How to Add Google Sheets to Desktop

Google Sheets is one of the most convenient spreadsheet-making apps around. However, some people prefer desktop or more offline-friendly apps.

But what if you could make your Google Sheets a carbon copy of those apps, too?

There is a simple way to create desktop shortcuts of any spreadsheet file and even make it available offline.

This makes it even easier to organize your sheets and access them offline, too. Here is what you need to do.

Step 1: Create a Shortcut for Google Chrome

You can create a shortcut to any website that you open with Chrome. When you do, it will appear on your Chrome’s apps menu alongside other applications, extensions, and shortcuts.

Just follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome. Launch your Google Drive (make sure that you are logged into your account).
   
2. Open the desired spreadsheet then click the More button (three vertical dots) on the top-right of the browser.
   
3. Hover over the More tools menu.
   
4. Select Create Shortcut.
   
5. Click the Apps button on the top-left of the screen.
   

Note: If you do not see the apps button, then your bookmarks bar is probably hidden. Try to open a new tab and locate it again.

Alternatively, you can just type: “chrome://apps/” to the search bar and press the Enter key.

Your spreadsheet’s icon should be visible on the Apps menu.

Step 2: Move the Shortcut to Desktop

Now that you have a visible shortcut, it is time to move it to desktop.

The process is fairly straightforward. Here is what to do:

1. Follow the steps from the section above to access the Apps menu.
   
2. Right-click on your spreadsheet icon then select Create Shortcut.
   
3. A pop-up window will ask whether you want to add a shortcut to the desktop, taskbar, or start menu. You can choose one or more, depending on your preferences.
   
4. Press the blue Create button. The shortcut should appear on your desktop.
   

You may access your spreadsheet the same way that you would access any other app from your desktop.

However, keep in mind that it will always open in your Google Chrome browser. If you want to access it offline, you need to enable the option from your Google Drive Settings.

Step 3: Make File Available Offline

When you make a spreadsheet accessible offline, you will have the same experience as using any other similar software (such as Microsoft Excel).

This is what you need to do:

1. Open Google Chrome then go to Google Drive.
   
2. Right-click on the file that you want to save offline the check the Available Offline option.
   

Alternatively, you can:

1. Open the spreadsheet shortcut from your desktop.
   
2. Click the File tab on the top of the screen then choose Make Available Offline.
   

Can’t Open Spreadsheet?

A few things may prevent you from opening your spreadsheet shortcut. For one, you must be connected to the internet before you make it available offline.

Also, make sure that you have Google Chrome installed. If you have accidentally deleted it, your spreadsheet will not be able to open.

You could also try to get the Google Docs Offline Chrome extension to make the entire process easier.

And lastly, there is a possibility that you have signed out of your Google account. If you did not make it available offline, then you will not be able to open it.

If you do not think it is any of the issues above, you can contact Google’s support and wait for their response.

A New Way to Sort Your Files

Now that you have moved your Google Sheet to your desktop, you have made it a part of your internal memory.

This means that you can move it around from your desktop to any folder on your storage. Therefore, this does not limit you to keeping the spreadsheet on the desktop itself.

Move it around and find the best possible place for each shortcut that you move to your computer.

How do you sort your offline spreadsheets? Do you have a particular method? Leave a comment below and let us know.