Collaborating on documents is easier than ever with Google Docs. The ability to work in real-time and add comments directly in the document streamlines feedback and revisions. However, you may eventually need to download the document with the comments intact.
Fortunately, downloading a Google Doc file with comments is simple. In this guide, you’ll learn the step-by-step process to save Google Docs complete with annotations. We’ll also cover the key benefits of downloading docs with remarks and expert tips to optimize collaborations.
Why Download Google Documents with Comments
Before jumping into the “how”, let’s review the top reasons to save Google files with embedded notes:
- Preserve Feedback History – Downloading maintains a record of all suggestions, questions and responses for future reference.
- Share Offline – You can distribute the file to anyone, even those without Google accounts to view remarks.
- Archive Revisions – Saving iterations with commentary timestamps key milestones in the document’s evolution.
- Print Comments – Printing a paper copy with annotations is only possible from a saved version.
Whether for archival purposes, sharing with wider audiences or maintaining a progress log, downloading Google Docs with comments is advantageous.
How to Save Google Doc Files with Annotations
Downloading a Google document with embedded commentary is simple. Follow these steps:
- Open the Google Doc file you want to save in your web browser.
- Click “File” then select “Download”.
- Choose “Microsoft Word (.docx)” as the download format.
- On your computer, open the .docx file in Microsoft Word.
- Click “Review” then “Show Comments” to view remarks.
- Click “File” then “Save As” to save the document with comments on your computer or network.
Once downloaded and opened in Word, you will be able to see and preserve all suggestions and discussions.
Tip: You can also use the Chrome extension Full Page Screen Capture to save webpages as PDFs, including Google Docs with comments.
Alternative Methods to Download Annotated Google Files
Saving Google documents with embedded notes as Word files is the simplest method. However, you have a few other options as well:
- Convert to PDF – Use the Google Docs printing option to save as a PDF with remarks included.
- Copy All Content – You can manually copy over the text and paste it into Word or another document type, together with the posted commentaries.
- Export as a Webpage – Downloading as an HTML file and opening in a browser is another approach to retain comments.
While these options add a few extra steps, they allow you to store the collaborative document in other formats. This is useful for sharing across devices or applications that require specific file types.
Best Practices for Collaborating with Google Docs Comments
Now that you know how to preserve your team’s feedback by downloading Google Drive files, let’s go over some top tips for optimizing collaborations:
- Use @mentions – Tag team members in a comment to notify them directly of a pending request or query.
- Share links to specific remarks – Provide direct links to comments when you need to highlight an important point.
- Customize notifications – Adjust settings so you are notified of all comments or only mentions.
- Resolve obsolete threads – Mark discussions as resolved once they are no longer relevant to keep the focus on active issues.
With these guidelines, your docs will have focused, constructive, and organized commentary between co-collaborators.
Retain Valuable Feedback by Saving Google Files with Annotations
As we’ve shown, downloading Google Documents with embedded communications maintains a complete record of suggestions and responses on the document. Whether working with internal teams or external clients, retaining these valuable discussions in a saved file facilitates transparent editing with attribution.
With the methods outlined, you can easily export Google Docs of all types, including:
- Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations
- Forms
- Drawings
Saving your collaborative files with comments is a best practice for streamlining long-term, multi-user projects.
Hopefully this guide has provided you with clarity on the process, advantages and tips for downloading Google Drive docs with embedded annotations. With a few clicks, you can preserve edit histories across your organization and third-party partners.
