Use diagrams in Google Docs

Use the free draw.io add-on for Google Docs to embed your diagrams into your documents. When you make changes to your diagram, you need to update them inside your document to see the changes.

Tip: draw.io apps for Google Workspace are also available for Google Drive and Google Slides.

Install the draw.io Google Docs add-on

  1. Go to the draw.io app for Google Docs in the Google Workspace Marketplace, and click Install.
    Install the diagrams for Docs add-on from the Google Marketplace
  2. Click Continue, then choose the account you want to install draw.io into, and sign in or click Continue, if prompted by Google.
    Install the draw.io app for Google Docs via the Google Workspace Marketplace
  3. Grant draw.io permission to access your Google Documents and the files you have stored on Google Drive.
    Grant permission for draw.ioto access your Google Drive files and Google Docs
    Google will now install the draw.io for Drive app.
  4. Click Done to close the installer.
    Install the draw.io app for Google Drive via the Google Workspace Marketplace

Note: Your diagram data is only ever stored in your browser and on your Google Drive account.

Embed a diagram in a Google doc

  1. Click Add-ons > diagrams.net for Docs > New Diagram to create a new diagram and save it to your Google Drive. You may need to grant additional permissions to the editor to use your Google Drive account.
  2. To embed an existing diagram click Add-ons > diagrams.net for Docs > Insert Diagrams. Select multiple diagrams by holding down Shift when you click on each diagram file.
  3. Select your diagram file(s) then click Select.
    Select your diagram file from Google Drive to insert into your document
  4. If your diagrams has multiple pages, select which page you want to display, then click Insert.
    Embed a diagram in Google Docs

Update embedded diagrams to see changes

Your diagrams are displayed as images inside your Google Document. When you edit the diagram file stored in your Google Drive, you’ll need to regenerate the images to see those changes reflected in your document.

  1. Select the diagram in your Google Document.
  2. Click Add-ons > diagrams.net for Docs > Update Selected.

If you want to update all of the diagrams, click Add-ons > diagrams.net Diagrams for Docs > Update All.

Learn more about formatting diagrams within a Google document

You can also use draw.io to work with diagrams in Google Classroom when you install the free draw.io add-on for Google Drive/Workspace.