While Google Docs is primarily used for editing text-based content, itโs also a well-known tool for opening and editing PDFs. For example, you can try to embed one on your document if you want to reference a PDF file for your current project.
To insert a PDF into a Google Doc, simply convert its pages to images first. Then, upload the images to your document by clickingย โInsertโ > โImageโย and selecting the source where you saved them.
But that isnโt the only way to do it. In this article, weโll explain the different ways on how to insert PDF into Google Docs, how to edit them, how to attach them to your other files and discuss easy fixes to some common issues you might encounter when uploading PDfs to Google Docs.
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How to Embed a PDF in Google Docs
While thereโs no explicit way to embed your PDFs in an existing Google Docs file, the best method you can do is to convert them into images before uploading them to your document. To do this, try using these popular conversion tools like Adobe Acrobatย and Small PDF.
After converting the pages into individual photos, head over to your Google Docs workspace. Click โInsertโ > โImages,โ and pick the source where you saved the converted pictures. For example, you can choose to โUpload from computerโย if you saved them on your local storage. Then, simply select them and proceed with the upload process.
And there you go! Alternatively, you can also take a screenshot of your PDF if you only need to embed one of its sections. Do keep in mind that embedding your PDF in this way means:
- You cannot scroll it anymore since each page is inserted as a photo.
- Thereโs no way for you to edit the PDF aside from image editing features like cropping and color adjustments.
Unfortunately, thereโs no other way to embed your PDF as a whole file itself that is scrollable and editable. Instead, you can attach a PDF in Google Docs by using a hyperlink or by merging it to your current document.
How to Insert a PDF into Google Docs as Editable Content
Google Docs also does a pretty good job of converting your PDF into an editable version โ without the need for third-party tools. To access this feature, simply head over to Google Drive and do the following steps.
- On the main page of Google Drive, clickย โNewโ
- Select โFile Upload,โ which would prompt a system window to appear where you can choose your PDF file
- Pick your document and proceed to the upload process, e.g., clicking โOpenโย for Windows PC users
- After uploading, right-click on your PDF and select โOpen withโ > โGoogle Docsโ
- After that, you will be redirected to a new tab that displays your editable document
Before proceeding with this method, itโs worth mentioning that the converted file will not be perfect due to some formatting issues. Therefore, this method should mainly be used for documents that contain photos and other multimedia elements. If itโs purely text-based, there wonโt be any problem.
Note: The file wonโt be saved as a PDF automatically because Google Docs generates a whole new copy that you can edit. To save your file as a PDF, head over to โFileโย > โDownloadโ > โPDF Document (.pdf).โ
Alternatively, you can also try to use a PDF to DOC conversion tool to keep most of its formatting. Once converted, simply upload the DOC version to your Google Drive and open it with Google Docs.
How to Attach a PDF to a Google Doc
Aside from embedding your PDF pages as images or generating an editable copy of your file, you can also choose to attach them to an existing Google Doc that you have. When we say โattach,โย weโre talking about including it inside as a separate file that your readers can access.
Including a Share Link
The concept is actually pretty simple. You just need to paste the link of your PDF (assuming that itโs stored somewhere online) to your document. Hereโs how to do it:
- First, go to Google Drive and upload your PDF
- Right-click on your file and select โShareโ
- From the dialog box that appears, toggle โRestrictedโ > โAnyone with the linkโย to change the viewing permissions of your file
- Click the โCopy linkโย button on the lower-left of the dialog box to get the share link to your document
- Head over to your current Google Doc and paste your generated link
- Google Docs might also offer to turn your document link into a chip, which you can toggle either with your mouse or by hitting the โTabโย key on your keyboard
Merging Your PDFs With Your Current Google Doc
Alternatively, you might also want to include the contents of your PDF inside your document, which would come in handy in case your reader isnโt anywhere near a Wi-Fi connection. To do this, you would need to access a PDF merging tool.
But first, you have to download your Google Doc as a PDF. Simply clickย โFileโ > โDownloadโ > โPDF Document (.pdf).โ
Once you have downloaded your file, go to any PDF merging tool that you prefer to use. Among the most common and free software is Adobe Acrobat, which weโll be using for our example. You can use whichever you like, though, but do ensure that theyโre safe to utilize.
- To get started, go to Adobe Acrobat Merge PDFย tool
- Upload your PDFs โ the one you want to attach and your recently downloaded document
- You can rearrange the sequence of your PDF files
- Then, click โMergeโย once youโre all settled
- After that, Adobe Acrobat will process your documents
- Once finished, you will see the generated preview at the side or clickย the โDownloadโย button
Common Issues Why You Canโt Upload a PDF to Google Docs
Google Docs is far from the perfect app to view and edit your PDFs, and you may even encounter a few problems when uploading it to the software. Here are some typical problems and how to fix them.
1. Full Google Drive storage
Having insufficient storage space is more common than you think, which makes the solution pretty simple too. For one, you can delete old and irrelevant files from your drive to free up storage. You can also use a different account or choose to buy more space.
2. PDF file size is too big
PDFs are usually embedded with the fonts that you use, as well as other multimedia elements, that can easily blow up its size. You can try to split your files into several documents to keep each fileโs storage requirements low. Alternatively, you can compress your PDF.
3. Connectivity issues
Closely tied to large PDFs are connectivity problems. Working with low bandwidths often results in upload failures, especially when dealing with large files. The best solution to this is to disconnect all other devices while uploading. Keeping your PDFs small would also be more friendly for your connection.
4. Security restrictions
PDFs can be locked and encrypted, which helps preserve their integrity and confidentiality. These security measures might impede you from loading them in Google Docs. To solve this, you can either unlock your PDF using a third-party tool online or use a version that has no restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Attach a PDF File to a Google Doc?
Yes, you can attach your PDFs to your Google Doc in several ways.
- You can try to paste the share link of your PDF file into your current document.
- Use a dedicated PDF editing software like a PDF merging tool and convert your fileโs pages into images, and then insert in Google Docs.
How Do I Insert a PDF into Google Docs Without Losing Formatting?
If your document contains images and other elements, expect them to be out of place when inserted in Google Docs. The only way you can preserve your PDF formatting when opening it in the software is either by ensuring that itโs purely text-based or using a third-party PDF to DOC converter.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to insert a PDF into Google Docs would come in handy, especially when you need to do quick edits and use it as a reference for your project. You can do this easily by inserting its share link, converting its pages into images (which you can insert in Google Docs), and merging it with another PDF file.
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