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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 1 of 3

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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 1 of 3

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Set Up a Username - Applied Digital Skills

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In this free adult education course, students gain computer literacy that can be applied to future education and jobs.

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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 2 of 3

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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 2 of 3

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Create a Strong Password - Applied Digital Skills

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Students take the next step in learning basic computer skills by setting up a password for their Google accounts.

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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 3 of 3

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Set Up Your Google Account Video Tutorial Part 3 of 3

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Lesson: How To Use Your Google Account - Applied Digital Skills

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In this free lesson from Applied Digital Skills, students learn how to use a Google account including signing in and out and opening new apps.

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Intro to Google Docs, how to start using Google docs to create a document. A Gmail account is required before using Google docs. If you do not have a Gmail a...

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Introduction to G Suite Certification: Docs - Part 1 - Applied Digital Skills

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To gain digital skills, students get a brief overview of this project-based lesson, and make copies of the starter projects in Google Sheets.

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Follow this short tutorial to set up your Gmail account.  

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Follow this short tutorial to set up your Gmail account.  

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Introduction

Setting up a Gmail account is easy. You will begin by creating a Google account, and during the quick sign-up process you will choose your Gmail account name. In this lesson, we'll show you how to set up your Google account for Gmail, add and edit contacts, and edit your mail settings.

Setting up a Gmail account

To create a Gmail address, you'll first need to create a Google account. Gmail will redirect you to the Google account sign-up page. You'll need to provide some basic information like your name, birth date, gender, and location. You will also need to choose a name for your new Gmail address. Once you create an account, you'll be able to start adding contacts and adjusting your mail settings.

To create an account:

1. Go to www.gmail.com.

2. Next, enter your phone number to verify your account. Google uses a two-step verification process for your security.

3. You will receive a text message from Google with a verification code. Enter the code to complete the account verification.

4. Next, you will see a form to enter some of your personal information, like your name and birthday.

5. Review Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click I agree.

6. Your account will be created.

Just like with any online service, it's important to choose a strong password-in other words, one that is difficult for someone else to guess. For more information, review our lesson on creating strong passwords.

Signing in to your account

When you first create your account, you will be automatically signed in. Most of the time, however, you'll need to sign in to your account and sign out when you're done with it. Signing out is especially important if you're using a shared computer (for example, at a library or office) because it prevents others from viewing your emails.

To sign in:

1. Go to www.gmail.com.

2. Type your user name (your email address) and password, then click Next.

To sign out:

In the top-right corner of the page, locate the circle that has your first initial (if you've already selected an avatar image, it will show the image instead). To sign out, click the circle and select Sign out.

Mail settings

Occasionally, you may want to make adjustments to Gmail's appearance or behavior. For example, you could create a signature or vacation reply, edit your labels, or change the theme. These adjustments can be made from your mail settings.

To access your mail settings:

Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page, then select Settings.

Adding contacts

Like all major email providers, Gmail lets you keep an address book of contacts so you don't have to memorize everyone's email addresses. You can also add other contact information, like phone numbers, birthdays, and physical addresses.

To add a contact:

Your contacts screen will appear. Click the Add new contact button in the lower-right corner.

To edit a contact:

In the Google apps drop-down menu, select Contacts.

By default, when you send an email to a new address, Gmail adds the address to your contacts. You can then go to your contacts to edit the person's information as needed.

Importing mail and contacts

You may already have a contact list from another email address, and it would be a lot of work to re-enter all of this information manually. Gmail allows you to import your contacts from another email account, and you can even import all of your email messages from that account. Several email providers are supported, including Yahoo!, Hotmail, and AOL.

To add other accounts:

1. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page, then select Settings.

2. Go to Accounts and click Add a mail account. You can then follow the instructions on the screen to import your mail.

Challenge!

1. If you do not already have a Gmail account, create one.

2. Open Gmail.

3. Navigate to your Gmail settings.

4. Set your preferences in your Gmail settings.

5. Add a new contact. You can either add one you already know, or if you'd like you can create one with the following information:
Name: Julia Fillory
Email: [email protected]

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en/gmail/introduction-to-gmail/content/ Setting up a Gmail account is easy. You will begin by creating a Google account, and during the quick sign-up process you will choose your Gmail account name. In this lesson, we'll show you how to set up your Google account for Gmail, add and edit contacts, and edit your mail settings.

