When working with Google Docs, you may encounter a situation when you ask yourself how to insert a PDF into a Google Docs document. There are a couple of ways to go about it, and we will cover them all in this post.
Regarding Google Docs, it is a free word processing tool similar to Microsoft Word. It is popular among users mainly because it is free, versatile, and allows easy collaboration while saving files directly to Google Drive. On the other hand, PDF files preserve the original content and format so they can be displayed correctly on any device.
You are not alone in wondering how to insert a PDF into a Google Docs document. If this is your first time, you may need help, but following the correct steps can get you through. To help you out, we have compiled the most effective methods to help you get started. So, let’s begin!
How To Insert A PDF Into Google Docs Document?
Adding a PDF to a Google Doc can help you enhance your document in many ways. You can include extra content like contracts, articles, reports, or other information stored in PDF format.
However, the problem is that Google Docs doesn’t allow you to embed PDFs directly into the document. But there’s nothing to worry about as there are multiple ways to go about it. For convenience, we have detailed the methods in this section. So, consider the methods below if you are wondering how to insert PDF into Google Docs.
Method 1: Insert PDF As A Link In Google Docs
You can link the PDF to the document if you aim to reference an entire PDF without embedding its content in Google Docs. It is a straightforward approach that includes the following steps.
Step 1: Upload the PDF to Google Drive
Start by uploading your PDF file to Google Drive. Once the upload is complete, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Copy the PDF Link
- Locate the uploaded PDF in Google Drive and right-click on it.
- Choose Get Link from the options.
- Update the sharing settings for anyone using the Link. That is if you plan to share it with others.
- Copy the generated Link.
Step 3: Add the Link to Your Google Doc
- Access your Google Doc and position the cursor where the Link appears.
- Navigate to Insert and then Link. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl+K. For Mac users, the shortcut is Cmd+K.
- Paste the Link you copied into the required field and hit the Apply button.
- Use Ctrl+V to paste the Link directly into the document.
Method 2: Convert PDF To Text And Insert
If you want to include the text content of a PDF in your Google Docs, you can easily convert the PDF to text using Google Docs.
Step 1: Upload the PDF to Google Drive
You can start by uploading the PDF to your Google Drive account.
Step 2: Convert the PDF to a Google Doc
- Right-click on the uploaded PDF in Google Drive.
- Select Open with and choose Google Docs. This will convert the PDF into an editable format. However, the formatting may need to be more accurate, especially for complex layouts.
Step 3: Copy and Paste the Text
- Copy the text content after the PDF is converted.
- Paste the copied text into your existing Google Doc at the desired location.
Method 3: Add A PDF As An Image In Google Docs
Follow the steps below to insert a PDF into Google Docs as an Image.
Step 1: Convert the PDF Page to an Image
- Open the PDF in a PDF viewer.
- Screenshot of the page you want to use. You can use the Snipping tool to take a screenshot or press the Print Screen key for Windows. Press Cmd + Shift + 4 and drag to capture the desired area for Mac. Alternatively, you can use free online tools like I Love PDF to convert PDF pages directly into images.
Step 2: Insert the Image into Google Docs
- Access your Google Docs document and place the cursor where you wish to insert the Image.
- Select Insert and then Image.
- Click Upload from Computer and choose the screenshot.
- The Image will appear in your document and reflect the PDF’s content.
Step 3: Adjust the Image
- Resize the Image as needed by dragging its corners.
- Move or align it within the document to ensure it fits perfectly.
Method 4: Embed A PDF Using An Add-On
To embed an entire PDF directly into a Google Doc, you can use third-party add-ons designed for this purpose. If you need help with what to do, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Install a PDF Embed Add-On
- Search for PDF embed tools like “PDF Embedder” in the Google Workspace Marketplace.
- In Google Docs, click on Add-ons followed by Get add-ons.
- Install the desired add-on.
Step 2: Embed the PDF into Your Document
- After installation, open the add-on from the Extensions menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions the add-on provides to upload and embed your PDF.
- The PDF will appear as an object within your Google Doc, allowing viewers to interact with the content.
Method 5: Insert A PDF Using Google Slides
To interactively and visually present a PDF in Google Docs, you can convert it into a Google Slides presentation and embed it.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Convert the PDF to Images
- Use an online tool like pdf2jpg.net or Smallpdf to convert the PDF pages into image files (PNG or JPEG).
Step 2: Add the PDF Pages to Google Slides
- Open a new Google Slides presentation.
- Click Insert and then Image. Upload the converted PDF images.
- Arrange each Image on a separate slide to create a slideshow of your PDF content.
