How to Convert Google Sheets to Excel?
Google Sheets and Excel are two of the most popular calculating programs used by individuals and businesses alike. While Google Sheets is available online and offers collaboration features, Excel is a mature desktop application from Microsoft Office with advanced design and calculation capabilities. However, there are situations when users such as individuals or businesses may need to convert Google Sheets file to Excel format for various reasons, such as sharing data with someone who doesn't have access to Google Sheets or utilizing Excel's advanced features. Yes, Excel indeed has powerful calculating formulas to match different tasks!
Who and Why May Need This Knowledge of Converting Data?
At first sight, you may wonder why it is critical to convert Google Sheets to Excel and why? Does it really matter? Here are the main reasons why it can be crucial to get your information converted to Excel.
- Businesses that require complex calculations or advanced design features may prefer Excel. Excel is a powerful tool that offers advanced functions like pivot tables and charts, data analysis, and VBA programming. It's ideal for financial analysis, budgeting, and inventory management.
- Additionally, individuals who work with clients outside of their organization may need to convert Google Sheets to Excel. Clients may not have access to Google Sheets or may not want to use it, so sharing data in Excel format makes it easier for them to access and analyze the information.
- Furthermore, students and teachers may need to convert Google Sheets to Excel for academic purposes. Many educational institutions use Microsoft Office Suite, which includes Excel. Converting the Google Sheets to Excel format allows them to present and analyze their data in a format compatible with their institution's software.
- Design is another area where Excel excels. While Google Sheets supports basic design features, Excel offers more advanced design capabilities, including the ability to add custom shapes, images, and charts. This makes Excel a better choice for creating professional-looking reports, presentations, and charts.
So, let’s get started!
Simple Conversion Process
- First, you have to open the Google Sheet that you want to convert. For this tutorial, we will use a Google Sheet template designed by TheGoodocs team. You may download this template to try converting it to Excel.
- Once you are in the sheet, go to the "File" menu and click "Download." Then you will need to select the "Microsoft Excel" option.
· After clicking "Microsoft Excel," your Google Sheet will begin to download as an Excel file. It may take a few moments depending on the size of your sheet and your internet connection.
- Once your Google Sheet has fully downloaded as an Excel file, you can open it in Excel by double-clicking on the downloaded file. Your Excel file will download either to the Downloads folder or straight to the Desktop. If you do not have Excel on your computer, you can use a free alternative like Google Sheets or OpenOffice to open the file instead.
· After opening the Excel file, you may notice some slight formatting differences between the original Google Sheet and the new Excel file. This is because the two programs use different standards for certain formatting elements like font sizes, column widths, and cell alignments.
· To fix any formatting issues, you can adjust the settings within Excel to match the original Google Sheet as closely as possible. This may require some trial and error, but with a little patience, you should be able to achieve a near-perfect match.
- In addition to formatting issues, you may also encounter some compatibility issues when converting Google Sheets to Excel. For example, some functions or formulas that worked perfectly in Google Sheets may not work in Excel or may require slight modifications to function properly.
To avoid these issues, it is important to thoroughly test your converted Excel file and make any necessary adjustments before sharing it with others or using it for important work projects.
Another method is to use the Google Drive desktop app. Install the app and sign in to your Google account. Drag and drop the Google Sheet file from Google Drive to your desktop, and it will download in .xlsx format. You can then open the file in Excel. Easy? No words to say!
Compatibility Issues
Although it is easy to convert your data from Google Sheets to Excel, there are some things to remember. Here are some issues you may face:
- Excel files with password protection cannot be imported into Google Sheets.
- Any references in the file to other spreadsheets will be ignored by Google Sheets.
- Power Query, PowerPivot, and other Excel data modeling tools are not supported by Google Sheets.
- VBA macros in your Excel file won't function in Google Sheets. Instead, when working in Google Sheets, you can write code in AppScript.
Despite that, it is still essential to convert all your data from Google Sheets to Excel to get a copy in case of emergency situations.
In conclusion, converting Google Sheets to Excel is a relatively simple process that can be accomplished in just a few clicks. However, it is important to be mindful of potential formatting and compatibility issues and take the time to ensure that your converted Excel file is as accurate and functional as possible.
By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you should be able to successfully convert all of your Google Sheets to Excel and unlock new possibilities for working with spreadsheets.
Hope you liked our tutorial and waiting for your excellent results! Stay efficient!
We are a team of creative people who dream of sharing knowledge and making your work and study easier. Our team of professional designers prepares unique free templates. We create handy template descriptions for you to help you choose the most suitable one. On our blog, you'll find step-by-step tutorials on how to use Google Products. And our YouTube channel will show you all the ins and outs of Google products with examples.
