How to start using Google Docs on mobile devices

Google Docs has become a popular tool for anyone who needs to create documents. Many people are familiar with the desktop version of this application. Currently, Google Docs has become an indispensable tool.

Without the need to create documents, Google Docs can also become the center of storing documents when you travel.

Imagine you can't access your laptop on the road and you need to review a document. This situation requires the role of the Google Docs mobile version and this is how it works.

Step 1: Set up Google Docs on the phone

If you have never used Google Docs before, you should check out the article: Some of the basic features of Google Docs that TipsMake.com introduced to explore this tool briefly.

If you're familiar with Google Docs, the next thing you want to do is make sure you've installed the application on your phone. After the application is installed, open it and log in to your Google account.

Note : The article uses iOS for this tutorial, so there may be a slight difference in the location of the buttons, if you use Android. Google is great at rationalizing its applications, so every change will be minimal.

After logging in, you will be taken to a page that looks similar to the screenshot on the left. If you click on the six squares in the upper right corner of the screen, Google Docs will turn your document into Grid view.

When in Grid view, you will see a preview of each document you have recently opened. Examples of this can be seen in the screenshot above, above.

The main Google Docs control features

If you click on the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen, Google Docs will expand the main control features of the application. Here, you will find:

1. Recent documents ( Recent ).
2. Starred documents ( Starred ).
3. Documents are shared with you ( Shared with me ).
4. Trash ( Trash ).
5. A link to your Google Drive ( Google Drive ).
6. Settings ( Settings ).

Google account details

At the top of this menu, where you see the blue circle in the third screenshot, you will find a section containing your avatar, username and email. You will also see a small gray arrow pointing down.

This arrow allows you to access the drop-down menu to control your account. When clicking on it, you will see 3 options:

1. Manage your Google Account ( Manage your Google account).
2. Add another account (Add another account).
3. Manage accounts on this device .

Click that drop-down arrow now.

Step 2: Adjust Google account settings

To manage your Google account, press the button with the content Manage your Google Account . On the new screen, you can control the options:

1. Personal info
2. Data & personalization
3. Security
4. People & sharing

To add another account (so you can switch between different documents stored on different Google Drive accounts on the same device), click the Add another account button located in the same drop-down menu. Google can prompt you with a push notification, letting you know that 'Docs' wants to use google.com to log in ( 'Docs' wants to use google.com to sign in ).

If you receive this message, click Continue. When you have completed this step, you will be taken to the official login page.

Note : If you have enabled two-step verification, you will also need to enter this information on your mobile phone.

Delete Google account

Suppose you want to switch accounts instead of using multiple accounts running on the same device. To do this, select Manage accounts on this device from the drop-down menu.

Then, click Remove from this device to log out yourself.

Note : If you delete your account from the Docs app, Google will remove access from this account to active Google applications on your phone, including Gmail if you're using it.

When you click Remove from this device , you will receive a final message, to ensure that you definitely want to take this action. If you do not want to change your mind, click Remove.

After that, Google Docs will log out. You can log back in with your new account.

Step 3: Create a new document

When you log in again, Google Docs will return to the main page of the application. If you never use the application with this second account, it will show you a slightly different login screen, giving you a basic overview of the application and what has been changed. .

In this case, one of these changes is the ability to work offline. Click Got it to remove this section, then go down to the multicolored + sign in the lower right corner. Click on it to create a new document.

Google Docs will blur your screen and prompt you to create a document from two different options:

1. Choose template (Choose template).
2. New document .

For example, select New document to create the document from the beginning.

When you select the option that suits you, Google Docs will ask you to name the document. After you name your document, click Create.

Step 4: Learn Google Docs workspace

After creating your document, you will be taken to a shortened version of the Google Docs workspace, where you can start typing. To enter, press the blue pen icon in the lower right corner of the screen.

Below the workspace (and above the keyboard), you will see your text formatting options. Along the top of the workspace, there is a green check mark. This checkmark allows you to exit the document's workspace, after you've entered the content.

Besides that green check mark, you will see Undo and Redo buttons . You will also see the + sign for the Insert menu and the A symbol for advanced formatting options.

At the end of this toolbar are three dots representing another collapsible menu, controlling the overall details of the document. Click this icon.

When the menu expands, you will see options:

1. Print layout
2. Suggest changes
3. Find and replace
4. Page setup
5. Details

You will also see conversions, allowing you to view your documents offline, if you wish. You can explore each of these options yourself.

If you are happy with your current settings, click on the gray area next to the menu to exit. Google Docs will bring you back to the workspace.

Add a comment

Leaving feedback on other documents is one of Google Docs' most popular (and popular) features. You can also do this on mobile apps.

There are a few different ways to add a comment. The simplest method is to highlight a word or phrase. When you do, select the Add Comment option when the format box appears. Then you will be taken to a separate window where you can start typing content.

After you finish typing, click on the blue arrow to make the changes. Google Docs will bring you back to the main screen and keep the comment.

Step 5: Insert menu

When working on a mobile device, you may want to insert something into your document, whether it is a link, an image or a table.

To do this, go to the + sign at the top of the workspace. This will expand the Insert menu , where you have many options to include different types of content.

Step 6: List of updated documents

There are many tools that the article skips today, simply because there is very little difference between the mobile version and the desktop version. But suppose you are ready to exit the document and return to the main screen.

To exit the document, click the green checkmark in the top left corner.

If you are on the iOS platform, this green checkmark will turn into a gray, tilted arrow. By clicking on the gray arrow, you will be taken to the main menu.

From there, you will see an updated list of documents. The document you just worked on will be at the top.

Click on the three dots next to the document. You will be taken to the third menu where you can see the highest level actions for that file and its location on Drive.

This menu differs from the main application control menu. It is also different from the menu you saw in the workspace, where you can set specific project sizes.

Instead, this menu allows you to share documents ( Share the document ), move ( Move ) and rename ( Rename ) it. After changing the necessary control features, everything is complete. Please exit the application.

With these basic steps, you can comfortably work with Google Docs on mobile devices. The mobile app will never replace the desktop version, but it will definitely work in certain circumstances.

If you are looking for other Google Docs tips and tricks, please refer to some articles:

1. How to embed Google Slide into Google Doc
2. How to insert Google Drawing into Google Docs
3. How to insert Google Sheets charts into Google Docs

Hope you are succesful.