Overwrite or Create New PDFs in a Drive Folder
Google Drive does not overwrite files by default. If you save a PDF with the same name to a folder that already contains a file with that name, Drive creates a second file alongside the first. Understanding this behavior helps you manage versions and avoid accumulating duplicate PDFs.
Google Drive's default behavior with duplicates
Google Drive allows multiple files with identical names in the same folder. They appear as separate items, each with their own creation date. Drive does not merge or overwrite them. This means repeated conversions of the same document to the same folder produce multiple PDFs with the same name.
Managing versions manually
To keep the folder clean, delete the old PDF before uploading the new one. Or add a version number or date to the file name to distinguish them. Rename the Google Doc before converting: 'Report v2' produces 'Report v2.pdf' and makes the version clear.
Overwriting with Apps Script
Apps Script can check whether a file with the same name exists in the target folder and delete it before saving the new PDF. Use DriveApp.getFilesByName() to find existing files and file.setTrashed(true) to move them to trash before creating the new file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will converting the same document twice create two PDFs in Drive?
Yes, if you upload both to the same folder. Drive does not deduplicate or overwrite. Delete the old version manually or use Apps Script to handle it.
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