Take Your PDF Editing to Google Drive

Can You Edit PDFs with Google Drive?

Google Drive is great for viewing, sharing, and even commenting on PDFs, but not so much for full editing. It doesn’t let you make direct changes to a PDF file. Instead, it converts the PDF into a Google Doc, which can mess with the formatting—something you probably don’t want.

This is where Smallpdf comes in. With Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool, you can edit a PDF with Google Drive without any fancy software or skills. It’s quick, simple, and doesn’t mess with your layout.

How To Edit a PDF with Google Drive and Smallpdf

You want to be able to access your PDFs from anywhere and using any device. So, there’s a good chance you already save them to Google Drive. To open and edit PDFs easily with Smallpdf, make sure you’re signed into your Google Account first. Once that’s sorted, here’s your super-simple step-by-step guide to get it done:

1. Open your PDF in Google Drive. The document will open with Google’s built-in PDF viewer.
2. Click on the “Open with” button just above the document.
3. Select “Smallpdf” from the list of connected apps.
4. Log in to your Smallpdf account and make your changes—add text, highlight sections, or add annotations.
5. Click “Finish” once you’ve made all the necessary changes.
6. Click on the downward arrow next to “Download.”
7. Choose “Save to Google Drive.” Easy as that!

The Edit PDF tool needs a Pro subscription, but you can give it a spin for free with a 7-day trial and unlock unlimited access to all its features.

Why Smallpdf Is the Best Companion for Google Drive

Google Drive is fantastic for managing files and keeping them accessible from anywhere, but when it comes to PDFs, it has a few limits. If you try to edit a PDF in Google Drive, the file gets converted into a Google Doc. While that might sound fine at first, the conversion can wreak havoc on your formatting. Images might move around, fonts could change, and complex layouts don’t always survive the process. After making your changes, you must also remember to re-download the file as a PDF, which can be a bit of a hassle.

Another drawback is that comments added while editing in Google Docs don’t carry over when you save the file back as a PDF. So, if you’re working on a document where precision matters—like highlighting sections or making annotations—you’re left with incomplete results.

By using Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool alongside Google Drive, you can edit PDFs directly without any conversions or formatting issues. Whether it’s aligning text, modifying text, adding annotations, or highlighting important details, Smallpdf keeps everything looking exactly as it should. You also don’t need to download the file to your device. Once you’ve made your edits, you can save and sync it straight back to Google Drive, so everything stays organized and accessible.

Smallpdf and Google Drive make the perfect team for easy, seamless PDF editing without the frustration of lost formatting or extra steps. It’s a simple solution that works for everyone, no matter how tech-savvy you are.

Other Smallpdf Tools That Integrate with Google Drive

Once you’ve nailed editing, there’s a lot more Smallpdf can do with Google Drive:

• Need to tweak formats? Smallpdf lets you convert PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
• Want smaller file sizes? Compress your PDFs in seconds.
• Need to combine two or more PDFs? Use Smallpdf’s Merge PDF tool to easily combine multiple PDF documents.

It’s like a full-on PDF toolbox, all in one place.

FAQs for PDF Editing in Google Drive

Is there a free PDF editor in Google Drive?

Google Drive allows you to view, store, and comment on PDFs, but it doesn’t offer full editing capabilities. For proper edits—like adding text, highlighting, or adjusting formatting—you’ll need tools like Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool, which works seamlessly with Google Drive and doesn’t require any downloads.

Can I edit a PDF in Google Docs without affecting the formatting?

Unfortunately, no. When Google Docs converts your PDF for editing, it can disrupt fonts, images, and layouts, especially in more complex files. If you want to preserve the original formatting, Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool lets you make changes without converting the document, ensuring everything stays intact.

How can I edit complex PDFs?

Editing complex PDFs can be tricky, but Smallpdf makes it easy. With tools to align text, adjust formatting, and add annotations, you can make changes without losing the document’s structure. It’s particularly helpful for files with tables, graphics, or detailed layouts.

Can I put a PDF in Google Drive?

Yes, Google Drive lets you upload and store PDFs with just a few clicks. Once uploaded, you can view or share the file no matter where you are or what device you’re using. For full editing, though, you can pair Google Drive with Smallpdf to make adjustments and keep everything stored in one place.

Can I highlight a PDF in Google Drive?

Google Drive allows you to highlight sections of your document after converting it to Google Docs format. But you must remember to download the document in PDF format again once you’re done. If you need better highlighting features or want to annotate with more detail, Smallpdf gives you the tools to highlight specific text or sections directly within the PDF.

How do I comment on a PDF in Google Drive?

You can’t comment on a PDF in Google Drive or Google Docs. While Google Docs does have an “Add comment” option, the comment is not visible once you save the document as a PDF again. Our PDF Annotator tool allows you to add text comments to PDFs without having to convert the document. And once you download your updated document, the text comments are still visible.

Editing PDFs doesn’t have to be a pain. By using Smallpdf alongside Google Drive, you get the best of both worlds: seamless PDF editing and simple storage.