How to Do a Google Sheets Download

Key takeaways

A Google Sheets download can help you change your file type while still enjoying easier access, sharing, and collaboration with your spreadsheets. 

• Although Google Sheets is free for individual use, Google Workspace for companies starts at $7 per user per month, and has several pricing tiers according to your needs [1].

• Download your spreadsheet in five easy steps, starting with opening the Sheet, clicking File, and hovering over Download. From that point, simply choose your file type and download the file. 

• You can check with your network administrator if experiencing any trouble downloading Google Sheets data from your work account to make sure you have no access restrictions in place. 

Learn how to execute a Google Sheets download, which file types you can choose from, and common errors to avoid. If you want to pursue a career in data analytics, consider enrolling in the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. During this nine-course series, you'll have an opportunity to work with various tools, including spreadsheets, data visualization, and Tableau. You can also learn the practices you would use as an early-career data analyst, such as cleaning and organizing data and presenting data findings. 

Why consider a Google Sheets download

Working with Google Sheets may provide many benefits, including the ability to access your materials from anywhere you can log in to your Google Drive account. Keeping your files on Google Drive can make it easy to share files, convert formats, and collaborate with others. 

If you would like to switch your Google Sheets file type to another format, one way to do this is by downloading your Google Sheets. 

Read more: Using Spreadsheet Formulas: 5 Jobs That Require This Skill 

How to download a Google Sheet

Here is a quick guide on how to download Google Sheets:

• Open your Google Sheet.

• Click the File tab.

• Hover over the File > Download button. 

• Choose the file type you would like.

• Click and download the file.

Now, let's go over each step in more detail.

1. Open your Google Sheet.

First, open the Google Sheet you would like to download. If you don't have a specific data set, use a sample template provided by Google Sheets or create your own to follow along with this tutorial.

2. Click the 'File' tab.

In the upper left corner of your Google Sheet, click the File tab. A drop-down menu should appear.

3. Hover over the 'Download' button.

If you hover over the File > Download button, several file type options will appear to the right.

4. Choose your file type.

Once you select your file type, the file will download automatically to your computer. As of January 2026, you can choose from the following file types:

• Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)

• OpenDocument (.ods)

• PDF (.pdf)

• Web page (.html)

• Comma-separated values (.csv)

• Tab-separated values (.tsv)

From here, you can re-save the file to your preferred folder or drive on your computer if needed. On some computers, the downloaded file will appear in the bottom of your Google Sheets screen in the lower left corner, as shown below. However, not all computers will have the same format.

Is Google Sheets free?

Google Sheets is free for individuals. If you’re considering adding it to your organization, the cost of a one-year subscription to Google Workspace is $7 per month per user for the Business Starter plan, $14 per month per user for the Business Standard plan, $22 per month per user for the Business Plus plan, and a customizable fee for the Enterprise plan [1]. Your Google Workspace subscription includes several other services beyond Google Sheets, such as business email, Drive storage, Chat Team messaging, and many others.

Can you get Google Sheets for free?

Google Sheets is free for individuals. If you’re considering adding it to your organization, the cost of a one-year subscription to Google Workspace is $7 per month per user for the Business Starter plan, $14 per month per user for the Business Standard plan, $22 per month per user for the Business Plus plan, and a customizable fee for the Enterprise plan [1]. Your Google Workspace subscription includes several other services beyond Google Sheets, such as business email, Drive storage, Chat Team messaging, and many others.

Common errors when downloading your Google Sheet

In some cases, you may experience issues while downloading your Google Sheet. One problem users face is a network error during download. This error often occurs when downloading larger and smaller files from Google Drive. If you experience this error, you should check whether antivirus software or unwanted programs are interfering with your download process. These applications may mistakenly identify Google Drive's downloading operation as a potential threat and block it. 

If you're unable to download data from your school or work account, the problem might be access restrictions imposed by your Google Workspace administrators. Your administrators have control over whether you can download data from different products. If you encounter this issue, you should contact your administrator to address it.

Even if you are not on a school or work computer, you might have trouble downloading your Google Sheets file if you do not have permission to download that specific Sheet. This can be changed in Share > Settings > General access by the owner of the file.

Explore free data analytics resources

Build your data analytics skills to begin or advance your career. Check out free resources like Career Chat, our weekly newsletter dedicated to providing you with the latest in professional news and details about emerging technologies and practices. Other options to consider include the following:

• Watch a YouTube video: What is Data Wrangling? The Key to Clean Data

• Prepare for an interview: Data Analyst Interview Questions & Prep Guide

• Hear from an expert: 7 Questions with a Data Analytics Professor

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