com.
- Install and sign in to Google Drive for desktop.
- Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and go to Google Drive, then My Drive.
- Copy or drag your document into My Drive or one of its folders.
- Wait for syncing to finish, then open drive.google.com, right-click the file, and choose Open with, then Google Docs.
This is handy if you regularly save Word files and want them in Drive automatically. For more ways to get Word files online, see how to save a Word document to Google Drive.
Convert Word Files to Google Docs Automatically
If you always want uploads turned into Google Docs, switch on Drive’s conversion setting. It applies to files you upload after you turn it on.
- In Drive, click the gear icon at the top right, then Settings. You can also go straight to drive.google.com/drive/settings.
- Find the Convert uploads option.
- Check Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format.
- Close Settings and upload as usual. Expected result: New Word uploads appear as Google Docs, without the .docx label.
Note: with this on, the converted file is what you’ll see in Drive. If you also need to keep the untouched Word file, leave the setting off and convert each file manually with Open with.
Edit a Word File Without Converting It
Google Docs can edit many Word files directly, which Google calls editing Office files. The file stays a .docx, which helps when you must send it back to someone using Microsoft Word.
- In Drive, double-click the Word file. Expected result: It opens in Google Docs with a .DOCX label next to the title.
- Edit as usual. Changes save to the Word file.
- To convert it later, click File, then Save as Google Docs.
Some Word features aren’t supported when editing in Google Docs. According to Google, macros don’t work, and embedded charts and videos in Word files are converted to images.
If you only need part of a Word file in an existing Google Doc, copying and pasting may be simpler. See how to paste from Word to Google Docs with formatting.
Which Option Should You Choose?
| Your goal | Best option |
|---|---|
| Convert one document to edit and share | Method 1: New, File upload, then Open with Google Docs |
| You’re already working in Google Docs | Method 2: File, Open, Upload |
| Upload many files quickly | Method 3: drag and drop, or Folder upload |
| Keep Word files synced from your computer | Method 4: Drive for desktop |
| Every upload should become a Google Doc | Turn on Convert uploads |
| You must return a Word file to someone | Edit the .docx without converting |
Troubleshooting
The formatting looks different after converting
Word and Google Docs don’t support exactly the same features, so fonts, spacing, bullet lists, tables and text boxes can shift. Check the converted document carefully. If the layout must stay exact, edit the .docx without converting, or keep the original Word file for final printing.
Open with Google Docs isn’t available
The file type may not be convertible, for example a file that isn’t a document. Check that it’s one of the supported types listed above. A file larger than the 50 MB conversion limit also can’t become a Google Doc, though it can still be stored in Drive.
The upload replaced an older file with the same name
Google Drive can upload a file with the same name as a new version of the existing file. If Drive asks, choose Keep both files to store them separately.
The Word file is password-protected
Google gives you two options for password-protected Office files: preview it (read-only, password kept) or edit it, which removes the password. After that, access is controlled by Drive sharing settings instead.
The upload is stuck or fails
Check your internet connection, make sure you’re signed in to the right Google Account, and confirm you have storage space left. Refresh the page and try a smaller batch.
I can’t find the converted document
The Google Docs copy is saved in the same folder as the original and usually has the same name, without a file extension. Sort the folder by Last modified, or search Drive for the file name. Converted documents also appear on the Google Docs home screen at docs.google.com, which lists your recent documents.
Track changes or comments from Word look different
Word comments and tracked changes generally carry over as comments and suggestions in Google Docs, but complex markup may not convert perfectly. Before converting an important file, accept or reject tracked changes in Word, or keep the original .docx as a reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does converting delete my original Word file?
No. When you use Open with Google Docs, Google creates a new Google Docs copy, and the original file stays in Drive.
Can I upload a PDF to Google Docs?
You can upload a PDF to Drive, and Drive may offer to open it with Google Docs. The text becomes editable, but images, columns and complex layouts often don’t convert cleanly.
How do I turn a Google Doc back into a Word file?
In the document, click File, then Download, then Microsoft Word (.docx).
Can I upload several documents at once?
Yes. Select multiple files in the upload window, use Folder upload, or drag them all into Drive together.
Do uploaded files count against my storage?
Files you upload and own use your Google Account storage, which is shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos.
Is uploading different on a Mac?
No. The steps are the same in any browser; only the file window (Finder instead of File Explorer) and the Command key instead of Ctrl differ.
Summary
- Go to drive.google.com and click New, then File upload.
- Choose your document and wait for the upload to finish.
- Right-click it and choose Open with, then Google Docs, to convert it.
- Turn on Convert uploads if you want every upload converted automatically.
- Edit the .docx directly if you need to keep it as a Word file.
Next step: Upload one Word file with New, then File upload, and open it with Google Docs to check how the formatting converts.
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.