Google Docs to Markdown: 3 Quick Methods

Why Convert Google Docs to Markdown?

My team migrated 50+ Google Docs to GitBook last year. Manual conversion took two days. Now I convert a document in 2 minutes using these three methods.

Method 1: Docs to Markdown Plugin (Recommended)

Converts directly in Google Docs, no copy-paste needed.

Installation

1. Open Google Docs
2. Click "Extensions" → "Get add-ons"
3. Search "Docs to Markdown"
4. Install (free)

Usage

1. Open document
2. "Extensions" → "Docs to Markdown" → "Convert"
3. Copy from right panel

Test Results

Format	Result
Headings/Bold/Italic/Lists	Perfect ✓
Links/Tables/Code	Perfect ✓
Images	Links only ⚠️

Pros & Cons

Pros: Works in Google Docs, 90% format retention, batch support, free

Cons: Images become links, complex tables need adjustment, requires plugin

Method 2: doc2markdown.com

Fastest for occasional conversions.

Steps

1. Select all in Google Docs (Ctrl+A)
2. Copy (Ctrl+C)
3. Paste at doc2markdown.com

Tool auto-detects formats, shows preview in 1-2 seconds.

Image Handling

• Auto-extracts and uploads images
• Free tier has storage limits
• Converted Markdown includes working image links

Best For

• Few documents
• No plugin wanted
• Many images
• Team collaboration

Notes

• 5MB limit per document
• Complex formats may be lost
• Don't use for sensitive documents

Method 3: Google Docs → Word → Markdown

Highest format retention (95%), best for complex documents.

Steps

1. Google Docs: "File" → "Download" → "Microsoft Word (.docx)"
2. Open doc2markdown.com
3. Upload .docx file
4. Download Markdown

Why Better?

• Images embedded (not links)
• Table structure preserved
• Code blocks intact

Batch Conversion

Use Google Takeout:

1. Select "Drive"
2. Choose files/folders
3. Format: "Microsoft Word (.docx)"
4. Create export

After download, use Pandoc script for batch processing.

Format Preservation Tips

Images

1. Before: Use stable image host links
2. After: Check all links work
3. Batch replace with script if needed

Tables

• Simple tables: Direct conversion works
• Complex tables: Simplify structure or use HTML

Links

• Internal doc links may break
• Check all links after conversion

Selection Guide

• < 5 docs: Method 2 (fastest)
• 5-20 docs: Method 1 (no switching)
• 20+ docs: Method 3 (batch + script)
• Many images: Method 2 or 3
• Complex format: Method 3 (95% retention)

Common Issues

Q: Code blocks messed up?
A: Use monospace font (Courier New/Consolas) before conversion.

Q: Table display wrong?
A: Markdown tables are simple. Simplify structure or use HTML.

Q: Chinese garbled?
A: Save with UTF-8 encoding.

Q: Convert collaborative docs?
A: Yes, if you have view permissions. Confirm document is final first.

Summary

Three methods for different needs:

1. Plugin: Quick conversion in Google Docs
2. Online tool: Auto image handling
3. Word export: Highest retention

I use plugin for regular docs, doc2markdown.com for image-heavy docs. Try all three to find your best fit.