Key Takeaways:

  • Templates in Google Drive are documents or files with a pre-designed format for a specific Gsuite app.
  • Users can learn how to create a template in Google Docs to add variety and creativity to their work.
  • The benefits of using templates include reusing them as many times as possible.

Google Docs is a great word processing program. It’s free, web-based, and allows users to collaborate seamlessly. But what if you want greater customization and control over your Google Docs template? In such a case, you’ll need to develop one from scratch or modify an existing template. So, it’s best to learn how to create a template in Google Docs.

Google Docs users can combine text with formulas, lists, tables, and photos. Then, they can import, create, edit, and update documents and tables from various sources and file formats. Resume templates for Google Docs are the most sought-after templates for they promise the best job opportunities.

How To Create A Template In Google Docs

There are a few templates in Google Docs, but if you want to create your own for meeting notes, company letters, or anything else, do you need to build regularly? There are some ways how to create a template in Google Docs. The rights and capabilities for template creation are different for free and paid users of Google Workspace.

You can create a template for many purposes, for example, a custom book template, a personal Google Docs Resume Template, a fillable template like a form for some purpose, a calendar template for Google Docs, etc.

Create A Public Template In Google Docs

If you’ve created a great Google Doc layout that you’d like to share with others in your organization or that you’ll want to use again and again, you may submit it to Google Docs as a template, which will make it available and reusable. Creating a public template is possible only when you have a paid Google workspace.

Let’s check and understand how to create a template in Google Docs in a few easy steps:

Step 1: Open Google Docs in your browser (preferably Google Chrome browser). You need to sign in if you have not already signed in.

Select the Google Docs Application.
Select the Google Docs Application.

Step 2: Click on the Blank document to create a new Google Docs file.

Click on the blank document
Click on the blank document

Step 3: Design the Google Doc template you wish to use further.

Design the template
Design the template

Step 4: Give your template document a name that you feel is appropriate.

Rename the template
Rename the template

Step 5: Open Google Docs in your browser.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 6: Click on the Template gallery on the top right side of the window.

Click on the Google Template gallery option
Click on the Google Template gallery option

Step 7: Click on your organization name tab beside the General tab.

Select the organization tab
Select the organization tab

Step 8: Click on the Submit template button.

Click on the Submit template button
Click on the Submit template button

Step 9: A popup window will appear. Click on the select a document button.

Click on the Select a document button
Click on the Select a document button

Step 10: Select the document you just created from the drive.

Select the file template you just designed
Select the file template you just designed

Step 11: On the popup window, you get an option to submit a copy of the original document instead of the original document. Slide or un-slide as you feel appropriate.

Slide if you want to create a copy of the document
Slide if you want to create a copy of the document

Step 12: If you slide the button, you need to give the new document a title for the document. This is one of the most vital steps for how to create a template in Google Docs.

Give the template a title
Give the template a title

Step 13: Select the category from the dropdown list for which type your template fits.

Select the category for the template
Select the category for the template

Step 14: Once done with the above procedures, click the submit button.

Click on the submit button
Click on the submit button

Your template is ready to be used by you and everyone in your organization. Similarly, you can make an agenda template in Google Docs and share it with your peers.

The template is now ready to use
The template is now ready to use

Create A Private Template In Google Docs

You can create a template in Google Docs even when you have a free version. The template will be private unless you opt to share it with others. Creating a private template in Google Docs is the same as creating a typical document.

Let’s check how to create a template in Google Docs and keep it private:

Step 1: Open Google Drive.

Click on the drive icon
Click on the drive icon

Step 2: Click on the +New button.

Click on the +New option
Click on the +New option

Step 3: Select the Folder option.

Select the Folder option
Select the Folder option

Step 4: Keep a name for the folder as My Templates or folder TEMPLATES or whatever name you feel is suitable for you.

Keep the name of the directory TEMPLATES
Keep the name of the directory TEMPLATES

Step 5: Click on the Create button. Your folder is created now.

Click on the Create button
Click on the Create button

Step 6: Open the Google Docs App.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 7: Click on the Blank option.

Click on the blank document
Click on the blank document

Step 8: Design your entire template using the functions in Google Docs as per your need.

Design the template

Save it in the folder that you have just created in the Drive.

Step 10: To save the file in a particular folder, click on the small icon that looks like the folder with an arrow icon on the side of the file’s name.

Click on the small folder icon
Click on the small folder icon

Step 11: Select the folder name and click on Move here.

Click on the Move button
Click on the Move button

These steps will solve your query about how to create a template in Google Docs privately.

