To download a Google Sheet as an Excel file, open it in Google Sheets and choose File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). The file goes to your Downloads folder and opens in Excel with your data, formulas, and most formatting intact. You can also download straight from Google Drive or from the Sheets app on your phone. Below are the steps for each, plus what doesn’t survive the conversion and how to fix it.
Download from Google Sheets on a computer
- Open the spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Click File in the menu bar.
- Hover over Download and choose Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).
- The browser saves the file, usually to your Downloads folder. Double-click it to open it in Excel.
The download includes every tab in the spreadsheet. The original stays in Google Drive, unchanged.
Download from Google Drive
- Go to drive.google.com and find the spreadsheet.
- Right-click it and choose Download.
Google Drive converts Google Sheets files to .xlsx automatically. To download several at once, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac), select them, right-click, and choose Download. Drive puts them in a .zip file, which you’ll need to extract first.
Download on a phone or tablet
- Open the spreadsheet in the Google Sheets app.
- Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Tap Share & export, then Save as.
- Choose Excel (.xlsx) and tap OK. The app saves a copy in Google Drive, which you can then share or open in the Excel app.
Alternatively, tap Send a copy under Share & export and pick Excel to email the file or send it to another app.
What converts and what doesn’t
Most things come across fine: values, formulas that both programs share (SUM, VLOOKUP, IF, and so on), cell formatting, borders, merged cells, conditional formatting, data validation drop-downs, frozen rows, and basic charts.
Watch out for these:
- Google-only functions such as
GOOGLEFINANCE,IMPORTRANGE,IMPORTHTML, andGOOGLETRANSLATEdon’t exist in Excel. You’ll see their last calculated values, or an error once Excel recalculates. - Apps Script macros and custom menus don’t transfer. Excel uses VBA instead.
- Checkboxes, smart chips, and some chart types may change appearance or become plain values.
- Comments generally come across, but assigned action items and email notifications don’t.
- Fonts from Google Fonts that aren’t installed on your PC are replaced with a default font.
How to keep formatting intact
- Before downloading, replace Google-only functions with plain values. Select the cells, copy them, then use Edit > Paste special > Values only.
- Stick to common fonts like Arial or Calibri if the file will be used in Excel regularly.
- After opening in Excel, check each tab, any charts, and a few formulas. Use Formulas > Error Checking to find broken ones.
- If Excel opens the file in Protected View, click Enable Editing at the top. See how Protected View and Enable Editing work.
Other formats
The same File > Download menu offers OpenDocument (.ods), PDF, Web page, Comma-separated values (.csv), and Tab-separated values (.tsv). CSV and TSV only save the current tab and drop all formatting, so use .xlsx unless another program specifically needs CSV.
Download just one tab
File > Download always includes every tab. To export only one:
- Right-click the tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose Copy to > New spreadsheet. Google creates a new file containing only that tab.
- Open the new spreadsheet from the link that appears, then use File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).
Formulas that refer to other tabs will show errors in the copy, so paste them as values first if needed.
If you only have view access
If the owner allows it, you can still download. If Download is missing but Make a copy is available, choose File > Make a copy to save your own version to Drive, then download that.
A note on Google Drive for desktop
If you use Google Drive for desktop, Google Sheets files show up in File Explorer as .gsheet shortcuts. They’re links that open in your browser, not Excel files. To get a real .xlsx, download it as shown above. See how to install Google Drive on Windows 11.
Troubleshooting
Download is greyed out
The owner may have turned off downloading for viewers and commenters. Ask the owner for edit access, or ask them to download the file for you.
The file opens in a browser instead of Excel
Right-click the downloaded file, choose Open with, and pick Excel. To make it permanent, choose Choose another app and tick Always use this app.
Dates or numbers look wrong in Excel
Your Google Sheets locale and Excel’s regional settings may differ, such as day/month versus month/day. Check File > Settings > Locale in Google Sheets before downloading.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit the Excel file and put it back into Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive and open it in Sheets. See how to open an Excel file in Google Sheets.
Does downloading change the original Google Sheet?
No. Downloading makes a separate copy. Edits to one don’t affect the other.
Is it free?
Yes. Downloading as Excel is included with every Google account. You need Excel, or the free Excel for the web, to open the file.
Summary
In Google Sheets, click File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). In Google Drive, right-click the file and choose Download. Replace Google-only functions with values first, and check your formulas once the file opens in Excel.
Related: How to Make an Excel Spreadsheet Live.
Related: how to hide columns in Google Sheets.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.