- You can upload and work on Office files with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets or Slides on the web.
- You can work on Office files with real-time presence when you use Drive for desktop. For windows users with a work or school account, you can also send and save files with Microsoft Outlook.
Work with Microsoft Office files in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides on the web
With Office you can:
- Open, edit, and save Office files in Google Drive
- Convert Office files to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Comment on Office files in Google Drive preview
- Edit Office files in Drive with the Office Compatibility Mode Chrome extension
When you upload Office files to Google Drive, you can edit, comment, and collaborate directly on Office files when you use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
All changes are auto-saved to the file in its original Office format. Learn how to use Office editing.
If you want to use Add-ons, Apps Scripts, protected ranges, or translate options, you can convert an Office file to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
When you convert, you make a copy of your Office file. Learn how to convert an Office file.
Important: To avoid compatibility issues, if you open a file in Office editing mode, disable the Chrome extension.
You can open and edit Office files with a Google Chrome browser extension called Office Compatibility Mode. Learn how to edit with Office Compatibility Mode.
Use Microsoft Office files with Drive for desktop
When you use Drive for desktop with Office, you can:
- Work in Office & sync files to Google Drive
- Work in Office files with others in real time
- Send and save files with Microsoft Outlook
Important: Changes you make to your file in Office sync in Google Drive.
You can find and open your files from Google Drive on your computer with Drive for desktop. After you move your Office files to Drive, you can continue to work on them in Office and save your changes to Google Drive.
- On your computer, install Google Drive for desktop.
- Add your Office file to your Google Drive folder.
- Double click your Office file.
- Edit your file.
When you use Drive for desktop with Microsoft Office 2010 or later, real-time presence for Office files lets multiple people edit the same files without version issues.
When you store an Office file in Drive for desktop and share it with people who turn on real-time presence, you get an alert when someone makes a change.
- On your computer, open Drive for desktop.
- Open a shared file in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
- The real-time status displays at the bottom right.
- Tip: When you use these hotkey, you can access the status:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + g
- macOS: ⌘ + Shift + ⌥ + g
- Based on the status, you get one of the following options:
- Safe to Edit: You can edit the file.
- Wait to Edit: You can’t edit the file yet.
- To get notified when you can edit, select Notify me when it’s safe to edit.
- To learn more about who edits or views the file, click a person in the list.
- New Version Created: Someone created a new version. To get the new version, click Get latest.
- To compare your version and the latest version side by side, click Preview.
- New versions are created when multiple people edit the Office file at the same time. You must reconcile those changes.
- Tip: When you use these hotkey, you can access the status:
Enable real-time presence with MacOS
If you use Drive for desktop on macOS, you must change your system permissions to collaborate with other editors in real time:
- On your Mac, click System Preferences Security & Privacy Privacy Accessibility.
- At the bottom left, click the Lock.
- Next to "Drive for desktop," check the box.
Turn off real-time presence
Real-time presence is automatically on and alerts you when someone makes an edit in a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file in Drive for desktop. Learn how to work in Office files with others in real time. To turn off real-time presence:
- On your computer, click the Drive for desktop menu .
- Click Settings Preferences Advanced Settings .
- Under "real-time presence in Microsoft Office," uncheck the box.
- Click Save.
If you use Outlook on Windows with a work or school account, you can send and save attachments with Drive for desktop.
Send a file from Drive
- On your computer, at the top of the Outlook app, click New email.
- Click Insert files using Drive.
- Select an option:
- To send as a link, click Insert as Drive link.
- To attach the file, click Insert as Attachment.
- Choose the file you want to send or attach.
- Click Select.
Send a local attachment
- On your computer, at the top of the Outlook app, click New email.
- Click Attach file.
- Select the file you want to send.
- Click OK.
- To save the file, follow the prompt.
Tip: If your file is too large to email, send a link to the file in Google Drive.
Microsoft Outlook requirements
Drive for desktop supports:
- Microsoft Outlook version 2010 or up
- Microsoft Outlook on Windows only
Related resources
- Learn how to use Drive for desktop with Microsoft Outlook
- Learn how to use Drive for desktop with MacOS
- Learn who's editing a Microsoft Office file