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SummaryChoose what files you would like to access offline from Google Drive
AuthorMaintained by Jeremy Martinez
HelpGet help with this article
StatusUp-to-date for the 2024-2025 school year.

Drive for Desktop

Save File Offline

To save a file offline, make sure you have an app that can open your file.

Note: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides cannot be set as offline using the Drive for Desktop app. This has to be done through the web.

On Windows:

  1. Go to File Explorer
  2. Open the Google Drive folder
  3. Choose the files or folders
    • To select more than one, hold Shift and click.
  4. Right-click your files or folders.
  5. Click Offline Access  and then click Available offline
    • When you save a file offline, a green check displays next to it.

On macOS:

  1. Go to Finder
  2. Open the Google Drive folder
  3. Choose the files or folders.
    • To select more than one, hold Shift and click.
  4. Right-click your files or folders.
  5. Click Available offline
    • When you save a file offline, a green check displays next to it.

For more information and help with this, check out Google's Support Article.

Open Offline Files

  1. Click the Drive for Desktop Menu in your task bar  .
  2. Click the gear icon
  3. Click Offline files, both folders and files that have been saved from Drive desktop and Drive on the web should appear.

For more information and help with this, check out Google's Support Article.

iPhone and iPad

Save Offline Files

  1. Open the app for Google Drive
  2. Next to the file, tap More  
  3. To save a preview of the file offline, turn on Available offline.

Find Offline Files

  1. Open the app for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides
  2. Tap Menu   and then Offline.

Android

Save files for offline use

  1. Open the Drive app
  2. Next to the file, tap More  
  3. To save a preview of the file offline, turn on Available offline.

Find files you saved for offline access

  1. Open the app for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
  2. Tap Menu   and then Offline.