To download Google Docs with comments as PDF, you must use a workaround because Google Docs does not offer a direct built-in feature to include comments when exporting to PDF. The most reliable method is to download the document as a Microsoft Word (.docx) file, which preserves comments, and then convert that file to a PDF using Word's print or save options.
Why you can't directly download Google Docs with comments as a PDF
Comments in Google Docs exist outside the main document content and are not automatically included when exporting directly to PDF format. Google Docs lacks a direct feature for this, so the standard "Download as PDF" option will produce a clean document without any comments or markup visible. This limitation makes the workaround through Microsoft Word necessary for anyone who needs a permanent record of feedback alongside the document text, but if your comments vanish during that conversion you can fix Google docs comments that disappear after exporting to word.
Step 1: Download your Google Doc as a Microsoft Word (.docx) file
Open the document you want to save. From the top menu, select "File," then "Download," and choose "Microsoft Word (.docx)." When downloaded as a .docx file, comments are preserved within the document, typically appearing in the margins or markup area. This format retains the comment structure that Google Docs uses, making it the essential bridge between the online document and a PDF that includes feedback.
Step 2: Open the file in Microsoft Word and print to PDF
Open the downloaded .docx file in Microsoft Word on your desktop. To print to PDF from Word, go to "File," then "Print," and choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" or "Save as PDF" as your printer option. Before printing, ensure that the print settings are configured to show comments. This setting ensures that comments are printed in the margins of the resulting PDF file.
Step 3: Save as PDF with comments using 'Save As' in Word
As an alternative to printing, use the "Save As" method. In Word, go to "File," then "Save As," and choose "PDF" from the file type dropdown. This method produces a PDF where comments appear in the margin area, identical to how they would print. Both the print and save approaches achieve the same result, so choose whichever fits your workflow.
Limitations on mobile and other devices
On mobile devices, while you can download Google Docs as a PDF, the options for including comments might be more limited compared to the desktop version. The Google Docs app does not provide a way to export comments directly to PDF, and third-party apps may not reliably preserve comment formatting. The desktop Word workaround is the most reliable method for ensuring all comments appear in the final PDF, much like how you can download Google sheets to desktop for full offline access. If you need to download Google Doc with comments from a mobile device, the best approach is to request the document as a .docx file and process it on a computer with Microsoft Word installed.