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Microsoft Word and Office has been the standard tool to create documents for the last 30 years, but now Google offers an alternative tool that is gaining popularity. Due to its interface simplicity and flexibility, Google Docs has attracted a lot of fans who use Google Docs not only for school and work, but also for everyday tasks. For more info, read Google Docs Vs. Microsoft Word: Everything You Need to Know. Class content Class #1: Create a free Google account. Intro to Google Docs. Class #2: Create a new document in Google Docs and and organize it. Format Google Docs. Share your documents.
How to follow this class

Class Participation and Engagement

Use Zoom Chat for questions

Use Slack to communicate

Join our class communication tool, Slack, to get the most of the class. On slack you can ask your questions and feel involved in the discussions and seek additional help or feedback.

Join EBPL Classes Clack Channel to participate:
Join EBPL_Classes on Slack
A Handout will be emailed to you and also shared during the class ( please check your junk/spam folder if you do not see the email)

Padlet: https://padlet.com/ebpl/5lb2u76c97hzi9zi

Video Tutorials

Handouts

For next class try the following:

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Microsoft Word and Office has been the standard tool to create documents for the last 30 years, but now Google offers an alternative tool that is gaining popularity. Due to its interface simplicity and flexibility, Google Docs has attracted a lot of fans who use Google Docs not only for school and work, but also for everyday tasks.

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Slack is a new way to communicate with your team. It's faster, better organized, and more secure than email.

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Everything You Need to Know.

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In recent years, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have been quietly waging a war for the title of best word processor. While most of us have been using Word for decades to draft everything from school essays to resumes to important work documents, Google Docs web-based platform is a total game changer for editing and sharing documents in the connected age.

So which is better? That depends entirely on what you need from a word processing program or mobile app. Today we're going to cover the benefits and downsides of both Microsoft Word and Google Docs so you have the intel you need to decide for yourself.

How to use and access Microsoft Word and Google Docs

You cannot purchase Microsoft Word as a standalone program.

It comes as part of the Microsoft 365 package (formerly called Office 365), which includes other programs like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

Once you purchase this suite, you can only install Word on a select number of computers, depending on the plan level you choose.

So if you install Word on your desktop, you'll need to bump up your plan to get a copy for your laptop, which can get pricey.

It wasn't until 2010 that Microsoft finally launched Word Online as part of its Microsoft 365 package.

Though Word Online boasts enough features for casual users, it is not the full version of Word by any means.

Select ribbons and toolbars were removed from the online version to help it load and run faster. It offers a more streamlined experience though it leaves others wanting more.

For instance, Word Online isn't able to handle large or more complex documents and users find it clunkier to work around these bugs than using their regular Word program from the start.

All of that is different with Google.

As an internet-based company, Google Docs started out as a cross-platform word processor that works entirely online.

You don't have to download any software or purchase a suite of programs you don't want/need to use it.

Simply log in to your Google account from any browser and head over to docs.google.com.

That's it.

Unlike Microsoft Word, which can only be installed on Windows and OS X computers, you can use Google Docs from any computer and browser, including:

The Google Docs app is available for both iOS and Android devices-but not on Windows-based phones like BlackBerry.

The Word app comes pre-installed on Windows Phone devices and as a free (very bare) app for iOS and Android.

Our winner: You can access the full version of Google Docs, with all its features, from any browser.

You have to purchase the entire Microsoft 365 software package just to receive a full version of Word. And the online version of Word lacks certain features which may render it useless for you.

Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs is free to use...

Google Docs is free for the average user.

If you want to purchase a "Business" version of G Suite, monthly plans start at $5 per user.

It's going to cost you more to get started with Microsoft Word.

You'll need to pay either a:

One-time fee of $149.99

Yearly fee of $69.99 / monthly fee of $6.99 (for an install on 1 computer)

Yearly fee of $99.99 / monthly fee of $9.99 (to install on up to 5 computers)

Business plans are priced differently.

