How to create and use templates in Google Docs
While it might seem easy, writing something from scratch is not as effortless as people think. Even the best professionals doubt their skills when faced with a blank screen and blinking cursor. Whether writing a resume or sales report, having a starting point can help you overcome that hurdle and finish your work. That’s where Google Docs templates can help. Google Docs offers dozens of templates for resumes, meeting notes, official letters, project proposals, and more, which you can use as a building block or inspiration.
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How to create templates in Google Docs
Google Docs lets users create and upload custom templates, but not all users can use this feature. The custom template feature is only available for Business Standard and Business Plus users, along with educational and non-profit accounts. You can check the complete list of supported accounts by visiting theGoogle Help Center page.
If your Google Workspace account is supported, but you still don’t see the custom templates feature, it means your account admin has disabled this feature. To resolve this issue, contact your account admin and ask them to enable this feature. If you are an account admin, open the Admin console, click the hamburger menu, and go toApps>Google Workspace>Drive and Docs>Templatesto enable this feature for users.
Once your account satisfies all the requirements, you can create custom templates. To create custom templates, create your template file or files in Google Docs. Then, ensure the Templates gallery option is available on your Google Docs homepage. If you don’t see it, open the hamburger menu and use the Settings panel to enable it.
How to use templates in Google Docs
Apart from the custom templates you created, you can access more than 50 built-in templates focusing on different writing assignments, including letters, essays, class notes, resumes, and office work. The good news is that these templates are available to both Google Workspace and free Google account users. So, even if you use a personal Gmail account, you can use these templates.
How to open a template in Google Docs on the web
How to add a template on Android
You can use the same steps on your Android device to start a document with a template. Click theAdd(+) button in the lower-right corner and select theChoose templatebutton to start.
How to add a template to an open Google Docs file
You can also insert a template in an open Google Docs blank document.
How to show the Template gallery on the Google Docs homepage
you may also show the Template gallery on the Google Docs homepage to access the templates Google offers.
How to create a Google Docs custom template with a personal Google account
If you use a personal Google account or one of the Google Workspace accounts that don’t support custom templates, you may use a workaround to use templates in Google Docs. It won’t be as easy and requires some extra steps, but it’s better than re-creating documents again and again.
How to create a custom template
How to open and use your custom template from Google Drive
How to open and use your custom template from Google Docs
Create and use templates in Google Docs
Google Docs templates provide a stepping stone for your work. Whether writing a business letter or creating a sales report for your next quarterly meeting, Google Docs templates can remove the stress of tackling a blank page. With Google Docs custom templates, you can save time, reduce the chances of making mistakes, and create a consistent structure for your official documents that your team can follow.
We wish Google would open access to its custom template feature to all its users. The workaround we included in this guide works, but it’s not ideal. However, we are stuck with this method until the company decides to do so. If you want to learn more about Google Docs' other features, likecreating and inserting signatures,adding page numbers, and more, check out our article onGoogle Docs tips and tricks.
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