How To Email A Google Doc: 3 Easy Ways

How to Email a Google Doc Without Downloading It

Google Docs has a built-in feature that lets you email your document as an attachment directly from the editor. This means you don't have to download the file first or even open your email client. Here's how to use it:

1. Open the document you want to send in Google Docs.
2. Click File in the top menu bar.
3. Select Email and then click Email this file.
4. In the pop-up window, enter the recipient's email address in the To field.
5. Edit the Subject line and add a Message if needed.
6. Use the File type dropdown to choose your preferred format. Options include PDF, Microsoft Word (.docx), HTML, Rich Text (.rtf), and Plain Text.
7. Click Send.

The recipient will receive a regular email with your document attached in the format you selected. Keep in mind that this sends a static copy of your document at that moment. Since it is not a live link, any changes you make after sending will not be reflected in the recipient's copy.

When to use this method: This is the fastest option when you want to send a finalized version of your document and don't need the recipient to collaborate or access the original file.

It works especially well for sending contracts, reports, or any document where you want to control the exact version the recipient sees.

How to Attach a Google Doc to an Email

Attaching a Google doc to an email is pretty easy and straight forward. The first step to take is downloading your doc file with your preferred file type. To do so, simply follow the steps below.

1. Visit docs.google.com and sign in with your preferred details.
2. There you will find a list of all your documents written through the signed-in mail address. Alternatively, you can also log in through Drive to access all your files.
3. Select the document you would like to attach to your mail.
4. Once open, select File on the top left corner, and navigate to download.
5. Select download and choose a file type such as Microsoft .docx file format, .pdf, .zip, or any other file format of your choice.
6. Once the file type is selected, your computer should ask for a pathway to save your file.
7. Select your preferred address and download.
8. Next, log in to your mail account.
9. Select Send an email and search for the attachment ribbon.
10. Select the icon and navigate to your saved file to attach it.

The same principles apply when attaching a Google doc to an email across all devices. This means for users wondering how to attach a Google doc to an Outlook email, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, etc., the process is almost always the same. The only variation is where you find your attachment ribbon/icon to send a message.

If you use Gmail, there's a faster way. When composing a new email, click the Google Drive icon in the bottom toolbar next to the attachment paperclip. This lets you select any file from your Drive and insert it directly as a Drive link or as an attachment without downloading it to your computer first.

How to Share a Google Doc via Email Link

To share your Google doc file directly via email, simply follow the steps below:

1. Open the document you intend to share through doc.google.com or Drive.
2. At the top right corner, you will find a share icon with a lock symbol. This signifies that your document isn’t currently being shared with anyone.
3. Click Share.
4. You will be asked to input people or groups. If you have groups created on your Gmail account, simply input it there, or input a single user mail address to share to only a single user, or enter as many individual addresses as you would like to share the file with.
5. Recipients will receive your file with a link in their mailbox. That is how to email a Google doc file directly from Drive or Docs. You can also share it via a link. To do so,
6. Click Share.
7. At the bottom of the share page, you will find Restricted, only people added can open with link. Underneath that, you will find change.
8. Click change, and update permission to anyone can view. Furthermore, you can also edit what a user with access can do with the link: view, comment, or edit. Once updated, simply copy the link and share it via mail or other sources.

Google Docs Best Practices

Here are some of the best practices to help you make the most of attaching a Google doc to an email:

1. By default, Google Docs files are private and accessible only to the creator. Sharing can be done via email invite or a link. Email sharing restricts access to specific recipients, while link sharing allows anyone with the link to view the document.
2. Share folders, not documents. From your Google Drive, you can share an entire folder instead of having to share every single document. This is especially true if there are many documents to share. Simply sort your work via folder and share it at once.
3. Be mindful of what you name a folder. Shared users will always see the name of a shared folder or document. Always ensure to name appropriately.

Conclusion

Whether you use the built-in Email this file feature, share a link directly from Google Docs, or download and attach your document manually, there's a method for every situation. For finalized documents, email as PDF to prevent edits. For ongoing collaboration, share via link with the right permission level. And if you're sending to someone outside Google's ecosystem, downloading as a .docx file and attaching it works every time.