Create A Template Using “Make a Copy” In Google Docs

Another option for making your domain templates is to create a Google document, name it “template,” and store it in a folder you can easily access.

Simply make a copy of the document whenever you need to use it. To make a copy of any document, select the three-dot menu and highlight it. Then choose to Make a copy from the drop-down menu.

This is also another way how to create a template in Google Docs. You can then edit the new record in any manner you like.

How To Use A Custom Template In Google Docs

Now that you know how to create a template in Google Docs, you need to understand how to use them.

Method 1:

Step 1: Open a blank Google Doc. Click on the File menu from the toolbar.

Click on the File menu
Click on the File menu

Step 2: Click on the New option.

Click on the New option
Click on the New option

Step 3: From the drop-down list, select From template option.

Select the From template options
Select the From template options

Step 4: Several templates list will open in front of you. Click on the organization tab.

Click on the tab with your organization name
Click on the tab with your organization name

Step 5: Select the template you just created.

Select the template
Select the template

Method 2:

Step 1: Open the Google Docs Application on your browser.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 2: Click on the Google Docs Template Gallery option.

Click on the Google Template gallery option
Click on the Google Template gallery option

Step 3: Click on your organization name template beside the general tab.

Click on the tab with your organization name
Click on the tab with your organization name

Step 4: Select the template you just created and use it.

Select the template
Select the template

Once you know how to create a template in Google Docs, you can also check the existing templates. Then, follow the abovementioned steps to use the existing templates for Google Docs already available in their Template Gallery.

You can even use add-ons like  Template Gallery for Docs for other additional templates. The add-on has many more templates in different categories not available in the Template gallery. For example, they have a wide variety of templates for Google Docs and Google Sheets like cover letter templates, a form template, resume template, recipe template, and so much more.

Display and Hide Template Gallery In Google Docs

Google has allowed you to hide or display the template gallery in Google Docs as per your choice.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs App on your computer.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 2: On the top right side, you can see the Template gallery option. Click on the three vertical dots.

Click on the three vertical dots
Click on the three vertical dots

Step 3: Select the option Hide template.

Click Hide all templates
Click Hide all templates

To unhide or display the template, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Google Docs App on your computer.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 2: Click on the three horizontal lines on the screen’s top left side.

Click on the three horizontal lines
Click on the three horizontal lines

Step 3: Select settings.

Click on the Settings option
Click on the Settings option

Step 4: Check the option ‘Display recent templates on home screens.’ 

Tick on the option to display the templates on the home screen
Tick on the option to display the templates on the home screen

Step 5: Click on the OK button.

Click the OK button
Click the OK button

How To Remove A Template From Google Docs

Now that you have understood how to create a template in Google Docs, you also need to know how to remove it. However, removing the template files is not that tough.

With a few simple steps, you can accomplish this task. First, follow these steps to delete the template from your template gallery.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs app on your computer.

Select the Google Docs Application
Select the Google Docs Application

Step 2: Click on the Template gallery option.

Click on the Google Template gallery option
Click on the Google Template gallery option

Step 3: Select the tab with your organization name.

Click on the tab with your organization name
Click on the tab with your organization name

Step 4: Click on the three vertical dots beside the template file you want to remove.

Click on the three vertical dots
Click on the three vertical dots

Step 5: Select the option Remove from the gallery.

Select the option Remove from gallery
Select the option Remove from gallery

Your template is now removed from the gallery and will no longer be treated as a template.

How To Create A Template In Google Docs On Smartphone

Though Google Docs App on smartphones might not have all the features, it gives you access to your files even when you are not near your desktop. You might be wondering how to create a template in Google Docs on your smartphone.

Well, you cannot exactly create the template, but you can design the template on your smartphone. Later, to save it as a template, you will need to access the desktop version of Google Docs.

Final Thoughts

We’re all aware that Google Docs provides various tools and benefits to its customers. You can use templates in Google Docs like in any other word processor (like Microsoft Word, LibreOffice). Once you learn how to create a template in Google Docs, you can have a unique and professional-looking document whenever you need one. 

Using a customized template, you can avoid showing the same type of Google Docs document. Despite this, it’s important to remember that Google Docs templates are always open to the public. One can also create a timeline template in Google Docs for perfect project planning. Google Docs, Spreadsheet, Presentations, Forms, Google Drawings, and Sites all have templates. 

A private template can be created but does not use the Google Docs Template Service.  Google Docs, sheets template gallery already has a category to cater to your needs. You can find all kinds of templates – Brochure template, Resume templates, Letter template, Booklet template, Newspaper Templates, Sales or Invoice template, Calender template, and a few more. By using the customized template, the whole content creation process gets faster.