How to Use Charts in Google Docs

When it comes to presenting documents, visual elements such as charts and graphs help us understand data faster and better. Whether for an academic report or a work presentation, the use of charts has become a regular occurrence. No wonder, therefore, that platforms like Google Docs make adding and editing graphics very easy.

We’ll show you different ways to add, edit, and customize charts and graphs in Google Docs. So let’s get started.

How to Add Charts in Google Docs

Google Docs offers several ways you can add graphics. You can import one from Google Sheets or create a new one from scratch and edit it later. Here’s how they work.

Stage 1: Open your Google Docs document.

Step 2: Use the Insert menu at the top to navigate to Chart and select a chart type (Bar, Column, Line, or Pie) you want to use in your Google Docs document.

Alternatively, you can import a chart from any of your existing spreadsheets in Google Sheets. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Open your Google Docs document and go to Insert > Charts > From Sheets.

Step 2: Here you will see all the spreadsheets in your account. Select the spreadsheet you want to import the chart from.

Stage 3: Then select all the charts you want to insert from the spreadsheet. If you don’t want the chart to be linked to the spreadsheet, uncheck ‘Link to spreadsheet’. Finally, click on Import.

And that’s about it. You will now see your chart in your Google Docs document. From here you can move, resize and position the chart like an image in Google Docs.

How to Edit Charts in Google Docs

After you add the chart to your document, you will notice that Google Docs does not allow you to click and edit the chart. You will need to open it in Google Sheets for this. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Select your chart in Google Docs. Now use the down arrow in the top right to select Open source.

Step 2: A Google Spreadsheet opens in a new tab with the chart’s data. Use the cells above the chart to organize the data according to your needs; The chart will be updated accordingly.

Stage 3: After making all the changes, go back to your Google Docs document, select your graphic and click the Update button that appears at the top.

Isn’t it easy? Now that you know how to insert and edit the chart, let’s see how you can customize your chart in Google Docs.

How to Customize Charts in Google Docs

While Google Docs doesn’t let you edit the data directly, it does offer a few customization options you can use to change the look and feel of the chart. Here’s how to do it.

Stage 1: Open your Google Docs document and select the graphic you want to customize.

Step 2: Use the three-dot menu from the toolbar below the chart and select All display options.

On your right, a menu of Image options will appear. Under Size and rotation, you can edit and rotate the width and height of the chart.

Similarly, you can add more colors to your chart by choosing from the available combinations under Recolor.

Finally, under Adjustment, you can fine-tune other aspects of the chart such as Transparency, Brightness, and Contrast.

When you’re done with the changes, click the X in the upper-right corner to close the Display options menu.

How to Unlink or Delete Charts in Google Docs

By default, your Google Docs chart is linked to the source spreadsheet. Any changes you make to the spreadsheet can be applied to the chart with one click. However, if you’re happy with your chart and don’t want to update it anymore, Google Docs also lets you unlink it from the source spreadsheet. Here’s how.

To unlink a graphic, select the graphic and use the down arrow menu in the top right to select Unlink.

Similarly, if you want to remove a graphic from your Google Docs document, right-click on it and select Delete.

You can also select the graphic and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Data at a Glance

Google Docs definitely makes charts and graphs easy to use. That said, Google Docs only allows the use of charts in its web version and we hope it brings the same functionality to its mobile app soon.