Transform Google Sheets into Excel with Just a Click or Do It All Manually and Automatically

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If you work with spreadsheets, you know that sharing and updating them is a common task. Both Google Sheets and Excel are popular software, and collaborating with others may require converting spreadsheets to match a client’s, collaborator’s, or supplier’s preferred format. To learn how to convert different formats to Sheets, check out our articles on How to Convert Excel Files to Google Sheets and How to Import CSV to Google Sheets Automatically.

In this blog post, we will show you the steps to convert Google Sheets to Excel format manually. We will also go over what to keep in mind when converting from Sheets to Excel and ways to export Google Sheets to Excel automatically. One of these methods involves using Layer, which can effortlessly synchronize your files and eliminate the need to convert them manually.

Why Convert Google Sheets to Excel?

Collaborating on a spreadsheet requires converting the file to match the preferred software of clients or collaborators. Since both Excel and Google Sheets are widely used, you may need to convert between these formats regularly. Suppose you’re working on a survey project with a company that uses Excel. In that case, you can export your data collected via Google Forms as an ‘.xlsx’ file to allow your collaborators to analyze it.

Keep in mind that some known issues may arise when converting between these formats, such as incompatible formulas between Sheets and Excel or reference errors. OpenAsApp, a spreadsheet add-on, provides a list of Sheets formulas that don’t function in Excel, which you can check before the conversion.

To manually export Google Sheets to Excel, follow the steps outlined in our How to Convert Google Sheets to Excel (Manually) article. Alternatively, use automation to ease the conversion process and avoid errors. Find out how to automate the export and conversion process by visiting our blog.

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Discover how to transform your Google Sheets into Excel files effortlessly. There are two distinct pathways you can take; either utilize Google Sheets or Google Drive. Check out our guidelines below to get started.

Converting Google Sheets to Excel via the Sheets Site

1. Firstly, access your Google Sheets account and navigate to File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Download from Sheets 2. Once in the standard “Save” window, locate the folder where you want to save the Excel file. Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Save File 3. After saving your file, head to the location of the file and double-click on it. You should be now able to directly open it in Excel. Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Open Excel

Converting Google Sheets to Excel via Google Drive

1. If you are using Google Drive, right-click on the Google Sheets file and choose “Download”. Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Download from Drive 2. The file will then automatically convert to Excel format. From the standard “Save” window, choose where you'd like to store your updated file. Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Save File 3. That’s all folks! The Excel file can effortlessly be opened directly in Excel. Convert Google Sheets into Excel (Manually & Automatically) - Open Excel

If you are looking to streamline this conversion process, a fantastic way to do so is by automating the conversion process. There are numerous methods to do so; however, the most suitable option is to utilize a no-code application such as Layer or develop a script with the help of Google Apps Script.

Automatically Convert Google Sheets to Excel

While using the manual method is excellent for one-off conversions, if you need to transform files frequently, it can become untenable and time-consuming. Additionally, it can lead to data loss and multiple iterations of the ‘.xlsx’ file. Thankfully, several tools are available that automatically convert Google Sheets to Excel.

Automatically Convert Your Google Sheets to Excel with Google Apps Script

If you're familiar with Google's Apps Script or JavaScript, you can write a script that can check for updates and export your sheet's data to an Excel file. Instead of writing your own script, numerous users have posted their scripts online that you can adapt for personal use. However, using scripts to automate the conversion process can lead to replication of manual procedures that often produce problems. Due to the possibility of overwriting previous versions during updates or those irritating instances where you lose data, you may have to redo some work.

Luckily, an alternative solution exists that enables you to synchronize your documents automatically without the need for upload, download, or copy/pasting.

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• The Bottom Line

Whether you prefer Google Sheets or Excel, you will meet people who prefer the other format at some point. The manual conversion process is known for its limitations and the possibility of errors. However, you can avoid these drawbacks by automatically synchronizing your Sheets and Excel files with a tool like Layer, thereby saving you time and enabling you to work collaboratively in real-time. Also, Layer enables you to assign permissions to specific users for specific parts of your spreadsheets, ensuring you have full control over the flow of data. For more information on converting other formats to Sheets, check out these related articles.