Open a Document

Opening a file lets you resume working on a document that you have saved from earlier or that someone else has created and shared with you.

Open a Document from Google Drive

You can open Google Docs files from within a Google Drive window.

  1. Navigate to the folder with the document you want to open.
    Open a Document
  2. Double-click the document.
    3. Open a Document

The document opens in its own tab.

Open a Document from Google Docs.

If you don't have a Google Drive tab open, you can browse for and open documents from within a Google Docs window.

  1. Click File on the menu bar.
  2. Select Open.
    Open a Document

    3. A dialog box opens, where you have a few ways to find a document to open.

    • Search for a file name in the search field.
    • Browse through the folders in your Google Drive.
    • Click a tab to view your Shared With Me, Starred, or Recent files.
  3. Navigate to (or search for) a document.
  4. Select a document.
  5. Click Open.
    6. Open a Document

The selected document opens in its own tab.

Google Docs Quick Reference

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