How to Access Google Drive Files Offline
Hey, did you know there’s a cool trick to access your Google Drive files even when you’re not connected to the internet? It’s true! So even if you’re offline, you can still browse and edit your files in Google Drive, like your Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Let me show you how.
Google Drive Tips and Tricks (Part I)
(This article was originally published on the 27th of April, 2012. Click here for the latest version.) In. Read more
Pre-requisites
But before we dive in, there are a few things you need to have in place:
To get started, make sure you have the following:
- Internet access so you can do the initial setup.
- The Google Chrome browser installed on your computer. If you don’t have it yet, you can download it here.
- The Google Docs offline extension installed in your Google Chrome browser.
Now, let’s learn how to access Google Drive offline:
- Open your Google Chrome browser and sign in if you haven’t already.
- Go to the Google Drive main page.
- Click the gear icon on the top to go to Settings > General.
Here’s how you can access your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files offline:
1. First, check the box that says “Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline”. You can find this option by going to your Google Drive settings.
2. Once you’ve checked the box, click “Done”.
3. Now, go back to the main page of Google Drive. Right-click on the files (Docs, Sheets, or Slides) that you want to access offline. From the options that appear, select “Available offline”. If you want to select multiple files, hold down the Shift key and click on the files.
That’s it! You can now access these files even when you’re offline. It’s a great way to stay productive no matter where you are.
Finally, let’s get things sorted. Go back to the top of the Google Drive main page. You’ll see an icon next to the search bar. Click on it and turn on the “Offline preview” option. Voila! Now you can access and edit your Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides even when you’re offline. And the best part is, any changes you make will be synced to your Google Live account once you’re connected to the internet again. So you’re always in control, no matter where you are.
