Have you ever needed to save or download an image that you inserted into a Google Docs document? Images can visually enhance your documents and presentations in Google Docs. However, you may want to reuse an image for another project or need a copy to edit locally on your computer. Fortunately, downloading images from Google Docs is easy. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps.
Why Download Images from Google Docs
Here are some common reasons you may need to save a copy of an image used in a Google Doc:
- Reuse the image for another project – Once you find the perfect illustration or photo for one document, you’ll likely want to use it again later. Downloading the image lets you access it anytime without having to search for it.
- Edit or modify the image – While you can crop and make minor edits within Docs, major image touch-ups require photo editing software on your local device. Saving the image lets you open it in an editor like Photoshop.
- Use offline – If you plan to access the document offline, the inserted images won’t be visible unless they are also saved locally.
- Share with others – You may need to send the image file to a co-worker or include it in a separate document. Downloading it makes transferring easy.
Save Image from Google Docs to Your Computer
Saving an image from a Google Doc only takes a few clicks. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Open the Google Docs document containing the image you want to save.
- Click on the image to select it. A blue border will appear around the selected image.
- Right-click on the image. In the menu that appears, click ‘Save image as’. Save Image As
- In the window that opens, choose a save location on your computer – for example, the Downloads folder. Choose Save Location
- Rename the image if desired. The default name is the original file name. Click ‘Save’.
And that’s it! The image file now resides on your computer so you can access it anytime, even offline.
Tip: To save multiple images at once, hold Ctrl while clicking to select them before right-clicking.
Insert Saved Image Back into Google Docs
Once you’ve edited, reused, or shared your downloaded image file, you can easily put it back into Google Docs if needed:
- Open the Google Docs document where you want to insert the image.
- Click ‘Insert’ > ‘Image’.
- In the window that opens, select ‘Upload’ tab.
- Click ‘Select a file from your device’ and choose the image file from its saved location.
- Click ‘Select’ once chosen. The image will be inserted into your document automatically.
And your image is back in Google Docs!
Alternative Method – Download from Drive
There is also another way to save images used in Google documents:
- Open the Google Doc and click ‘File’ > ‘Version history’ > ‘See revision history’.
- Identify the version where you originally inserted the image. Click on the time stamp.
- Drive will open a read-only version of that document state. Click on the image you want to save.
- At the top right, click the three dot menu > ‘Download’.
- Choose download location and click ‘Save’.
This method is helpful if you forgot to save the image earlier and now need a copy. However, the steps above allow saving images with a simple right-click at any time.
Tips for Working with Images in Google Docs
When including images in your documents, keep these tips in mind:
- Check image permissions – Only use images you have rights to. Public domain and Creative Commons images are good options.
- Optimize resolution – Insert images at an appropriate resolution for the document. Large files will slow down performance.
- Enhance readability – Position images with enough surrounding white space so paragraphs are easy to read. Add captions for clarity.
- Credit sources – If using copyright images, be sure to provide attribution within the document.
Saving images from Google Docs only takes seconds. Now you can easily reuse great illustrations, edit images to perfection, and include photos in both online and offline content.
