Google Search just lost a handy research feature, but Gemini still has it

Imagine researching a complicated topic with Google Search AI Mode, gathering explanations and useful information, then saving everything to Google Docs for later. Until recently, that last step took just a couple of taps. But Google appears to have quietly removed the shortcut from Search, frustrating users who relied on it to turn their searches into editable documents.

Several users have reported that the “Export to Docs” option has disappeared from the three-dot menu in Google Search AI Mode. We’ve confirmed the change on both desktop and mobile, where the menu now shows only one option: “About this response.” Similar complaints have also surfaced on Reddit.

This might sound minor, but it was a significant convenience. Students could save research summaries, professionals could turn detailed explanations into working documents, and anyone comparing products or planning projects could keep their findings organized without juggling countless tabs.

Now, users must manually copy responses into Google Docs, potentially losing formatting along the way. Some report that headings and bold text are rendered as raw Markdown characters, creating additional cleanup work.

We tried uninstalling recent Google app updates and reverting to a version from last year, but the shortcut remained missing. This suggests the change might be controlled server-side rather than through an app update.

Luckily, the Gemini app still supports exporting responses directly to Docs, as seen below. NotebookLM also offers similar functionality for generated reports.

Still, that raises an awkward question: Is Google intentionally nudging users toward its dedicated AI tools instead of letting them finish their work in Search? We’ve reached out to Google to clarify whether the removal is intentional and if the shortcut might return. We’ll update this article if we hear back.

For now, affected users have lost a convenient shortcut, and the alternatives require them to change how they work.