Rebuilding the same document means repeating the same formatting and typing. To create a template in Google Docs, save your layout and placeholder text in a master document, then copy it whenever you need a fresh version. Start with the computer steps below, or jump to the phone and tablet instructions or your organization's template gallery.
Create a master document you can reuse
On your computer, create or customize a Google Docs document with the layout you want to reuse. Add placeholders such as [Name], [Date], and [Project title] wherever the details will change. This method works with personal and Workspace accounts when copying is permitted.
Give the master a recognizable name, such as “Project brief template.” Keep it for future copies.
To create a fresh version, open the master and select File > Make a copy.
Enter a name and destination for the duplicate, then click Ok.
Replace the placeholders in the duplicate with the details for that use.
If copying from inside Docs fails, try Google Drive in Chrome on your computer. At drive.google.com, right-click the master and select Make a copy. Open the duplicate to customize it. The file must still permit copying.
Start with a built-in design
Use a Google template when you want an existing layout to adapt. The customized document becomes your reusable master.
On the Docs home page, click Template Gallery.
Select a template to open a copy.
Replace the example content with your reusable text and placeholders. Keep the finished document as your master for future copies.
For the alternative route inside an open document, select File > New > From a template.
Select a design.
Click Insert. If the document already contains content, the template opens in new document tabs.
Customize the inserted template as your master.
Restore hidden home-screen templates
A disabled display setting hides the home-screen template controls.
On the Docs home page, open Menu > Settings.
Enable Display recent templates on home screens.
This setting controls visibility. It does not give a personal account permission to submit custom templates to an organization's gallery.
Make reusable copies on your phone or tablet
Use the Google Docs app to keep and copy a master on Android, iPhone, or iPad.
- 1.Create and format the document you want to keep as your master.
- 2.In the app's file list, tap More beside the master's name.
- 3.Tap Make a copy.
- 4.On Android, enter a title, choose the destination, and tap Ok. On iPhone or iPad, the duplicate opens for editing.
- 5.Customize the duplicate with the details for this use.
Share the master for others to copy
Open Share on your master document to give someone access to your reusable layout.
Enter the recipients, choose Viewer, and click Send or Share. Leave copying permitted so recipients can create their own versions.
Ask recipients to open the document and select File > Make a copy before making changes. Organizational sharing restrictions and inherited folder permissions also govern access.
Submit a custom template to your work or school gallery
Custom gallery submission is unavailable when your account is ineligible or your organization has disabled custom templates.
A personal Google account does not support organization-gallery submissions. You need an eligible work or school account; paying for a Google subscription alone does not establish eligibility. Submission also requires permission to change the document's sharing settings, and the file cannot block downloading for viewers or commenters.
On a computer, open the Docs home page.
Select Template gallery > your organization's name > Submit template > Select a document.
Choose your prepared master.
Click Open.
To submit a copy, select the checkbox for that option.
Choose a category.
Click Submit.
For subsequent uses, select the template from your organization's gallery. If your account cannot submit templates, use the master-and-copy method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use keyboard shortcuts to duplicate my template?
Yes. In Google Drive in Chrome on a computer, select the master and press Ctrl+C. Open the destination folder and press Ctrl+V. On macOS, use Command+C and Command+V. These shortcuts copy the file; they do not register a gallery template.
Can I start with a built-in template on my phone?
Yes. In the Google Docs app on Android, iPhone, or iPad, tap New (+), then Choose template. Tap a design and customize it. Keep the resulting document as your master for copying.
Can Google Docs remember my formatting without a full template?
Yes. Customize your paragraph styles, then select Format > Paragraph styles > Options > Save as my default styles. This saves text formatting, not the complete document's content or layout. To apply those styles to an existing document, select Use my default styles from the same submenu.
Can I make a template with fields that update throughout the document?
Eligible work or school accounts support variable chips in Google Docs on a computer. Select Insert > Smart chips > Variables, then click Insert new variable. Use Tools > Variables to insert repeated instances. Click a chip and enter its value to update its other occurrences in the document.