Most of these packages include the desktop versions of all the Office apps and online access for their web-based counterparts.

Our winner: You can't beat free - Google takes the cake here.

... But free comes with limitations and a lack of control

We know Google Docs is entirely online.

You access your docs online, you write and edit in-browser, and your documents are saved to your online Google Drive cloud.

But what happens when your internet goes out thanks to a big thunderstorm?

Or Google's servers go down right before your huge AM presentation?

Though you can work in Google's offline mode (after following a series of steps), you can't normally access the platform when Google's servers are in chaos or when you lack Internet.

Google lets you check for outages using their G Suite Status Dashboard tool.

At the time of this screenshot, all the Google apps were running without problems:

But when there's a service outage or reported service disruption, you'll see a bar like in this example:

The most commonly reported problems with Google Drive, according to Down Detector, include:

Not being able to access files online (53%)

Apps (like Docs and Sheets) not loading (36%)

File syncing (10%)

This could cause major stress if you're unprepared.

You'll need to download or email physical copies of your documents for times you won't be connected to the internet.

Microsoft may have the upper hand here since you can get your work done in the offline desktop version of Word.

Plus, your Word documents will be saved locally on your computer or device instead of in the cloud so you're always in control of them.

Our winner: MS Word removes the "what if" factor of relying on Google's servers and lets you work without an internet connection.

Similar layouts and interface: Google wins on user-friendliness, but Word has tons of features

Seasoned Word vets know there are SO many options and features built into Word that it can be exhausting navigating all the ribbons and toolbars just to find the one button you need.

After all, you'll probably click on ribbons like References, Mailings, and Acrobat, which will replace your toolbar with even more buttons, maybe twice in your whole life.

Google Docs solves that problem by drastically simplifying the layout and toolbar situation to create a more user-friendly, easily manageable workspace.

Just check out the differences to see what we mean.

Here's what Microsoft Word's ribbon looks like in both Windows and OS X versions:

Now check out the Google Docs toolbar:

Pretty big difference, right?

Google places all your most frequently used buttons right in your easy-access toolbar. Everything else, like inserting images or tables, can be found in one of the dropdowns.

With Word, any time you change one of the ribbons, like if you clicked on Layout, all the buttons in your toolbar change as well.

Though Word does let you customize your toolbar so all your most-used buttons are in reach, narrowing down these options can be overwhelming for a novice or casual users.

The less time you have to spend hunting for the exact tool you want, the quicker your work will be accomplished.

Our winner: An easy-to-use interface doesn't mean much if the tools you need aren't available. Choose Google if you need light word processing features; stick to Word if you're on a more advanced features level.

Google saves the day when it comes to saving your files

Ever forget to hit the save button on your Word doc before you lose power or accidentally close out of the program?

Though you've crossed your fingers and recovered several Word documents in your lifetime, wouldn't it be great if you never had to replay this terrible nightmare again?

Google Docs not only automatically saves your work every few minutes or so, it also continually saves as you're working.

This means you can log in on your desktop and see the changes made live from your smartphone at the same time.

Plus, Docs backs up your saved files to Google Drive instead of your local hard drive.

So Google saves your work - and backs up your work - to give you extra protection should you spill coffee all over your laptop and wreck your hard drive.

Our winner: Google is the automatic save hero you never thought your docs needed.

Comparing document compatibility and file formats

You can use Google Docs to open and edit Microsoft Word documents. You can even download your Google doc as a Word document so it has a standard Word extension (.docx).

But that's not the only file format Google Docs will let you export.

You can download your docs with the following extensions: ODT, PDF, RTF, HTML, TXT, EPUB.

However, you can only download your Word Online documents as PDF, ODT, or DOCX files.

And if you want to open a Google doc in Word, you'll need to convert it first.

One area Word has Docs beat is PDFs.

You can open PDFs in Word on your desktop, edit them, and then save them as PDFs again; you can't do this in Google Docs.

Our winner: Google gives you more file format compatibility. But Word may be your go-to if you require PDF editing.

Collaborate remotely using real-time editing and doc sharing

We live in an ever-connected world, which means many of us have to collaborate with teams and coworkers remotely.

