Import Excel To Google Sheets [Easy Step-by-Step Guide] |SSP

There are many reasons to open an Excel spreadsheet in Google Sheets. You want to access your data, but you may not have Microsoft Excel installed. Maybe you simply prefer Google Sheets as your spreadsheet platform. Either method will successfully import Excel into Google Sheets.

This guide will show you different ways to import Excel files into Google Sheets and how to do it automatically.

Different Methods to Import Excel to Google Sheets

There are two easy ways to open an Excel file in Google Sheets: convert the file using Google Sheets, or use Google Drive instead. Whichever you choose, both methods are provided.

Importing Excel Into Google Sheets From Spreadsheet Options

Google Sheets comes with the ability to natively convert Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files to Google Docs compatible file formats. It couldn’t be easier to do so;

1. Log in to your Google account in your preferred web browser. Go to the homepage of Google Sheets.
   

   

2. Open an empty Google Sheet.
   

   

1. Select File > Import. This option allows you to import CSV files into Google Sheets (.xlsx spreadsheets work as well).
   

   

1. A pop-up will appear, select the Excel file to convert. Select a file from Google Drive or upload it. If you choose the latter, drag and drop the file or click the Browse button (opens a window where you can search for the file on your computer).
   

   

1. After selecting a file to upload, another popup will appear where you can finalize certain import options. This includes the import location, delimiter type, and whether to convert text to numbers, dates, and formulas. When you are ready, click the “Import Data” button to complete the process.

Converting Excel From Google Drive

The second way to open Excel in Google Sheets is to first upload the file to Google Drive and then convert it. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Click the New button in the upper left corner of the page and select File Upload.”

1. A popup will allow you to browse the files on your computer and select an Excel sheet to upload. Highlight a file, click the Open button, and within seconds the file will appear in your Google Drive (depending on size).

1. Navigate to this file in Google Drive and open it. This file should be editable in Google Sheets, but it’s still a .xlsx file (Microsoft Excel’s proprietary file type). If you want to convert, go to step 5.
2. Click File > Save as Google Sheets. Your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet should now be converted to a format supported by Google Sheets.
   

   

   Note: If you want to convert your Google Sheets to Excel format, click File > Download. From there you can select a file type for the downloaded spreadsheet, including file extensions supported by Microsoft Excel.

Automatically Convert Excel To Google Sheets When Uploading

If you’re tired of opening Excel in Google Sheets and manually converting your spreadsheets, Google Drive now includes an option to automatically convert your files to supported formats whenever possible. Luckily, converting from .xlsx to Google Sheets is one of the supported conversions.

To toggle this option automatically for future projects, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Click the gear icon in the upper right corner and select Settings.

1. Select “General” from the left panel and check the “Convert uploads to Google Docs Editors format” checkbox. This can be found under the “Convert upload” header.

when you upload your .xlsx file to Google Drive, the file is automatically converted to Google Sheets format. This eliminates the need to manually upload Excel to Google Sheets for conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does XLSX Work in Google Sheets?

The proprietary file format for Microsoft Excel spreadsheets is .xlsx, but you can open Excel in Google Sheets. These types of files can be opened natively from within Google Sheets and all the information stored in the sheet can be edited without issue. However, there may be compatibility issues with other Google products.

Can Google Sheets Pull Data from Excel Automatically?

Having to convert each Excel file to Google Sheets format can be very tedious, especially if you have a lot of Excel spreadsheets. On the plus side, Google Drive has a great feature that automatically converts uploaded files to formats supported by Google Docs. This also works in .xlsx, so just upload your Excel sheet and it will be changed to Google Sheets format.

Conclusion

Microsoft Excel is a great spreadsheet program that has been the standard for decades. But more and more people are moving to Google Sheets to save money or collaborate with others.

Whatever the reason, there will always be times when you need to import Excel into Google Sheets. Luckily, it’s easy and requires a few methods outlined above. You can also customize your Google Drive settings to automatically convert Excel files to Google Sheets format whenever they are uploaded.

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