Taking Google Sheets offline is as simple as a few clicks.
Have you ever worked on a project for hours only to have a sudden electricity blackout or an event similar to this, losing all the progress you had made with your work?
The IT world has evolved a lot over the years, and luckily now we have things such as backup clouds that help us save our work every minute, which you can edit even when you’re offline.
Read along to find out how to turn on offline sync in Google Sheets.
Table of Contents
Perks of Cloud-Based Applications
Cloud-based productivity apps are extremely useful. They sync your data across all devices, and more importantly, they save every change automatically.
Related: How to Insert a GIF in Google Slides
The Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets’ edit offline features let you edit your files while not connected to the internet. The changes will be synced when you reconnect later.
Turning on the feature is quick, which is helpful because you must enable it per device. After that, you can toggle it by document with a single click. In this article, we will be detailing the two simple methods for Google Sheets to turn on offline sync for you to do your work even when you’re offline.
Taking Google Sheets Offline on a Desktop
If you’re using a desktop, you’ll need to use a different method than the one you’re using on your phone.
You must use Chrome or Edge in standard mode to use offline mode in Google Docs or Google Sheets on your desktop. The option is not available in Firefox or Opera, despite the fact that the latter is a Chromium-based browser. It also does not work in private mode. The offline sync Google Sheets feature can be enabled in one of two ways:
Method 1
Step 1:Â Go to docs.Google.com or sheets.Google.com, then click on the menu icon in the upper left of the screen.
Step 2:Â Click on Settings.
Step 3:Â Click on the Offline toggle.
Method 2
In a Google Docs or Sheets file, go to File and click on Make available offline, which, as evident in the name, will help you save Google Sheets offline.
Both methods require that you be connected to the internet. If the Google Docs Offline extension is required, you will be prompted to install it. After that, you’ll be able to enable offline mode.
You must repeat these steps for each computer you use. That may appear a hassle, but it’s a good security feature and much easier than many other options. All of your offline files will be saved locally, ensuring that only the documents you select are downloaded from the cloud. You don’t have to be concerned about sensitive documents being copied on every computer you use.
Google Sheets Offline on Mobile Phone
In order to turn on offline sync for Google Sheets on your phone, be it iOS or Android, you must follow a different method.
You can choose to make all of your recent files available offline, specific files available offline, in the Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides app.
To access recent files:
1. Tap the hamburger menu icon in the upper left corner of the app, then select Settings.
2. If the toggle is blue, the setting is already activated; otherwise, tap to turn it on.
You can access specific files by tapping the three-dot icon on the app’s main screen (next to the file name) or at the top right of the screen when the file is open.
To enable the feature:
1. Tap Available online. When enabled, you’ll see a green checkmark or a blue toggle.
2. You can see all of the files available offline by tapping on the hamburger menu icon in the app’s main screen, then choosing Offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Google Sheets Offline?
Google Sheets can be used offline. Begin by installing the Google Docs Offline extension, then opening a Google Sheets file and selecting the File menu. Select “Make available offline” from the menu.
What Does It Mean to Make a Google Sheet Available Offline?
You can open and edit a file that has been marked for offline use without needing to connect to the internet. Any changes made to the file, however, will be saved locally. When you reconnect to the internet, Google will check for changes in the file and update its online version.
Where Are Google Sheets Stored Offline?
Google Drive is where you’ll find the Google file. You can press the title of your Google file (Google document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing), and the name of the folder will appear next to it.
Conclusion
Working with Google Sheets offline or any Google application and worrying about losing your work can be stressful, which is why it is essential to ensure all your files are synced into your cloud. As you learned, doing it on a laptop and doing it on your phone requires you to follow different steps. It should be noted, however, that the Offline mode will not make all of your files available to you. Instead, it will use AI to determine which files you frequently access and predict which other files you might want to pre-load onto your computer.
That being said, offline sync for Google Sheets is one of the best Google Sheets add-ons that has become an integral part of the workflow for anyone using Google Sheets. I hope this article answered all your questions on how to turn on offline sync on Google Sheets.
Note: This article discusses the offline sync feature in Google Sheets, but if you’re using Excel, don’t fret. Excel has its own offline sync functionality as well. But if you’ve seen the light and wish to convert your Excel sheet into a Google Sheets file, give our article on this topic a read!
