Using Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offline

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Overview
Accessing Google files offline on a Windows PC
Accessing Google files offline on a Mac

Overview

Google files such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides can only be opened online and in the browser, unlike standalone applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This is the case even if you have Google Drive for desktop set up on your computer.

Follow the steps below to set up offline access to Google. This will enable you to access and edit Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in the Chrome browser even when you're offline.

For security purposes, make sure that you are only setting up offline access to Google on your own computer, not a shared computer.

Accessing Google files offline on a Windows PC

Step 1: Install Google Chrome (if you don't already have it)

By default, Google Chrome is installed on all Dornsife-managed computers. If you don't have Chrome, however, follow these steps for installation:

Quick guide

Make sure you are connected to the Internet for this initial setup process.
Download and install Chrome if you don't already have it:
- Go to https://www.google.com/chrome/.
- Click on Download Chrome.
- If prompted, click on Save File.
- Open File Explorer on your computer and go to your Downloads folder. Double-click on ChromeSetup.exe to begin installation.
- If prompted, type in your username and password for your computer, and click on Yes. Chrome will install.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Make sure you are connected to the Internet for this initial setup process.
Download and install Chrome if you don't already have it:
- Go to https://www.google.com/chrome/.
- Click on Download Chrome.
- If prompted, click on Save File.
- Open File Explorer on your computer and go to your Downloads folder. Double-click on ChromeSetup.exe to begin installation.
- If prompted, type in your username and password for your computer, and click on Yes. Chrome will install.

Step 2: Set up Chrome and Google Docs/Sheets/Slides for offline access

Quick guide

Open Chrome.
Install the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension:
- In Chrome, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi.
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Click on Add Extension.
- Once installed, the Google Docs Offline icon displays to the right of the address bar.
- (Note that although the name is Google Docs Offline, Google Sheets and Google Slides are included.)
Enable offline access in your Google Drive settings:
- In Chrome, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings.
- Select the checkbox for Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.
- Click on Done.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open Chrome.
- Type "chrome" into your Start menu search bar. Click on Google Chrome.
Install the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension:
- In Chrome, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi.
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Click on Add Extension.
- Once installed, the Google Docs Offline icon displays to the right of the address bar.
- (Note that although the name is Google Docs Offline, Google Sheets and Google Slides are included.)
Enable offline access in your Google Drive settings:
- In Chrome, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings.
- Select the checkbox for Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.
- Click on Done.

Step 3: Enable offline access for specific files

Google Drive's "Create, open, and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline" will, by default, only enable offline access for your most recently edited Google files. To ensure you can access specific files offline, you may need to manually enable offline access for those files:

Quick guide

Go to https://drive.google.com.
Right-click on a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file and select Available offline. You can also select multiple files at a time.
Once the file is ready for offline use, a small checkmark icon displays to the right of the file name. (The checkmark is blue when the file is selected and gray when the file is not selected.)
Now, even when you are disconnected from the Internet, you can use the Google Chrome browser to continue to access and edit the file(s) you set up. You're all set!

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Go to https://drive.google.com.
Right-click on a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file and select Available offline. You can also select multiple files at a time.
Once the file is ready for offline use, a small checkmark icon displays to the right of the file name. (The checkmark is blue when the file is selected and gray when the file is not selected.)
Now, even when you are disconnected from the Internet, you can use the Google Chrome browser to continue to access and edit the file(s) you set up. You're all set!

Accessing Google files offline on a Mac

Step 1: Install Google Chrome (if you don't already have it)

By default, Google Chrome is installed on all Dornsife-managed computers. If you don't have Chrome, however, follow these steps for installation:

Quick guide

Make sure you are connected to the Internet for this initial setup process.
Download and install Chrome if you don't already have it:
- Go to https://www.google.com/chrome/.
- Click on Download Chrome.
- If prompted, click on Allow.
- Open Finder on your computer and go to your Downloads folder. Double-click on googlechrome.dmg.
- Drag the Chrome icon into the Applications folder. Chrome will install.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Make sure you are connected to the Internet for this initial setup process.
Download and install Chrome if you don't already have it:
- Go to https://www.google.com/chrome/.
- Click on Download Chrome.
- If prompted, click on Allow.
- Open Finder on your computer and go to your Downloads folder. Double-click on googlechrome.dmg.
- Drag the Chrome icon into the Applications folder. Chrome will install.

Step 2: Set up Chrome and Google Docs/Sheets/Slides for offline access

Quick guide

Open Chrome.
Install the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension:
- In Chrome, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi.
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Click on Add Extension.
- Once installed, the Google Docs Offline icon displays to the right of the address bar.
- (Note that although the name is Google Docs Offline, Google Sheets and Google Slides are included.)
Enable offline access in your Google Drive settings:
- In Chrome, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings.
- Select the checkbox for Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.
- Click on Done.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Open Chrome.
- Open Finder on your computer and go to the Applications folder. Click on Google Chrome.
Install the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension:
- In Chrome, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-docs-offline/ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi.
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Click on Add Extension.
- Once installed, the Google Docs Offline icon displays to the right of the address bar.
- (Note that although the name is Google Docs Offline, Google Sheets and Google Slides are included.)
Enable offline access in your Google Drive settings:
- In Chrome, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings.
- Select the checkbox for Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.
- Click on Done.

Step 3: Enable offline access for specific files

Quick guide

Go to https://drive.google.com.
Right-click on a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file and select Available offline. You can also select multiple files at a time.
Once the file is ready for offline use, a small checkmark icon displays to the right of the file name. (The checkmark is blue when the file is selected and gray when the file is not selected.)
Now, even when you are disconnected from the Internet, you can use the Google Chrome browser to continue to access and edit the file(s) you set up. You're all set!

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Go to https://drive.google.com.
Right-click on a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file and select Available offline. You can also select multiple files at a time.
Once the file is ready for offline use, a small checkmark icon displays to the right of the file name. (The checkmark is blue when the file is selected and gray when the file is not selected.)
Now, even when you are disconnected from the Internet, you can use the Google Chrome browser to continue to access and edit the file(s) you set up. You're all set!