Both word processors will let you track the changes made by editors you shared your document with.

While you can download your Word doc and email it to others for collaboration, you can invite collaborators directly from your Google doc or send them a link to access your document.

When you're in Google's "Suggesting" mode, all the edits made are merely suggestions which accompany the highlighted text as comments in the sidebar.

You can choose to accept these changes (and they'll happen in the doc) or ignore them without harming your original text.

If someone deletes part of your text during editing, Google will strikethrough the text in the document like this:

Edits made in Word will remove the original text from the document and place it in the sidebar along with the other comments:

You'll be able to read an edited version of your document without your original copy to distract you from the final product (unless you click into the sidebar).

Here's the best perk about Google Docs: real-time collaboration.

When your recipients click the link to your document, you'll be able to view their name (or anonymous Google-assigned animal avatar) and their unique identifying color in-doc live.

Watch your collaborators mark up your doc or open up the Google Docs messenger feature and chat with each other - right in your document - about the changes you want to make together live.

Google will track the changes - along with who was responsible for them and the time they made them - so contributions are always recognized.

You could literally have an entire department working on the same doc together in real-time wherever in the world they happen to be working from.

While you can email your documents to your collaborators with Word, you can't actually work together on it at the same time like you can with Docs.

You can only do this in Word with the Microsoft 365 online Word app, which isn't a full version of the program anyway.

Plus, you'll need an account or subscription for Word online and your teammates might not have one.

Here's an interesting study to note:

When Creative Strategies surveyed over 350 college students across the country, they discovered:

12% use Google Docs to write papers alone; 80% use Microsoft Word instead

78% use Google Docs to write papers in a group collaboratively; just 13% use Word for group work

So you may want to follow in the footsteps of today's millennials and use Word for your personal work and Docs for your teamwork.

Our winner: Google Docs shines in collaboration mode with its universal access and real-time editing features.

Is there a better mobile candidate?

Google Docs started and lives online so you'll always have access to its full features when you're signed in on the browser version. Though the mobile apps have fewer features, you can still write and edit docs on-the-go without any hiccups.

Since the mobile-based Word app isn't Microsoft's core business, it's not as robust or comprehensive as their standalone program or what Google offers their mobile users.

While you can insert charts, drawings, and even spreadsheets with the online version of Docs, you don't have these abilities with Word Online.

Mobile users will have their documents saved to OneDrive, Microsoft's version of Google Drive, so working remotely is just as secure as when they're in the office.

Our winner: Google Docs was made for the web and mobile working; MS Word is stronger offline.

Google has more third-party app integrations

Visit the Google Apps Marketplace for add-ons from third parties that fit your and your business' needs.

Missing something from Word?

Check the marketplace and see if you can not only replace it, but find a better version.

From label merge tools to automatic contact plugins, these apps can be seamlessly integrated with Docs for a fully customizable program.

The most popular add-ons for Google Docs include those that replicate Microsoft Word features, such as:

Microsoft has their own Office Store with integrated third-party apps, but it's not as stocked with choices.

Additionally, Google Docs works with the other programs in the G Suite. So you can create or access files from your Google programs right from the File menu in Doc:

Each document or app will open in a separate tab within the browser you're already working in so you don't have to wait for all those separate programs to load on your computer like you would with Microsoft.

Our winner: MS Word doesn't need as many add-ons because it's bursting with features, but Google's basic skeleton allows for total customization with add-ons you specifically choose.

So are you a loyal Windows fan or a new Google devotee?

Microsoft Word has been the only name worth mentioning in the world of word processors for the last 30 years, but now Google aims to knock the crown off its head.

With its easy-to-use features cleverly designed for the growing cloud-based workforce, many people find Docs easier to use on a daily basis than Word.

Others in the business realm who rely on Microsoft's constantly evolving features will be let down by Google's basic approach and slim tools offering.

So after assessing the specifics of both companies, you'll need to decide what's right for you.

If you have a Gmail account and take your Chromebook coffee shop hopping to work remotely with your team, Google Docs may be the best choice for your limited hard drive space and high collaboration needs.

