Frequently Asked Question

Access Google Docs Offline
Last Updated 8 years ago

Taken From Google Help Document - https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375012

You can view and edit Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides files when you’re not connected to the Internet. Watch the video below to see how.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-ZaUJ44X2s

In the video above, we show you how to view and edit your files offline in Google Drive and in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Here are some important things to know when you're offline:
Turn Offline Access On or Off
Computer

Important: Only turn on offline access on personal computers or computers that you use regularly. Turning on offline access on public or shared computers can put your data at risk, because others may be able to view your synced files.

Google Drive
  1. On a Chrome browser, go to drive.google.com.
  2. In the top right, click the Settings icon
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Check the box next to "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline." To disable offline access, uncheck the box.
Doc, Sheets, and Slides homescreens
  1. On a Chrome browser, open the Docs, Sheets, or Slides homescreen.
  2. On the left, click the Menu icon .
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Click Turn on. To disable offline access, click Turn off.

    Your files and folders will automatically be synced so that they'll be available without an Internet connection.
Android
You must be connected to the Internet in order to turn on offline access for a file.
Turn offline access on
To make a file available offline:
  1. 1.Open the Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides app.
  2. 2.Touch and hold the name of a file for 1-2 seconds.
  3. 3.In the box that appears, touch the offline icon . If the icon is filled in , the file is already available offline.
Turn offline access off
To turn offline access off for a file, reverse the instructions above.
Where to find offline files
All offline files can be found in the "On device" section of the left-hand navigation panel in the app

iOS
You must be connected to the Internet in order to turn on offline access for a file.
Turn offline access on
To make a file available offline:
  1. Open the Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides app.
  2. Next to the file name, touch the Info icon Activity Information
  3. Slide Off to On next to “Keep offline.”
Turn offline access off
To turn offline access off for a file, reverse the instructions, sliding On to Off next to “Keep offline.”
Where to find offline files
All offline files can be found in the "On device" section of the left-hand navigation panel in the app.

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