Creating a Mind Map in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Imagine having a visual representation of your thoughts and ideas, neatly organized and easily accessible. Well, with Google Docs, you can now create your very own mind map! Mind maps are a fantastic way to brainstorm, plan projects, or simply map out your thoughts. In this guide, I’m going to show you just how easy it is to make a mind map in Google Docs.

Step 1: Create a New Document

First things first, open Google Docs and create a new document. Give it a name that reflects the topic or purpose of your mind map.

Step 2: Insert a Shape

To build your mind map, you’ll need shapes. Go to the “Insert” menu, hover over “Drawing,” and select “New.” A drawing window will appear. Click on the “Shape” icon in the toolbar to access a wide range of shapes. Choose a shape that resonates with you and click on it to add it to your drawing.

Step 3: Customize the Shape

After inserting a shape, you can modify its appearance to fit your needs. Play around with different colors, sizes, and border styles by selecting the shape and using the toolbar options. Get creative and make your mind map visually appealing!

Step 4: Label Your Shape

Now it’s time to add text to your shape. Double click on the shape and type in your desired text. This could be a main idea, a keyword, or anything that helps you structure your thoughts. Use a clear and concise language, ensuring your labels are informative and easy to understand.

Step 5: Connect the Dots

One of the key elements of a mind map is the connections between ideas. To draw connecting lines, go to the toolbar and click on the “Line” icon. Position the starting point on one shape and the ending point on another shape. The line will automatically snap into place, showing the relationship between the two ideas. Repeat this step to connect more shapes and create a network of interconnected thoughts.

Step 6: Add Subtopics

To delve deeper into your mind map, you can add subtopics to your existing shapes. Simply select the shape and click on the “Shape” icon in the toolbar. Choose another shape and position it next to the original one. Use this subtopic to elaborate on a specific aspect or detail related to the main idea. By adding subtopics, you can expand and explore your ideas further.

Step 7: Collaborate and Share

Google Docs allows for effortless collaboration. If you want to get input from others or work together on your mind map, simply click on the “Share” button in the top right corner of your document. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to collaborate with, choose their access level, and click “Send.” Now you can brainstorm with others, receive feedback, and refine your mind map together.

Step 8: Save and Access Anywhere

With Google Docs, you never have to worry about saving your work. Your mind map is automatically saved as you create it, and you can access it from any device with an internet connection. The convenience of cloud storage ensures that your mind map is always available whenever inspiration strikes.

In Conclusion

Making a mind map in Google Docs is a game-changer for organizing your thoughts and brainstorming sessions. By following these simple steps, you can create a visually captivating and dynamic mind map that helps you visualize your ideas, make connections, and unlock your creativity. So, why not give it a try? Start mind mapping in Google Docs today!

Mind Maps were initially used to establish or show a relationship between things and people. But now, they’re used in various settings to process ideas and information and present them visually for better understanding. Creating a mind map in Google Docs can be challenging since there’s no dedicated tool for it. So, you’ll have to use Google Drawings to make one. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to create a mind map in Google Docs.

Why Use Mind Maps in Google Docs?

Mind maps are a visual way to organize information. They make it easier to see connections, hierarchies, and relationships between ideas, concepts, and data. By using mind maps in Google Docs, you can simplify complex topics and improve understanding for everyone who accesses the document.

You can also use mind maps in Google Docs to structure your presentation and organize content for a visual appeal. It also enables better collaboration with team members as you can see who is viewing your Google Docs in real-time.

How to Make a Mind Map in Google Docs Manually

To manually create a mind map in Google Docs, you must use the Google Drawing tool. After that, you can add it to the document you’re working on.

1. Go to Google Docs on your PC and open the document where you want to add a mind map. Alternatively, you can create a new document.
2. Click Insert under the document title.
3. Hover over Drawing on the insert popup and select New.
4. Click the Shapes icon from the top menu.
5. Hover over Shapes in the newly appeared option to find all the available shapes in the Google Drawing tool.
6. Click on a shape to select it. Long press to drag and create the shape you selected.
7. Repeat the process to add as many shapes as you want to the mind map.
8. Double-click on a shape to find the typing line and enter text.
9. Type your text in all the respective shapes.
10. Click on the line icon from the top menu.
11. Click and drag on the canvas to create a line.
12. Create as many lines as you need to connect the shapes and create your final mind map.
13. Once done, click Save and close at the top right to add the mind map to Google Docs.

You can create a simple mind map using the Drawing tool in Google Docs, but it may lack visual appeal. Also, this process can be time-consuming, especially when creating a complex or decent-looking mind map. Note that you can’t use Google Drawings on your Android or iPhone to create a mind map in Google Docs.

Before sharing the Google Docs document containing the mind map, remember to add your signature to ensure people know about your hard work.

How to Make a Mind Map in Google Docs Using Extensions

Using a Google Docs extension to create a mind map is much more convenient. You can install one directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace and use it in Google Docs.

1. Lucidchart

Lucidchart is an intelligent diagram application that makes mind mapping more convenient for individuals and teams. It allows you to create drawings, charts, diagrams, and design UI with ready-to-use templates. If you want to create something from scratch, Lucidchart will enable you to do that too.

You can download and install Lucidchart from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Once installed, it is directly accessible through Google Docs and lets you easily create a mind map. The free plan works for basic use cases, but the paid version unlocks more features and removes the limitation of 60 objects per diagram.

2. Mind Maps

Another tool you can use is Mind Maps by Build Diagrams. This tool allows you to create mind maps from scratch or use one of the many templates, all for free. There are templates for flow charts, mind maps, sequence diagrams, tree charts, and more. However, Mind Maps doesn’t have as many options as Lucidchart and lacks variety in templates. It can only be added as an extension to Google Drive, not Google Docs. But it still has a less complex layout than Lucidchart and can be used to create a basic mind map for free.

Do More With Google Docs

Google Docs is known as a simple word-processing tool, but it is capable of much more. It can create reports, maintain meeting minutes, and help you collaborate with team members. You can change the background color of a Google Docs file and enrich it with charts, tables, text styling, and mind maps, depending on the purpose you’re using it for.

The built-in drawing tool in Google Docs makes mind mapping much more convenient. However, if you want to save time and manual work, use a third-party extension or tool that allows you to create mind maps at a faster pace with templates.

Want to improve the reliability of a Google Docs file? Learn how to make a hanging indent in Google Docs.

FAQs

Q. Does Google have a mind mapping tool?

A: Google does not have a dedicated mind-mapping tool, but you can integrate a mind-mapping tool from the Google Workspace Marketplace. You can try out Lucidcharts, Mind Maps, or Mindomo, all readily available at the Google Workspace Marketplace.

Q. How do I insert a Google map into a Google Doc?

A: To insert a Google map into a Google Doc, open Google Maps in a web browser on a PC. Find the location you want to add to your Google Doc and copy the link to that location from the address bar. Go to your Google Document and paste the URL. Press the Tab key to create a place clip for that location.