But if your business does everything using Microsoft and you have an Outlook email, you may not want to rock the boat by switching from Word.

We think you should give each program a test run for a week to try them out yourself.

You'll learn which features you can't live without (and which you could use less of), work out the kinks and quirks between them, and have a solid answer based on your own real-world use.

If you need help getting started with Microsoft Word or Google Docs, we can point you in the right direction. Take a Word online course to learn the basics or refresh your knowledge, then master the advanced features and become a bona fide pro.

Devan Ciccarelli

Crafting fluff-free content is Devan's jam. When she's not writing for GoSkills, you'll find her outside reading, soaking up the sun, or hiking her next adventure.

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Google Docs Vs. Microsoft Word: Everything You Need to Know

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In recent years, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have been quietly waging a war for the title of best word processor. While most of us have been using Word for decades to draft everything from school essays to resumes to important work documents, Google Docs web-based platform is a total game changer for editing and sharing documents in the connected age.

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To sign up for Gmail, create a Google Account. You can use the username and password to sign in to Gmail and other Google products like YouTube, Google Play, and Google Drive.

1. Go to the Google Account creation page.

2. Follow the steps on the screen to set up your account.

3. Use the account you created to sign in to Gmail.

Create an account
The username I want is taken

You won't be able to get a certain Gmail address if the username you requested is:

Already being used.

Very similar to an existing username (for example, if example@gmail.com already exists, you can't use examp1e@gmail.com).

The same as a username that someone used in the past and then deleted.

Reserved by Google to prevent spam or abuse.

Someone is impersonating me

If you believe someone has created a Gmail address to try to impersonate your identity, you can:

Unfortunately, Gmail is unable to participate in mediations involving third parties regarding impersonation. Learn more about Gmail Terms of Use.

Use Gmail for your business

If you want to use Gmail for your business, a Google Workspace account might be better for you than a personal Google Account. Google Workspace starts at $6 per user per month and includes the following:

A professional, ad-free Gmail account using your company's domain name, such as susan@example.com.

Ownership of employee accounts so you are always in control of your company's accounts, emails, and files.

24/7 phone, email, and chat support from a real person.

Increased Gmail and Google Drive storage.

Mobile device management to keep your data secure, such as the ability to remotely wipe lost devices.

Advanced security and administrative controls.

Learn more about Google Workspace or start a free trial.

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To sign up for Gmail, create a Google Account. You can use the username and password to sign in to Gmail and other Google products like YouTube, Google Play, and Google Drive. Go to the Google Account creation page. Follow the steps on the screen to set up your account.

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Getting started with Google Drive

Want to get started with Google Drive? Watch the video below to learn how.

Creating a Google account

In order to use Google Drive, you will need a Google account. Google accounts are free, and signing up for one is fairly simple. In order to create a Google account, you'll need to enter some information, including your name, birth date, and location. Creating a Google account will automatically create a Gmail email address and a Google+ profile.

If you have a Gmail address, you already have a Google account, so you won't need to create an account-you can simply sign in to Drive using your Gmail information.

To create a Google account:

1. Go to www.google.com. Locate and select the Sign in button in the top-right corner of the page.

2. Click Create an account.

3. The sign-up form will appear. Follow the directions and enter the required information.

4. Next enter your phone number. Google will send a verification code to your phone that you will use to complete the sign up process.

5. Enter the verification code sent to your phone and click Verify.

6. The personal information page will appear. Follow the directions and enter your information, including your birth date and gender.

7. Review Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click I agree.

8. Your account will be created.

Just like with any online service, it's important to choose a strong password-in other words, one that's difficult for someone to guess. For more information, check out our Password Tips lesson.

Accessing Google Drive

Once you've set up your Google account, you can access Google Drive by going to http://drive.google.com in your web browser.

You can also navigate to Google Drive from any Google page (such as Gmail or Google search) by selecting the grid icon near the top-right corner, then clicking Drive.

The Google Drive interface

Your Google Drive may be empty right now, but as you begin to upload and create files you'll need to know how to view, manage, and organize them in the interface.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to become familiar with the Google Drive interface.

edit hotspots

Google Drive for mobile devices

Available for both iOS and Android, the Google Drive mobile app allows you to view and upload files to Google Drive using your mobile device.

