How to fix hidden templates in Google Docs

Google apps like Docs or Sheets have some pre-made templates that make it easy to create content quickly. You can also create your own templates and upload them to the Template Gallery. However, sometimes it can happen that the template is hidden in Docs, Sheets, from which you cannot select the content template. Here is a guide to fix the hidden template error in Google Docs.

Turn on Show Recent Templates on Docs

You may not be able to see templates in Google Docs or Sheets if you accidentally turned off the Show recent templates option.

Step 1:

Click on the 3 dashes icon and select Settings in the displayed list.

How to fix hidden templates in Google Docs Picture 1

Step 2:

Switch to the new interface, check the box Show recent templates on screen to display the Template Library on Google Docs again.

How to fix hidden templates in Google Docs Picture 2

Restore original file

Google allows you to use custom templates by uploading the file to Google Docs. However, a shortcut of the template file is created instead of a copy. If you move the original file, the shortcut will disappear too, so that may be why you don't see your custom templates.

To fix this, you need to restore the original template to the previous location where you uploaded the template to Google Docs.

Check file permissions

If you've shared your custom template file with someone else and given them edit permissions, they can delete the template from the library. This doesn't mean the template is deleted, but it will no longer appear in the library. Consider checking permissions and removing edit permissions from others if you don't want them to delete it again.

Marvin Fry

Update 20 December 2024