Google Docs is one of the most useful tools developed by the Android-parent and mastering all its hidden features is going to be worth it. Google Docs is actually a multi-tool that is available for free and it works cross-platforms. This means that all your documents and media files will be automatically synced with all available devices (phones, tablets, and PCs). The amazing thing about Google Docs is the fact that it only requires a Google account in order to work. You don’t need to pay anything or make a special subscription.
On the downside of things, Google Docs is equipped with so many useful features that getting the hang of them all can be tricky at times. Here is where come in. Today we are going to share with you the top three most useful tips for beginners. Without any further ado, let’s jump right into it.
Top 3 Google Docs Tips for Beginners
#1 Create a Shareable Link
The first tip that we want to share with you is how to create a shareable link. Fortunately, Google has made it super easy to do this and you will be able to create your own shareable link in a couple of clicks. Click the “Share” option, now click on the “Get Shareable Link” button that is located in the top right corner. Next, type in the emails of the people who are going to receive access to the link. The last step is to click the “Copy Link” option and then paste the link anywhere you want.
#2 Voice Typing
If there is one thing that Google’s tools do better than all others, then it has to be the fact that they always implement new technologies. Google Docs is the perfect example of that shipping with voice typing support. Follow the next steps to use this feature and write all your notes via vocal commands: Tools – Voice Typing. A microphone icon will pop up on the screen and you only to click on it and then start speaking. The words will automatically appear inside the text file.
#3 How to See All the Recent Changes to a Document
If you are working on a document that is shared with multiple people, then one of the most useful tips that we can show you is how to see all the recent changes made to the document. You can view a list of all recent changes by clicking File > Version History > See Version History.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
The amazing thing about Google Docs is that there are tens of shortcuts that can make your life much easier and take your work productivity to the next level. You can copy the list below in a document so that you can always find the shortcut that you need.
| Common actions | |
|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V |
| Paste without formatting | Ctrl + Shift + V |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z |
| Insert or edit link | Ctrl + K |
| Open link | Alt + Enter |
| Show common keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl + / |
| Save Every change is automatically saved in Drive |
Ctrl + S |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Open | Ctrl + O |
| Find | Ctrl + F |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + H |
| Find again | Ctrl + G |
| Find previous | Ctrl + Shift + G |
| Hide the menus (compact mode) | Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Insert page break | Ctrl + Enter |
| Search the menus | Alt + / Alt + Shift + z Google Chrome: Alt + z |
| Repeat last action | Ctrl + Y |
| Text formatting | |
| Bold | Ctrl + B |
| Italicise | Ctrl + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , |
| Copy text formatting | Ctrl + Alt + C |
| Paste text formatting | Ctrl + Alt + V |
| Clear text formatting | Ctrl + \ Ctrl + Space |
| Increase font size | Ctrl + Shift + > |
| Decrease font size | Ctrl + Shift + < |
| Paragraph formatting | |
| Increase paragraph indentation | Ctrl + ] |
| Decrease paragraph indentation | Ctrl + [ |
| Apply normal text style | Ctrl + Alt + 0 |
| Apply heading style [1-6] | Ctrl + Alt + [1-6] |
| Left align | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Centre align | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| Right align | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Justify | Ctrl + Shift + J |
| Numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 |
| Move paragraph up/down | Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down arrow |
| Images and drawings | |
| Alt text | Ctrl + Alt + Y |
| Resize larger | Ctrl + Alt + k |
| Resize larger horizontally | Ctrl + Alt + B |
| Resize larger vertically | Ctrl + Alt + I |
| Resize smaller | Ctrl + Alt + J |
| Resize smaller horizontally | Ctrl + Alt + W |
| Resize smaller vertically | Ctrl + Alt + Q |
| Rotate clockwise by 15° | Alt + Right arrow |
| Rotate anticlockwise by 15° | Alt + Left arrow |
| Rotate anticlockwise by 1° | Alt + Shift + Left arrow |
| Rotate clockwise by 1° | Alt + Shift + Right arrow |
| Close drawing editor | Shift + Esc |
| Comments and footnotes | |
| Insert comment | Ctrl + Alt + M |
| Open discussion thread | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A |
| Enter current comment | Ctrl + Enter |
| Insert footnote | Ctrl + Alt + f |
| Move to current footnote | holding Ctrl + Alt, press E then F |
| Move to next footnote | holding Ctrl + Alt, press N then F |
| Move to previous footnote | holding Ctrl + Alt, press P then F |
| Menus | |
| Context (right-click) menu | Ctrl + Shift + x Ctrl + Shift + \ |
| File menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + F other browsers: Alt + Shift + F |
| Edit menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + E other browsers: Alt + Shift + E |
| View menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + V other browsers: Alt + Shift + V |
| Insert menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + I other browsers: Alt + Shift + I |
| Format menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + O other browsers: Alt + Shift + O |
| Tools menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + T other browsers: Alt + Shift + T |
| Help menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + H other browsers: Alt + Shift + H |
| Accessibility menu (present when screen reader support is enabled) |
in Google Chrome: Alt + A other browsers: Alt + Shift + A |
| Input Tools menu (available in documents in non-Latin languages) |
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K |
| Show your browser’s context menu | Shift + right-click |
| Text selection with keyboard | |
| Select all | Ctrl + A |
| Extend selection one character | Shift + Left/right arrow |
| Extend selection one line | Shift + Up/down arrow |
| Extend selection one word | Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right arrow |
| Extend selection to the beginning of the line | Shift + Home |
| Extend selection to the end of the line | Shift + End |
| Extend selection to the beginning of the document | Ctrl + Shift + Home |
| Extend selection to the end of the document | Ctrl + Shift + End |
| Select current list item | holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press E then I |
| Select all list items at current level | holding Ctrl + Alt + Shift, press E then O |
| Text selection with mouse | |
| Select word | Double-click |
| Extend selection one word at a time | Double-click + drag |
| Select paragraph | Triple-click |
| Extend selection one paragraph at a time | Triple-click + drag |