Google also has separate mobile apps for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. To learn more, check out Google's blog post on New mobile apps for Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Google Drive for desktop

If you prefer to work on the desktop, you can download the Google Drive desktop app to your computer. Available for Windows and OS X, this app makes it a bit easier to upload your existing files and work offline. Once it's installed, you'll see a new Google Drive folder on your computer. Any files you move into this folder will automatically be uploaded to your Google Drive.

Challenge!

1. Visit www.google.com to sign up for a Google account if you don't already have one.

2. Open Google Drive.

3. Notice on the left side how much of your storage is used and how much is available.

4. Try clicking some of the menu options, like Shared with Me and Google Photos.

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Google Docs: Getting Started with Google Drive

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en/googledocuments/all-about-google-drive/content/ Want to get started with Google Drive? Watch the video below to learn how. In order to use Google Drive, you will need a Google account. Google accounts are free, and signing up for one is fairly simple. In order to create a Google account, you'll need to enter some information, including your name, birth date, and location.

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Google Applied Digital Skills Classes

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EBPL Event ✮ Five Star | Google Applied Digital Skills

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Google Applied Digital Skills Classes

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Teach & Learn Practical Digital Skills - Applied Digital Skills

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Thousands of teachers and students are using Applied Digital Skills to improve digital literacy, and we’re adding new lessons regularly. Join us and start learning or teaching digital skills today.

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Keeping you safe online means protecting your information and respecting your privacy. That's why, in every product we make, we focus on keeping your information secure, treating it responsibly, and keeping you in control. Our teams work every day to make Google products safe no matter what you're doing-browsing the web, managing your inbox, or getting directions.

Your information is protected by world-class security. You can always control your privacy settings in your Google Account.

A more helpful & personalized experience for you

When you use Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides, we process some data to offer you better experiences in the product. Your information stays secure. You can always control your privacy settings in your Google Account.

Your content is stored securely

When you create a file on Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides and share it, it is stored securely in our world-class data centers. Data is encrypted in-transit and at-rest. If you choose to access these files offline, we store this info on your device.

Your Google Account comes with built-in security designed to detect and block threats like spam, phishing and malware. Your activity is stored using strong industry standards and practices.

Your name & email address help sync your data and keep you updated

To store your preferences, help you sign in, get you files you've uploaded through other devices, and inform you of service changes and user-to-user activity, we save your email address. In Google Slides, to show when you present, we also save your name.

Use your information to create & manage your Google Account

To create a brand new Google account, we collect your name and phone number. When you manage your Google account, you can choose to provide your physical address, upload your contacts, or add a profile photo.

Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides uses data to improve your experience

To provide services like spam filtering, virus detection, malware protection and the ability to search for files within your individual account, we process your content.

To improve Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides' performance and reliability, and to help with troubleshooting in case of issues while you use Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides, we collect performance data and crash analytics. We also save this info to help prevent abuse of our services and for analysis.

Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides doesn't use your content for advertising

We don't use information in apps where you primarily store personal content-including Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides-for advertising purposes, period.

Stay in control of your content with easy-to-use settings

You decide what content is shared & with whom

The content you save on Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides is private to you, from others, unless you choose to share it. Learn how to share or stop sharing files in Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides.

Google respects your privacy. We access your private content only when we have your permission or are required to by law. With the Google Transparency Report, we share data about how the policies and actions of governments and corporations affect privacy, security, and access to information.

If you have a work or school account, your organization can review logs of actions taken by Google when accessing content. Learn how to view logs with Access Transparency. Learn how Google protects your organization's security and privacy.

It's easy to view & control your data

With the Google Account Dashboard, you can see an overview of the Google products you use and the things you store, like your emails and photos. And with My Activity, it's easy to see or delete data collected from your activity across Google services, including things you've searched, viewed, and watched. Learn how to view and control activity in your Google Account.

Control your search history

To save you time when you search in Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides by showing you recent searches you've made there, we store those search queries.

To review or manage your Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides search history, use My Activity.

