Google Docs, Google's free word processor, is a pioneer in the creation of documents stored in the cloud and that allow collaborative work. Thanks to this tool, users can create and edit texts together with other collaborators for free, wherever they are. The results are then stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere..
But what if you don't have an Internet connection ? This is a problem well known to those who often travel by train or plane and want to use their time productively. Luckily, it has an easy solution, since Google Docs can also be used offline if the necessary measures are taken to do so. In this manual we will tell you how to configure Google Docs in a few minutes to be able to edit and save documents without an active Internet connection.
For a long time, Google Docs was only available through the official Google Docs page and could therefore only be used with an active internet connection. Currently, however, the application already offers the possibility of editing documents offline and synchronizing them later automatically as soon as you are online again. These are the necessary requirements to use Google Docs offline:
If your computer meets the above requirements, you are ready to configure the offline version of Google Docs. To do so, you just have to follow the steps that we summarize below:
This configuration also applies to other Google apps , that is, it is enough to carry out the steps described once to be able to edit both text documents and spreadsheets, presentations and forms offline..
Step 1 . First of all, you have to download the Google Docs extension offline. To do this, go to Google Drive Help and click on? Install and enable the Google Documents Chrome extension offline.? The Chrome Web Store page will open with the extension? Google Docs Offline? to download.
Step 2. The next step will be to install the extension: click on the blue? Add to Chrome ? and confirm the installation-related warnings that will be displayed:
Step 3 . Now go to the Google Docs page . At the top left, you will see the menu icon (three horizontal lines, one on top of the other). Click on it and go to the submenu? Configuration ?:
Step 4 . In the configuration options you will see the section? No connection ? and, next to it, a gray switch. Drag it to the right to activate this function. The switch it will then appear blue, to mark that the option is activated. Finally, confirm the changes by clicking? Accept ?:
Once you've completed these steps, Google Docs will automatically save all your new and recent documents locally to your hard drive. In this way, you no longer need to be always connected to the Internet to be able to edit the files. Those that are available offline will be marked with a gray tick in the lower left corner. If you open any of them in offline mode , a lightning bolt symbol will appear in the document..
To synchronize the changes in the documents you do need, in any case, an Internet connection, but only temporarily, until the synchronization is complete.
To save storage space, Google Docs saves only the newest and recently used documents to your hard drive by default. Therefore, in order to also be able to edit older documents in Google Docs offline , each document must be configured separately.
To do so, reopen Google Docs and find the document that you would like to have available offline as well . Then click on the three-dot symbol to the right of the document name . Then activate the option? Available offline ?. The corresponding switch will then show blue and the document will be saved locally as well.