How to set up offline access to Google Drive documents

Arinee RahmanStudent Writer
Published:
One of my favorite tools to use with Google Drive is the offline access. Setting up offline access for Google Drive makes it easier for users to edit and view their docs, sheets and slides without Internet connection. Follow these steps to learn how to keep your documents synced and on your phone or desktop without needing access to the Internet.
 
Keep in mind that you must be using Google Chrome as your browser to turn on offline access from your desktop.
 

Google Drive Offline Access from Desktop


  1. Visit your Drive by signing into your Gmail.
  2. Click the gear icon on the top right hand-corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. 1SETTINGS.png
  3. Check the box that says Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline2OfflineSYnc.png
 

 Google Docs, Sheets and Slides Offline Access from Desktop


  1. Visit your page for Google Docs, Sheets or Slides and sign into your Gmail. For this example I used the Docs page.
  2. Select the Menu icon on the top left-hand corner. 3DocsMenu.png
  3. Select Settings from the menu panel. 4DocsSettings.png
  4. Click the Turn on link under the Offline sync section. 5DocsOfflineSync.png
  5. The link will redirect you to a new page. Choose Enable Offline6DocsEnableOffline.png
  6. You can now access the documents of your choosing offline. 
 

Google Drive Offline Access from Mobile Device


  1. Download the Google Drive app on your device.
  2. Sign into your Gmail account through the app.
  3. Select the Info button next to the document you want to have access to offline. 7DriveMobileInfo.PNG
  4. Use the toggle in the Keep offline section to allow offline access to that document. 8DriveOffline.PNG
  5. You can access all your offline documents by clicking the menu button on the top left-hand corner and choosing Offline. All your offline files will be stored there. 9DriveOffline.PNG
 

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides Offline Access from Mobile Device


  1. Download the individual apps for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. For this example I used the Google Docs app.
  2. Sign into your Gmail account through the app.
  3. Select the button next to the document like shown below and choose Keep offline once a panel appears. 10DocsKeepOffline.PNG
  4. All your files will now be stored in the Offline section found in the Menu panel on the top left-hand corner. 11OfflineDocs.PNG
 
Hopefully this guide helped you learn how to set up offline access and find where all your offline documents are stored. 
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