Sync your services with your location

To understand how your experience of the product may relate to geography, like when you send feedback to Google, and to keep your account secure, like if we notice you have signed in from a new location, we save some location info.

You can take your data with you

Everyone should have access to the content they've shared with us - any time and for any reason. That's why we created Download Your Data - so you can download your documents, spreadsheets and slides. It's your choice to make a copy of your data, back it up, or even move it to another service.

You are always in control of the data saved to your Google Account. Learn how to download your data.

If you have a work or school account, your organization can choose to download your data and to limit you from downloading it. Learn how an organization can export its data.

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All accounts

Work or school accounts

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Understand the basics of privacy in Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides

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Keeping you safe online means protecting your information and respecting your privacy. That's why, in every product we make, we focus on keeping your information secure, treating it responsibly, and

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Google Workspace

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Google is announcing some changes to its Workspace suite of apps and services today, including availability for anybody who has a Google account. Google says that there are over three billion users of its Workspace apps - though it's probably a safe bet that Gmail accounts for a healthy chunk of that userbase.

A lot of people will soon have the option to switch over to Google's more modern system for Gmail, Docs, and Chat. All of them can be integrated in a single tab more easily, for example with chats sliding over to the left to reveal a shared spreadsheet. It's also related to the company's new "smart canvas" push, which is also designed to interlink its various apps via "smart chips."

To get started, Google is now officially offering the setting to turn on Google Chat to all users. It's a new setting within Gmail.

With the switch, Google Chat messaging should be an option for all now, which can include direct messages and chat Rooms. But Google is also introducing a new terminology to go along with the announcement. It is announcing the "evolution of Rooms in Google Chat to Spaces."

A Space is essentially the same thing as a chat Room, but Google wants to separate them out into their own top-level form of communication next to Gmail, Chat, and Meet. Google is layering on a few new features like improved message threading, more emoji reactions, user roles, moderation tools, and "discoverable" spaces. In that sense, it seems that Spaces wants to serve both as a Slack competitor and as a competitor for public Discord groups and, well, maybe as an optional replacement for email groups.

It's a little confusing - but that's par for the course for Google's messaging strategy.

The key idea, according to Sanaz Ahari, senior director of product, is that users can more easily switch between "modalities" of communication. The intent is to "keep the context," Ahari says. "If you start something with an email and then you want to upgrade it into more real-time interaction between a group - or even for a project - you're able to do that and you can keep the context. Then you can all seamlessly upgrade into a meeting at the same time."

Google is promising it will "launch a streamlined and flexible user interface" for Spaces this summer.

Those aren't the only announcements getting bundled into today's Workspace news. The company is launching a new tier called "Google Workspace Individual" at $9.99 per month, which gives users more Workspace tools without requiring them to set up their own domain or custom email address.

When Workspace users say yes to a meeting, they will be able to indicate whether they'll be attending remotely or in the reserved meeting room. Google also provided a date for the Companion Mode feature, which encourages people in the meeting room to also turn on their cameras so that remote workers don't feel quite as left out - it should be coming in September to desktop and "soon" to mobile.

Google also snuck in an announcement that it will finally offer a progressive web app for Google Workspace in September. In theory, it could make it much easier for Gmail users to have their email and other Google apps feel more like actual desktop apps and not just tabs in the browser. That's possible now via various Electron apps and Single Site Browser windows, but it requires more work than it should.

Finally, Google is adding enterprise options that are going to be necessary if it really wants to have a shot at going after larger companies. Corporations will be able to use their own client-side encryption for data, add more "trust rules" for various Drive files to simplify access and permissions, and label files based on their sensitivity.

Google Workspace has been rapidly updating and iterating over the past few months, a sign perhaps that the company really does intend to seriously compete with Microsoft. Google's strategy goes beyond just improving its products - it's more tightly integrating them together. Gmail users will soon find more prompts than ever to bring them into Google's other Workspace products - and some no doubt will be looking for ways to avoid all that. Putting buttons for Chat, Meet, and Rooms (soon to be Spaces) at the bottom of the most popular email app in the world is sure to raise usage - and potentially some antitrust eyebrows.

