Quick Answer
If you want to know how to download a Google Docs image, there are multiple ways depending on your image quantity and the type of device you’re using. If you need the least amount of time for one photo, your best bet is to use ‘Save to Keep‘. If you need to download several photos, then your most efficient method is:
File → Download → Web Page (.html, zipped).
If you want the quickest method and don’t care about quality, you can use a screenshot or the Snipping Tool. There are many ways to download an image from Google Docs because Google does not provide a regular ‘Save Image As‘ option.
Why Google Docs Makes Image Downloading Difficult
Google Docs isn’t an average document editor, but instead acts as if it were simply part of another website/group of pages. Because of this, pages may often not support “expected” behaviour (i.e., right-clicking on an image will not always show the usual web browser’s list of save options). Luckily, there are a number of different ways to successfully save images from Google Docs to your devices, and many of them take less than one minute!
Working on a Mac? You may also want to learn how to remove bookmarks on a Mac to keep your browser organized and clutter-free.
How to Download Image from Google Doc: Best Methods
1. Use Save to Keep for a Single Image
This is the fastest method of saving one image from Google Docs.
Best for
- Saving one image
- Fast downloads
- Beginnings
Steps
- Open the document in Google Docs on Chrome.
- Right-click on the image.
- Select “View More Actions” or “More Options”
- Select “Save to Keep”
- This will open a Google Keep panel on the right side window
- Right-click on the image from the Keep panel.
- Choose “Save Image As…
Why this method works well
Google Keep, it will create the image as a regular downloadable file (and it’s quick if you’re trying to find out how to download images from Google docs).
2. Download the Google Doc as a Web Page (.html, zipped)
This method is the best way to get all images from a document.
Best for
- Downloading several Images
- Higher Resolution Images
- Bulk Extraction
Steps
Open Your Google Document
2. Click on “File”
3. Move the Cursor over to “Download”
4. Select “Web Page (HTML, Zipped)”
5. Download the ZIP file
6. Extract the ZIP Archive
7. Open the Extracted Folder
8. Open the Images Folder
9. Typically, all of the images in the document will be automatically inside that folder.
Why this is often the best method
Instead of downloading each image one by one, when you create a zipped HTML file, Google Docs creates a separate images folder (located in the extracted folder). It’s much more efficient, orderly and practical!
3. Publish the Document to the Web
It allows the document to behave more like a regular webpage.
Best for
- Saving Images from a Browser
- More easy to save Images via Direct Right Click Downloading
Steps
- Open the Google Document
2. Open File Menu
3. Click on Share Menu
4. Select Publish to Web
5. Publish the Document
6. Open the Link Created
7. Right Click on Images
8. Select Save Image As
Why people use this method
After publishing to web, the document behaves more like a normal web page which usually provides for the normal ability to save images
4) Download as Microsoft Word (.docx)
If you are already using Microsoft Word then this method would work for you.
Best for
- Anyone who wants to be able to save documents with images
- Anyone who uses Microsoft Word on either a Windows or Mac computer.
Steps
1. Go to the Google document
2. Go to “File”
3. Hover over “Download”
4. Choose Microsoft Word (.docx)
5. Once the document has downloaded, open it in Microsoft Word
6. Find the image (and right click on it)
7. Choose “Save as Picture”
Limitation
If the document contains many images, this method will take much longer to complete.
5. Use a Screenshot or Snipping Tool
Screenshots can be useful in situations where you need a visual copy of something quickly.
Best for
- Emergency situations
- To capture quickly
- Single Image
Windows
- Press Windows + Shift + S
- Select the area of the image you would like to capture
- Save the Screenshot
Mac
- Press Command + Shift + 4
- Select the area of the image you would like to capture
- Save the Screenshot
Important note
Screenshots may not produce a good quality image, please consider using any of the other methods listed for keeping the image’s original file quality.
How to Save Images from Google Docs on Phone
While mobile apps do not have quite as many functions as computer web browsers, they still have a few easy workarounds that can help with downloading images off of Google documents.
Steps
- Open up the google document containing the image
- Tap on the desired image
- Copy the image
- Paste into notes, messages, or other applications
- Save the image from there
For image quality types of downloads, computers generally provide a better opportunity to get the highest quality versions of images.
Which Method Is Best?
Here’s a simple method to make your choice:
- Use the Keep option to produce one image to keep.
- Use the download option in HTML when downloading all images at once.
- Use the Publish to web option when saving (browser method).
- Use the Word file type (docx) when using Word as a document.
- Use screenshots when speed is more important than quality.
A good solution really depends on how important speed vs quality versus the ability to download more than one file at a time.
Common Problems and Fixes
“Save image as” is missing
That’s typical for Google Docs – one way to get around this is by clicking:
- Keep to save
- HTML zipped download
- Publishing to the web
The image looks blurry
ake screenshots sparingly; better quality will come from either an HTML download or by publishing to the web
I need all images at once
Use:
Click File → Download → Web Page (.html, zipped)
I’m using a phone
Copying and pasting generally is faster, but the desktop method is more dependable for getting full-quality downloads.
FAQs
Q. Can I download images from Google Docs in original quality?
Yes. Here are some typical ways to do this:
- Zipped download of an HTML file
- Publish document to web
Q. Can I download all images from one Google Doc at once?
Yes. The easiest way for most users is to download as a zipped HTML file.
Q. Is there a direct “Save image as” option in Google Docs?
Not always, this is why so many people use Google Keep or download directly as a zipped HTML file.
Q. What is the fastest way to download one image?
Most users will find saving the image to Keep is the quickest method.
Conclusion
If you are looking for guidance on how to download an image from a Google Doc, the easiest method will vary depending on your situation.
- If you want to download a single image, Save to Keep is most often the quickest method
- If you want to download multiple images, then typically, downloading the Google Doc as a Web Page ZIP file would be your best option.
- If you want to download quickly, using a screen shot can still be a good alternative when convenience is more important than quality.
Once you have figured out the correct work-around for downloading images from Google Docs, it will be an easy and automatic process to perform.
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