If you’ve ever worked in Google Docs, you know how convenient it is for creating, editing, and sharing documents online. But what if you want to select all the text or elements in your document — without manually highlighting everything? Whether you’re formatting, copying, or deleting content, knowing how to select all in Google Docs can save you tons of time.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through every method to select all in Google Docs — from simple keyboard shortcuts to advanced tricks you probably didn’t know. Let’s dive in!
What Does “Select All” Mean in Google Docs?
“Select All” is a command that highlights every single element in your document — text, images, tables, and even links. Once everything is selected, you can apply actions to all of it at once, like changing the font, copying, or deleting.
Think of it like wrapping your entire document in a digital lasso. With just one click or key combo, everything inside gets highlighted and ready for action.
Why You Might Need to Select All
You might be wondering — why would anyone want to select everything at once?
Here are a few good reasons:
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Formatting: Change the font, color, or size of the entire document in one go.
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Copying: Copy the whole content to another file or platform.
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Deleting: Quickly clear your document to start fresh.
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Sharing: Copy everything to paste into an email or report.
Basically, if you’re making big edits or reformatting, “Select All” is your best friend.
How to Select All in Google Docs on Windows
If you’re on a Windows PC, this is the simplest and fastest method.
Steps:
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Open your Google Docs document.
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Click anywhere in the text area.
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Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard.
Boom! Everything in your document will be highlighted instantly. You’ll see the entire text turn blue, meaning it’s all selected.
How to Select All in Google Docs on Mac
For Mac users, the shortcut is slightly different.
Steps:
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Open your document in Google Docs.
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Click anywhere inside the page.
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Press Command (⌘) + A.
Just like on Windows, your entire document will be highlighted in one move.
How to Select All Using the Edit Menu
If you prefer using menus instead of shortcuts, here’s how:
Steps:
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Go to the menu bar at the top of your Google Docs page.
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Click on Edit.
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From the dropdown menu, select Select all.
This works on both Windows and Mac. It’s especially handy if you’re using a device without a full keyboard.
How to Select All on a Chromebook
Using Google Docs on a Chromebook? No problem!
Steps:
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Open your document.
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Press Ctrl + A.
That’s it! Chromebooks use the same shortcut as Windows, making it easy to remember.
How to Select All on Mobile (Android & iPhone)
Selecting all on the Google Docs mobile app is a bit different since you don’t have a keyboard.
Steps for Android and iPhone:
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Open the Google Docs app.
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Tap and hold on any word.
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Tap Select all from the pop-up menu.
Now everything in your document will be highlighted, ready for copying or editing.
How to Select All in a Specific Section
Sometimes you don’t want to select everything, just a section. Here’s how:
Steps:
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Place your cursor at the beginning of the section.
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Hold down Shift, then click at the end of that section.
This selects everything between those two points — perfect for targeting specific paragraphs or pages.
How to Select All Text in a Table
Working with tables in Google Docs? Selecting all text in a table can be tricky, but here’s a quick fix.
Steps:
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Click inside any cell of the table.
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Drag your mouse over the entire table, or press Ctrl + A twice (first selects the cell, second selects the table).
That’s the fastest way to highlight every cell in one go.
How to Select All Images or Drawings in Google Docs
Unlike text, you can’t directly use Ctrl + A to select all images. But there’s a workaround.
Steps:
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Click and drag your mouse across the images you want to select.
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Alternatively, press Ctrl + A and then deselect the text if needed.
If you use Google Drawings inside Docs, you can select multiple elements by holding Shift while clicking each image.
How to Select All Comments in Google Docs
Comments can’t be “selected” like text, but you can view or manage them all at once.
Steps:
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Click on the Comment icon (speech bubble) in the top-right corner.
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This opens a comment summary where you can view, reply, or delete all comments.
So while you can’t technically highlight them, you can still act on all comments easily.
How to Select All Using a Mouse or Touchpad
If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, here’s the manual way.
Steps:
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Click at the very start of your document.
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Hold down the left mouse button.
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Drag your cursor to the very end of the document.
This might take longer for large documents, but it’s helpful if shortcuts don’t work or your keyboard’s acting up.
Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Here are a few related shortcuts to make editing even faster:
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select All | Ctrl + A | Command + A |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Command + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Command + V |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Command + X |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Command + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Command + Y |
Learning these will make you a Google Docs pro in no time.
Troubleshooting: Why “Select All” Might Not Work
Sometimes, pressing Ctrl + A doesn’t highlight everything. Here’s why that might happen:
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You’re clicked in a comment box, not the document body.
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The document is in view-only mode.
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Browser extensions are interfering.
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Google Docs hasn’t fully loaded yet.
Try clicking directly inside the document body and press the shortcut again. If it still doesn’t work, refresh your page or switch browsers.
Time-Saving Tips for Editing in Google Docs
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Use Ctrl + Shift + C to count words quickly.
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Press Ctrl + F to find specific words.
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Use Styles (like Heading 1, Heading 2) for better formatting.
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Combine Ctrl + A with font or paragraph tools to instantly format your entire document.
Little tricks like these make working in Docs smoother and faster.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the Select All function in Google Docs is a small thing that makes a big difference. Whether you’re editing a short report or a 50-page manuscript, using shortcuts like Ctrl + A or Command + A saves precious minutes.
Now that you know how to select all — on any device — you’ll never waste time manually highlighting text again. The next time you need to reformat or copy a document, you’ll be ready to do it in seconds!
FAQs
1. What’s the shortcut for “Select All” in Google Docs on Windows?
It’s Ctrl + A. This highlights everything in your document instantly.
2. How do I select all on a Mac?
Use Command (⌘) + A to select everything in your Google Docs file.
3. Can I select all on the Google Docs mobile app?
Yes! Tap and hold on a word, then tap Select all from the menu.
4. Does “Select All” also highlight images and tables?
Yes, but sometimes images require you to drag your mouse across them manually.
5. Why doesn’t “Select All” work sometimes?
You might be in a comment or restricted area, or your document is in view-only mode. Try clicking inside the main document and press the shortcut again.