How to edit Excel files in Google Sheets

I. Import Excel data into Sheets

You can import data from an Excel file to a new (or existing) Sheets file. Your Excel file won’t be changed, even as you change the Sheets file.

  1. In Sheets, create a new or open an existing spreadsheet.
  2. Click Fileand thenImport.
  3. Choose the Excel file and click Select.
  4. Choose: Create new spreadsheet
  5. Click Import data.
  6. If prompted, click Open now.

In Sheets, the Import option appears under File in the menu.

 

II. Convert Excel files to Sheets

Instead of importing data, you can convert an Excel file to Sheets and keep working on it in Sheets. Your Excel file won’t be changed.

  1. Open Drive and double-click an Excel file.

    A preview of your file opens.

  2. At the top, click Open with Google Sheets.
  3. Click Fileand thenSave as Google Sheets.

To automatically convert all future uploads of Office files to Google Sheets:

  1. In Drive, at the top, click Settings ""and thenSettings.
  2. Next to Convert uploads, turn on Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format.

    Note: Previously uploaded files will not be converted.

In Drive, you’ll see the Excel file and the new Sheets file. You can keep the Excel file or delete it. If you keep the Excel file, to avoid confusion, you can rename it to something like [Archived] My doc.xls.

Tip: Use these icons to quickly differentiate Sheets and Excel files in Drive: 

""Sheets  ""Excel

Upload files to Drive.

 

III. Share a copy of a Sheets file in Excel format

You can work on a spreadsheet in Sheets and then send a copy by email as an Excel file (or a PDF).

  1. In Sheets, open the file.
  2. Click Fileand thenEmail as attachment.

  3. Under Attach as, choose Microsoft Excel.

  4. Enter the email address, subject, and message.
  5. (Optional) Check the Send a copy to myself box.
  6. Click Send.

You can also download a copy of the Sheets file in Excel, PDF, CSV, ODS, or other formats.

  1. In Sheets, click Fileand thenDownload as.
  2. Select the file format you want to download.

Download a spreadsheet and open with another program.