The biggest question mark is whether Google can coherently explain the switchover to Chat, why it's worth it, and what this new Spaces thing really is. Now that Workspace is going to be available to over three billion regular people, the company is going to need to work hard to clearly communicate with all of them.

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Google Workspace and Google Chat are officially available to everybody

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Google is making its office suite available to all of its users, which amounts to over three billion people. The new Chat and Spaces features will potentially be confusing to users who haven't seen a real messaging product from Google in some time.

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Create and simultaneously edit text documents with your team, right in your browser.

Write reports, create joint project proposals, keep track of meeting notes, and more. All changes are saved automatically.

Get Docs: Web (docs.google.com), Android, or iOS

1. Edit and add styles to your text.

2. Work with different versions and copies of your document.

Make a copy: Create a duplicate of your document.

Download as: Download your document in other formats, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

Email as attachment: Send a copy of the document to people. You can change the format.

Version history: See all the changes you and others have made to the document or revert to earlier versions.

Publish to the web: Publish a copy of your document as a webpage, or embed your document in a website.

3. Enhance your document by adding features.

Image: Insert an image from your computer, the web, Drive, and more.

Table: Select the number of columns and rows to create a table.

Drawing: Create pictures, flowcharts, diagrams, and more.

Link: Add a link to a webpage or a header or bookmark in your document.

Chart: Add different types of charts, or add a chart from Sheets.

Bookmark: Add shortcuts to specific places within your document.

Table of contents: Create an autogenerated table of contents that links to each heading (where you've applied heading styles).

4. Click Share to share your document and then choose what collaborators can do. They'll also receive an email notification.

5. Collaborate with your team in real time.

Google, G Suite, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.

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Create and simultaneously edit text documents with your team, right in your browser. Write reports, create joint project proposals, keep track of meeting notes, and more. All changes are saved automatically. Get Docs: Web (docs.google.com), Android, or iOS 1. Edit and add styles to your text. 2.

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Digital Tools for Everyday Tasks - Applied Digital Skills from Google

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In this free adult education course, students use Google Docs and Gmail to collaborate on a document and communicate over email while learning basic digital skills for future education and careers.

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Use keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs to navigate, format, and edit.

Note: Some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards.

To open a list of keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs, press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (Mac).

To search the menus, press Alt + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or Option + / (Mac).

You can also use menu access keys. Open any application menu using the keyboard, then type the underlined letter for the item you'd like to select. For example, to open the Insert menu on a Mac, press Ctrl + Option + i. To select "Image," type the underlined letter i.

PC shortcuts

Screen reader shortcuts

The shortcuts below help you work with a screen reader. Before you use them, turn on screen reader support. Learn how to turn on screen reader support.

Navigation shortcuts

Two groups of shortcuts below help you move quickly through your document or table:

Move to the next or previous item with Ctrl + Alt + n or Ctrl + Alt + p followed by another key.

Move quickly around a table with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + t followed by another key.

Mac shortcuts

Screen reader shortcuts

The shortcuts below help you work with a screen reader. Before you use them, turn on screen reader support. Learn how to turn on screen reader support.

Navigation shortcuts

Two groups of shortcuts below help you move quickly through your document or table:

Move to the next or previous item with Ctrl + ⌘ + n or Ctrl + ⌘ + p followed by another key.

Move quickly around a table with Ctrl + ⌘ + Shift + t followed by another key.

Chrome OS shortcuts

Screen reader shortcuts

The shortcuts below help you work with a screen reader. Before you use them, turn on screen reader support. Learn how to turn on screen reader support.

Navigation shortcuts

Two groups of shortcuts below help you move quickly through your document or table:

Move to the next or previous item with Ctrl + Alt + N or Ctrl + Alt + p followed by another key.

Move quickly around a table with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + t followed by another key.

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Use keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs to navigate, format, and edit. Note: Some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards. To open a list of keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs, press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (Mac).

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Create a Document with Google Docs part I

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Create a Document with Google Docs part I

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Create a Document with Google Docs part II

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Create a Document with Google Docs part II

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How to Create Documents without MS Word: Intro to Google Docs Class #1

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How to Create Documents without Microsoft Word: Intro to Google Docs Class #2