How to Make Google Docs Documents Editable

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 08:07

This wikiHow teaches you how to share documents that are already saved in Google Docs and allow other users to edit them online. You can change the settings separately for each user and invite new editors via email or link.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Using Your Browser

Step 1. Open the Google Docs website via an internet browser

Type or paste the https://www.docs.google.com link into the address bar, then press Enter or Return on your keyboard.

If you're not automatically signed in to your account, sign in using the Google account you want

Step 2. Click the document you want to edit

You can find all the documents on this page. Just click on the document you want to set up for other contributors to edit. The document will be opened afterwards.

You can create or upload a new document by clicking the gray folder icon in the upper right corner of the document list

Step 3. Click the blue Share button

It's in the upper-right corner of the document. Document sharing preferences will open in a new pop-up window.

Step 4. Click Get shareable link in the top right corner of the screen

This button looks like a chain icon in a circle, in the upper-right corner of the “Share” pop-up window. Document sharing link will be displayed after that.

• The icon color will change to green.
• If the icon is green, a sharing link for the document is available, and you can click it to copy it to your computer's clipboard.

Step 5. Click the Anyone with the link can… drop-down option

This menu is above the document sharing link.

For some documents shared with you by other users, you may not be able to change editing settings. In this case, the button is labeled " Anyone with the link can view " and cannot be clicked

Step 6. Select Anyone with the link "can edit" on the drop-down menu

With this option, users with document sharing links can join and edit documents on the network through their accounts.

• Alternatively, you can enter email addresses manually in the " People " field at the bottom of the window, click the drop-down menu next to the email list, and select “ Can edit ”.
• You can now copy the share link at the top of the window and share the document with anyone. The link allows anyone to edit your document.

Step 7. Click on Advanced in the bottom right corner

It's a gray button in the lower-right corner of the “Sharing” pop-up window. A list of all users who shared the document will be displayed.

You can also copy the share link at the top of the window

Step 8. Enter your email address into the " Invite people " field (optional)

You can email people an invitation so they can access the document, and let them know they can edit the document.

• If you're typing in multiple email addresses manually, make sure you separate each address with a comma.
• If you don't want to send notifications, uncheck the "Notify people" box below the email field.

Step 9. Click the drop-down box next to the email field (optional)

Make sure the option Can edit ” has been selected for invited users.

• If Can edit ” is selected, you can see the pencil icon

  

• If Can comment ” is selected, you can see the speech bubble icon

  

• If " Can view ” is selected, you will see an eye icon.

Step 10. Click the blue Send button

An invitation message will be sent and a sharing link to the document will be attached to the selected contacts. All invited contacts can edit your document.

If you uncheck the box “ Notify people ”, you need to click “ OK ” and share the document sharing link manually.

Method 2 of 2: Using Google Docs Mobile App

Step 1. Open the Google Docs app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device

The Google Docs icon looks like a blue document sheet on a white background. You can find it on your device's home screen, folder, or app drawer.

Step 2. Find and touch the document you want to make editable

The document will be displayed in full screen.

Alternatively, touch the " +" at the bottom right corner of the screen and create a new document.

Step 3. Tap the bust icon with the "+" symbol at the top of the screen

You can see this button in the top right corner of the screen. The "Share" page will open after that.

• If you don't have permission to edit the sharing preferences of the shared document, you'll see a notification pop-up window.
• If you don't see the icon, tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen, select “ Share & export ” on the menu bar, and select “ Share ”.

Step 4. Touch the list of users under the "Who has access" section (optional)

A list of all users who can access the document is displayed.

You can touch the drop-down icon next to the user and select “ Editor ” to grant editing rights to selected users.

Step 5. Enter the contacts you want to invite to the document

Touch column “ People ” and type in the contact you want to add as an editor.

You can select users from your saved contacts or manually type in the email addresses of the contacts and separate them with commas

Step 6. Touch the drop-down menu next to the “People” column

A pop-up menu will open afterwards.

• The button will show a pencil icon

  

  for option Editor ”.

• The button will show the speech bubble icon

  

  for option Commentor ”.

• The button will only show an eye icon for the option “ Viewers ”.

Step 7. Select Editor in the pop-up window

With this option, all selected contacts can edit your document.

Step 8. Enter an invitation message for the contact (optional)

If you want to leave a message, use the “ Message ”.

Step 9. Touch the paper airplane icon

in the upper right corner of the screen.

Document sharing invitations will be sent to selected contacts. All invited users can now edit your document.