8 Best Fixes for Google Docs Not Downloading PDF File

By Paurush Chaudhary Published November 1, 2022

Google Docs lets you create and share documents with your professional or personal contacts. You also get different file format options to download your Google Docs file on your computer. For example, you can convert a Google Doc file into a PDF if it is required.

But some users complain about not being able to download Google Docs file as PDF. Many rely on using online tools, which can put your data privacy at risk. Here are some solutions that will help to fix this issue without opting for other online resources.

1. Sign Out and Sign In Again into Your Google Account

It is similar to restarting your computer or relaunching an app on your phone to give it a fresh start. Here’s how to do it using your computer.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs website in a web browser on your computer. Sign in to Google Docs with your account.

Visit Google Docs

Step 2: In your Google Docs document page, click on your profile icon at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Click on Sign Out.

Step 4: Sign in again to Google Docs and see if are able to download the PDF file.

2. Check File Permissions

Google Docs gives you the option to share your files with your contacts. You can also assign permissions while sharing a file. If you cannot download a Google Doc file as a PDF that has been shared with you, your permission to access the document may have been restricted. You can refer to our guide on Google Docs File Sharing to know more.

3. Use Print Function to Download PDF

If you still can’t download the PDF file despite checking permissions, we suggest using the Print function to download the file on your computer. Google Docs allows you to print your files directly or save them as PDFs. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs website in a web browser on your computer.

Visit Google Docs

Step 2: Sign in to your Google account.

Step 3: Open the document you want to download as a PDF.

Step 4: When the document opens, click on File at the top-left corner in the Menu Bar.

Step 5: Select Print from the list of options.

You can also press Command + P (macOS) or Control + P (Windows).

Step 6: In the Print window, click on the Printer drop-down menu.

Step 7: Select Save as PDF from the drop-down menu.

Step 8: Click on Save at the bottom to download the PDF file.

4. Check for Faulty Browser Extensions

If you are not able to download the PDF file even after using the Print function, you should check the extensions installed on your browser. Some extensions installed on your browser might not have received updates and are not compatible with your browsers anymore. A buggy browser extension can lead to such issues with Google Docs.

For Google Chrome

Step 1: Open Google Chrome on your Mac or Windows PC.

Step 2: Click the Extensions icon at the top-right corner of the Chrome homepage.

Step 3: Click on Manage Extensions.

Step 4: On the Extensions page, click on Remove below an extension that you don’t require anymore.

Step 5: Open Google Docs in a separate tab and check if you are able to print the PDF file after removing that Extension.

If not, keep repeating the same steps to check which extension is faulty.

For Firefox

Step 1: Open Firefox on your Mac or Windows PC.

Step 2: Click the Settings icon at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Click on Manage More Settings from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: In the Settings page, scroll down and look for Language and Appearance.

Step 5: Click on Extensions and Themes.

Step 6: Select Extensions from the left menu.

Step 7: When you see all the installed extensions, choose the one that you wish to delete.

Step 8: Click the three dots next to the toggle.

Step 9: Select Remove.

Step 10: Open Google Docs in a separate window and check if that solves the problem.

For Safari

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Safari, and press Return.

Step 2: Click the Safari tab in the top-left corner.

Step 3: Select Preferences.

Step 4: Click on the Extensions tab.

Step 5: When you see all your Safari Extensions on your screen, select the one that you wish to remove from the left menu.

Step 6: Click on Uninstall below the Extension name.

Check if that solves the problem in Google Docs.

5. Switch to Incognito Mode

You can try switching to Incognito Mode on your browser and see if you are able to download your Google Docs file as a PDF. Here are the steps for different popular browsers.