Quick Links
Google Docs is packed with useful tools, but some of its best features often go unnoticed. One such feature is the Documents Tab, a powerful but overlooked tool that can make organizing and accessing your information much simpler.
Document Tabs in Google Docs
Document tabs, as the name suggests, allow you to create multiple tabs within a single Google Docs document. This is similar to having multiple sheets in a spreadsheet. With this feature, you can organize your content into different sections and easily access them through tabs displayed on the left-hand side of the document.
This feature is particularly useful forcreating lengthy documents like eBooksor manuals. Instead of relying solely on a table of contents, you can organize your content into easily navigable tabs. For example, you can separate each chapter of an eBook into its own tab, making it easier to edit and review.
That said, it’s also great for shorter documents. For instance, you could create the main content in one tab and keep notes in another.
Screenshot by Pankil Shah – No attribution required
you may name the tabs to reflect their content and even use emojis for added clarity. Further, clicking on a tab provides a quick overview of its headings without the need to open it.
Whensharing a Google Docs documentwith others, you can link directly to a specific tab. This is especially useful when you’re working with a team and want to guide collaborators to the exact section they need to focus on.
Viewing and Creating Document Tabs
When you open a Google Docs document, you’ll find theDocument tabssection on the left side of the screen. If it’s not visible, don’t worry—you may have hidden it previously. Simply click thebullet-point iconlocated in the top-left corner of the window to reveal it.
By default, every new Google Docs document includes a tab labeledTab 1, which serves as your starting point. You can add more tabs by clicking theplus icon. Once created, you can rename a tab by double-clicking its name and typing your desired label.
For improved organization, Google Docs also allows you to create subtabs. To do this, click thethree-dot menunext to an existing tab and selectAdd subtabfrom the resulting menu. Alternatively, you can drag one tab onto another to instantly turn it into a subtab. You can create up to three levels of subtabs in your Google Docs document.
If you need to change the order of your tabs, simply drag and drop them into the desired position, just like you would in a browser. This feature allows you to rearrange your content on the fly.
Modifying and Deleting Document Tabs
By default, each tab or subtab in Google Docs is marked with a document icon on the left. To customize a tab, simply click thethree-dot menunext to its name and selectChoose emojito assign an emoji. These emojis can act as visual cues, helping you differentiate or categorize tabs based on their content.
The same menu also offers options to duplicate, rename, or delete a tab, while theCopy linkoption generates a unique link for the tab that you’re able to share with others.
When you print a Google Docs document with tabs, only the active tab will be included in the printout. Unfortunately, there’s no built-in option to print all tabs at once. As a workaround, you’ll need to either print each tab individually or download the document from Google Drive and print it in its entirety.
Google Docs' tab-based organization system provides a streamlined way to structure complex documents. Instead of endlessly scrolling through a lengthy document or navigating via thetable of contents in Google Docs, this approach makes it much easier to access and manage your information.
