There are several reasons that can stop you downloading files from Google Docs. An outdated Chrome version, inappropriate file permissions, or conflicting extensions are just a few of the causes. Fortunately, we have put together a list of solutions that will help you fix this issue and get back to work in no time.
1. Ask for Approval
If you can’t download a shared document, you might not have permission to do it. If the Download option is greyed out, you have to ask the file’s owner to give you permission.
2. Check Google Chrome Version
Usually, Chrome updates in the background when you close and open it, but sometimes it might miss an update. Follow these steps to update Google Chrome:
- Check the three-dot icon from the top-right corner. If there is an Update button, there is a pending update.
- If there is no Update button, but you still want to check Chrome's versions, select Help > About Google Chrome.
- In case you see the message “Chrome is up-to-date”, there are no new updates available.
Note: If you decide to update Chrome, save your work in progress, as Chrome will reopen the tabs but will not save any data the tabs contain.
3. Use Incognito Mode
Sometimes, malfunctioning browser extensions or outdated caches will cause your browser to stop working properly. You can go around the issue by opening Chrome in Incognito mode. Open the three-dot menu from the top-right corner and select New incognito window, or use the Ctrl + Shift + N keyboard shortcut.
If you can download docs while using Incognito mode, you should clear Google Chrome’s cache. Open Chrome’s menu and head to Settings > Privacy and Security. There, select Clear browsing data to remove all cache.
4. Check Installed Extensions
If you still can’t download Google Docs after deleting the cache data, you should check the list of installed extensions and remove any unnecessary extensions. Once you remove all shady extensions, disable the remaining ones and re-enable them one by one, so you can identify the extension that is causing you problems.
If you are using an ad-blocking extension, it might stop Google Docs from starting downloads. You can add Google Docs to the extension's whitelist if you don't want to turn off the extension.
5. Allow Multiple Downloads
Google Chrome comes with a safety measure that stops you from downloading files one after another. Here is how you can change this setting:
- Open the Chrome menu and click Settings.
- Scroll down to Privacy and security and select Site Settings.
- Head to Additional permissions > Automatic downloads.
- Below Default behavior, check the Sites can ask to automatically download multiple files (recommended) option.
- Check the Not allowed to automatically download multiple files section and make sure Google Drive is not added to the list.
6. Use the Save as PDF Option
If you don’t have the time to configure Chrome settings, you can download Google Docs as PDFs on your laptop or PC. From the File menu, select Print, and set Destination to Save as PDF.
You can use the additional options to select if you want to save all the document’s pages, how many pages per sheet, or configure the margins.
You may not be able to download large documents, so splitting them by specifying which pages you want to save is a good idea. After downloading them, you can put together the split PDFs.
7. Use Another Browser
While Google Docs works best in Chrome, test if you can download Google documents while using another browser. Resetting Chrome to its default settings might fix the Google Docs issue if this works. Here is how you can do it:
- Click the three-dot menu and select Settings.
- Extend the Advanced menu and scroll down to Reset and clean up.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.
Download Your Google Docs Anytime
Google Docs is a great tool for accessing work and sharing it with others, so when some of its features stop working, it can be frustrating. Fortunately, our guide will walk you through the troubleshooting process.
To prevent this from happening again, especially when you are getting close to a deadline, you can update Google Chrome and make sure all extensions are functioning properly.
