How to Convert DOCX to GDOC in Google Docs

Google Docs may not have as many features as Microsoft Word, but its simplicity makes it a fantastic word processor for most tasks. And the fact that Google Docs supports DOCX format from Microsoft Word also removes compatibility issues from the equation. But although you can edit DOCX files in Google Docs, there are cases where you have to convert them to native GDOC format.

If you want to share DOCX documents and collaborate with others in Google Docs, for example, you need to convert them to GDOC format. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to convert your documents using Google Docs itself.

Let’s check how to convert DOCX documents to GDOC format in the Google Docs web app on computer and in the Google Docs mobile app for Android and iOS.

Note: Converting DOCX to GDOC can cause formatting issues.

Convert DOCX to GDOC in Google Docs Web App

There are several approaches you can take to convert a DOCX file to GDOC using the Google Docs web application.

1. Download to Google Drive and convert to Google Docs

You can download a DOCX file in the Google Drive web app, open it in Google Docs, and then save it as GDOC.

Step 1: Open the Google Drive web app, navigate to the location where you want to download the DOCX file, and then right-click an empty area. From the context menu that appears, select Download files.

2nd step: Select the DOCX file you want to download, then click Open.

Step 3: Right-click the downloaded DOCX document, point to Open With, and then select Google Docs.

Step 4: Open the File menu in Google Docs, then click the option labeled “Save as Google Docs”.

Google Docs will convert the file to GDOC format and open it in a new tab. The web application also saves the file to the same location as the original DOCX file. If there are no problems with the converted document, you can delete the original if you wish.

2. Download and convert files directly to Google Docs

Alternatively, you can choose to download a DOCX file directly via Google Docs itself. The web application will automatically convert the file to GDOC format during the download process.

Step 1: Open Google Docs. Then click on the “Open the file picker” icon from the home screen of the Web application.

2nd step: Go to the Download tab and click “Select a file on your device”.

Step 3: Select the DOCX file and click Open. Google Docs should download the file, convert it to GDOC format, and then open it.

Step 4: Click the Move icon (located next to the document title), 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 files previously uploaded to 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 to 4, as shown in the first method, to convert the file to GDOC format. However, you can do the conversion by opening the file through the Google Docs web app itself.

Step 1: Open Google Docs: on the home screen of the web application, click the “Open file picker” icon.

2nd step: Switch to the My Drive tab, locate the DOCX file you want to convert and click Open.

Step 3: Click Open With in the document preview window, then select Google Docs.

Step 4: Open the File menu, then click Save as Google Documents.

Google Docs will immediately convert the DOCX file to GDOC format and save it in the root folder of Google Drive, even if the original file is located elsewhere. Use the Move option to move it to another location if desired.

Convert DOCX to GDOC in the Google Docs mobile app

If you’re using the Google Docs mobile app on Android or iOS, you can convert a DOCX file to GDOC format as easily as on the desktop. Again, you must first upload the file to the Google Drive app. If you have already done so, start again from step 3.

Note: If you haven’t installed the Google Drive app, try sharing the DOCX file with Google Docs.

Step 1: Open the Google Drive mobile app, navigate to the location where you want to download the DOCX file, and tap the New icon. In the menu that appears, tap Download.

2nd step: Tap Browse, navigate to the location on your device that contains the DOCX file, and then tap it to start the download.

Step 3: Tap the DOCX file downloaded to Google Drive to open it in Google Docs. Follow by pressing the Plus icon (three-dot menu) in the upper right corner of the open document.

Step 4: Tap the notice titled Office Compatibility Mode. On the next screen, tap Save as Google documents.

Wait for the application to finish converting the file. After that go back to the Google Docs home screen. You should see the converted GDOC document listed at the top of the list of recently opened files.

By default, Google Docs will have saved the document in the root folder of Google Drive. If you want to move it to another location, tap the Plus icon (three dots) next to the converted document on the Google Docs home screen, and then tap Move.