How to Use the Explore Tool in Google Docs for Quick Research

When writing a research paper, an essay, or a business proposal in Google Docs, constantly switching back and forth between your document tab and a Google Search tab can severely disrupt your workflow. You lose your train of thought, struggle to manage dozens of open tabs, and waste time copying and pasting URLs for citations.

Google Docs features a hidden, built-in research assistant called the Explore tool. This feature embeds a fully functional Google Search panel directly into the right-hand sidebar of your document. It allows you to search the web, find relevant images, pull data from your own Google Drive, and even automatically generate properly formatted footnotes—all without ever leaving your writing canvas.

This guide explains how to activate and effectively use the Explore tool in Google Docs to streamline your research and citation process.

Step 1: Open the Explore Panel

The Explore tool is available on the desktop web version of Google Docs and is discreetly tucked away in the bottom corner of your screen.

1. Open your document in Google Docs on your computer.
2. Look at the very bottom-right corner of the browser window. You will see a small, star-shaped icon inside a speech bubble.
3. Click this Explore icon. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + I (Windows/ChromeOS) or Cmd + Option + Shift + I (Mac).

A new sidebar will slide out on the right side of your screen. Google’s AI will automatically scan your document and suggest topics, images, or related research based on what you have already written.

Step 2: Search the Web and Add Citations

The most powerful aspect of the Explore tool is its ability to instantly generate academic citations.

1. At the top of the Explore sidebar, click into the Search your docs and the web bar.
2. Type in the topic you want to research (e.g., “History of the Internet”) and press Enter.
3. The sidebar will populate with search results under the “Web” tab. You can click any link to read the article in a new tab.
4. If you find a fact you want to include in your document, write it into your text.
5. Hover your mouse over the search result in the Explore sidebar that you used for that fact. A small quotation mark icon (“Cite as footnote”) will appear.
6. Click the quotation mark. Google Docs will automatically insert a superscript number into your text and generate a perfectly formatted footnote at the bottom of the page containing the source URL and title.

Tip: You can change the citation format (MLA, APA, or Chicago) by clicking the three vertical dots next to the “Web” results header.

Step 3: Insert Images Quickly

You can also use the Explore tool to quickly find and insert royalty-free images without downloading them to your computer first.

1. In the Explore sidebar, click the Images tab located next to “Web”.
2. Search for the image you need.
3. Click on any image to see a larger preview and its usage rights.
4. To add it to your document, simply click and drag the image from the sidebar directly onto your page, or click the small + (plus) icon in the corner of the thumbnail.