Google Docs is the most popular online and mobile word processing platform. With Google Docs, you can make significant changes to create a nearly perfect document. All you need is a Gmail account to get started. But what if you don’t want to leave a trace of your modification on Google Docs?
There is no direct method to edit Google documents without a Google account unless the file owner is willing to make the edits for you. However, there are a few workarounds that you can implement to modify the document file in Gdocs without a Gmail account, and it’s completely free.
Method 1: Share a Public Link and Grant Editor Access
You can share a public link to the document file and grant editor access to it. This allows the user to edit the document without logging into a Gmail account. The changes made in Gdocs will be attributed to anonymous users.
How to edit or view Google documents anonymously?
Even if the owner checks the revision history of this document, there will be no indication of the editor since no Google account is connected. Here’s how to grant editor access:
- Grant editor access to the public sharing link for the document.
- If you’re viewing the doc file in Google Drive, open the additional options and click on Get link.
- If you’re inside a document, then click on the Share button at the top right.
- Make the link public by selecting Anyone with the link.
- Change the permissions to Editor and click Done.
- Now, if someone opens the link in a private window or without being logged into a Google account, they can modify the file as an anonymous user.
- The changes you make to the document will be attributed to anonymous users.
Method 2: Edit Google Documents Directly in the Chrome Browser
One thing that the Chrome browser doesn’t allow is directly opening Microsoft Office Word files and Google Docs files inside the browser. But with the use of an office extension, you can directly edit Google Docs files within the Chrome browser using the Office Editing for Chrome extension.
- Download the Google Docs file in *.docx format.
- Open the Office Editing for Chrome extension. The extension is developed by Google.
- Now, click on the Add to Chrome button.
- A pop-up box will appear, click Add extension to confirm.
- A file will be downloaded and automatically added to the Chrome browser.
- Simply drag and drop the Word document file onto the Chrome search bar.
- Press Enter and the Doc file will load in the browser with a minimal editing toolbar.
- You can make changes and click the file option to Save as Google Docs.
Method 3: Disable Google Document Export Option
If the export option is disabled and you can’t download the Google Docs file, you can try a workaround to download and modify it. You can either directly upload the downloaded file into Google Docs or open it in Chrome using method #2.
- There is a detailed blog on how to download a Google Docs file in “read-only” mode.
- Once the file is downloaded, you can either upload the file into Google Docs.
- Or you can open the document in the Chrome browser using the Office extension as in method #2.
Conclusion
With this simple guide, you can modify Google document files such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without having a Gmail account. Although there is no direct or straightforward method to edit the document anonymously, there are a few workarounds that can be helpful and are listed above. If you have any further questions, please comment below.
