How to open and edit an Excel file in Google Sheets

One of the biggest myths in IT (customarily put out by anti-google individuals) is that you can't open or edit Excel files in Google Sheets. This claim is straight out untrue. In fact, not only can you open and edit Excel files in Google Sheets, you can edit Word documents in Google Docs and Powerpoint presentations in Google Slides.

Google Sheets is Compatible with Excel Files.

Opening and editing an Excel file in Google Sheets is as simple as opening an Excel file in Excel. Google Sheets is compatible with Excel files, with the added benefit of added Google Sheet feature to Excel files. Such as Google Sheets real-time collaboration and simply sending a link to the file for others to work on the same Excel file as you, with no need to email back and forth many different versions. 

Google Sheets support all of Excel's formulas and functions while adding clever AI that can work out what you mean to happen, even if you're not sure about the formula, while also prebuilding graphs and diagrams without you needing to fiddle with colours and codes.

The best part is that you don't need to stump up the cash to pay for Excel; you can do this in Google Sheets at no extra cost! So if you're business runs Google Workspace, you get all the incredible Workspace services and features, and you also get to create and edit Microsoft files that you may be sent from time to time.

The process to open an Excel file in Google Sheets.

Depending on how you have received the Excel file, you can choose to open the file a couple of ways.

Email Attachment

Receiving an Excel file through an email attachment is probably the most common way to receive one of these files.

  • Hover over the attachment and click the pen icon.

  • The Excel file will now open in Google Sheets. It will remain in Excel format, and you can make the changes you need.

Other Method

If you have been given an Excel file in any other way, all you need to do is save it to your Google Drive.

  • Save the file into your Google Drive.

  • Double click the file, and your Excel document will open in Google Sheets for you to edit.

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