Step 3: Embed Google Slides in Google Docs
- In Google Docs, click Insert, followed by Drawing, and then New.
- Use the Insert Image option to add the PDF images in Google Drawings.
- Alternatively, link the Google Slides presentation to your Google Doc. To do this, click Insert and then Link. Now paste the shareable Link to the Google Slides presentation.
Method 6: Insert PDF Into Google Doc As Editable Content
To make a PDF editable in Google Docs, you first need to convert it into an editable Word document using a PDF editor. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Open the PDF in PDF Pro
- Launch PDF Pro and open the desired PDF file.
Step 2: Convert the PDF to Word
- Go to the Create tab and select To Word.
Step 3: Start the conversion
- Click the Start button in the “PDF to Word Conversion” dialog box.
Step 4: Upload the Word document to Google Drive
- Drag and drop the converted Word document into your Google Drive to upload it.
Step 5: Open the Word document in Google Docs
- Double-click the uploaded file, then select Open with Google Docs.
Step 6: Copy and paste the content
- Copy the text from the converted Word document and paste it into your existing Google Doc.
Method 7: Insert A PDF Into Google Doc As A Screenshot
Before you follow this method, you should know that it works best for one-page PDFs.
Step 1: Open the PDF
- Access the PDF file that you wish to insert into your Google Doc.
Step 2: Launch the Snipping Tool
- Open the Snipping Tool by pressing Windows + Shift + S on your keyboard.
Step 3: Capture the Screenshot
- Select the area of the PDF you want to capture with your mouse. This will help you to screenshot the portion.
Step 4: Position the Cursor in Google Docs
- Go to your Google Doc and click where you want to insert the screenshot.
Step 5: Paste the Screenshot
- Paste the captured screenshot into the document by pressing Ctrl + V.
What Is Google Docs And What Can You Do With It?
Google Docs is a word processor part of Google’s online suite of tools. It works in a web browser, meaning you can create, share, and edit documents online from any internet connection device. For convenience, it is also a mobile app for Android and iOS platforms.
The good thing about Google Docs is that it has many features, making it easy to work with others. It was one of the first word processors to allow multiple people to edit a document simultaneously online. With Google Docs, you can share and work on documents in real-time. Also, people you share the documents with don’t need a Google account to edit or view them.
You can use Google Docs just like any other word processor. You can create new documents, use templates to collaborate with others or share them. To get started, you have to sign in with your Google account. Once on the Google Docs homepage, you can create a new document or choose a template.
Final Words
Now that you know how to insert a PDF into Google Docs document, it should be easier for you to go about it. Following the methods outlined in this post, you can easily insert a PDF into Google Docs. At first, it may seem difficult. But if you follow all the steps correctly, you should be able to do it without issues.
FAQs
Can I insert a PDF into a Google Doc?
You cannot directly insert a PDF into a Google Doc as an embedded object, but you can add a link to the PDF or convert the PDF content into text by uploading and opening it in Google Docs.
How do I move a PDF file into Google Docs?
To move a PDF file into Google Docs
- Go to Google Drive and select New.
- Click File Upload.
- Select the PDF file you want to upload.
How do I embed a PDF in a document?
You can’t directly embed a PDF in Google Docs. Instead, you can insert a link to the PDF stored in Google Drive or take a screenshot of the PDF and insert it as an image.
How do I get a PDF into a doc?
To insert PDF into a Google Doc:
- Upload the PDF to Google Drive.
- Open it with Google Docs to convert it into text.
- Copy-paste the required content into your document.
How do I insert a file in Google Docs?
To insert a file in Google Docs:
- Upload the file to Google Drive.
- Share the file link.
- Paste the Link into your Google Doc.
How do I insert a PDF into a Word doc?
To insert a PDF into a Word doc:
- Access the Word document if you want to add the PDF.
- Select Insert > Object > Create from File.
- Look for the PDF you want to insert.
- Select Okay.
How do I upload a PDF to Google Docs without losing formatting?
To upload a PDF to Google Docs without losing formatting, you need first to convert the PDF to a Word document and then upload the Word file to Google Drive.
Can you insert a PDF into a Google slide?
To insert a PDF into a Google Slide, you need to convert the PDF into images and then upload them to the slides. Alternatively, you can add a link to the PDF stored on Google Drive.
Does Google Docs have a PDF option?
Yes, Google Docs has a PDF option.
How do I insert a PDF into Google Sites?
To insert a PDF into Google Sites:
- Upload the PDF to Google Drive.
- Open your Google Site.
- Click on Insert > Drive, then select the PDF.
- The PDF will be embedded and viewable on the site.
