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I have a very typical ordered nested list formatted by Google Docs like this:

screenshot of a typical formatted nested list from Google Docs

But whenever I try to copy paste this list into any text box, it completely removes all the numbers and shows the text as though it was just a paragraph, like when I paste it here:

Sample Doc
Things to make:
Apple Pie
Biscuit Milk
Coffee Chocolate
Rice Jam
Things not to make:
Choco Chips
Water Cakes
Soya Omelettes

I intend to continue writing lists with Google Docs formatting, because of the features like automatic renumbering in ordered lists whenever I add a new item in between, and because of the convenience of not having to manually write the spaces or worry about cross-platform formatting.

But I do hope there's a way to copy paste the list correctly, instead of having to paste screenshots of it on other platforms.

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Download the Google Docs file as a markdown file.

File -> Download -> Markdown (.md)

(Note: Plaintext file downloads don't work for nested lists, as Google Docs doesn't write the indentations for the sublists of the list, when downloading as plaintext file)

download as .md

Open the file in any markdown editor. I use VS Code as I'm a software developer.

Notepad does support markdown editing, but by default, it is in the formatted viewing mode, which has the exact same problems as Google Docs when copying. We need to change it to syntax editing mode.

View -> Markdown -> Syntax

change notepad markdown mode to syntax

From the markdown editor, I can copy paste with correct numbering and indentation, to any other platform like I have pasted here:

### Sample Doc

1. Things to make:  
   1. Apple Pie  
   2. Biscuit Milk  
   3. Coffee Chocolate  
   4. Rice Jam  
2. Things not to make:  
   1. Choco Chips  
   2. Water Cakes  
   3. Soya Omelettes

Personally, I (the OP) copy-paste to external platforms wayy fewer times than the number of times I insert items in between the list. So going through this effort is sensible to me.

Perhaps one day Google might fix this user need. Or maybe someone will come up with an Add-On for it on the Google Workspace Marketplace.

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  • see also Google Workspace Docs to Markdown extension supports partial and full doc conversion Commented Sep 10 at 15:12

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