How to turn on offline access to Google Drive docs on Mac – Guide
Google Drive allows you to access your documents from any device with an internet connection, making it easy to work remotely. However, if the connection is lost, it can be difficult to continue working.
Even when you’re offline, you can still access and edit your Google Docs files. To ensure uninterrupted productivity, take a few simple steps to enable offline editing.
Install Google Chrome
Google Chrome is necessary to use Google Docs offline, but the installation process is simple. Download the Chrome installer file and drag and drop the app into your Applications folder. Once installed, you can sign in with your Google Account to set up Chrome Sync. The convenience of having access to your documents offline makes it worth the effort.
Disabling the “Allow Chrome Login” option in Settings can help prevent Chrome from automatically logging you in when you access Google Docs. This will allow you to use the browser without having to log in.
Google Chrome is giving users the option to set it as their default browser. However, if they prefer their current browser for everyday activities, they can still use Chrome for Google Docs.
Add Google Docs Offline Extension
To use Google Docs offline, you must install the Google Docs Offline extension on Chrome or an alternative Chrome-based browser. After downloading it from the Chrome Web Store, add it to your browser and enable the functionality. Then you’re ready to start using Google Docs offline.
Activate Google Offline
To access Google Docs, simply open a new Chrome tab and sign in. If you’re already logged into Chrome, no additional login is required.
To enable offline functionality in Google Docs, users must select the 3 rows stacked in the upper left corner of the dashboard, then choose Settings from the menu and activate the switch next to Offline. Once this is done, clicking OK will allow users to access their documents even when not connected to the internet.
With the Google Docs offline extension, you can now work on documents even when you’re not connected to the internet. Your changes will be saved and synced with Google Drive as soon as you reconnect.
Google Docs allows users to keep working on documents even if their internet connection drops, with changes saved offline and loaded back in when the connection is restored. However, new documents cannot be created while offline.
Alternative Chrome Browser
Google Docs can be used offline with alternative Chromium-based browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Opera GX and Vivaldi.
Install the Google Docs offline extension for Chromium-based browsers to access documents without an internet connection.
Install the User-Agent Switcher and Manager extension to mask your browser as Chrome. Select the icon and set the User Agent string to Chrome for a single tab or for the entire browser.
You can keep working in Google Docs even without an Internet connection - just go to the settings panel to enable offline functionality.
Using Chrome to work on Google Docs offline is the safest option, as the Google Docs Offline extension isn’t officially supported and setting the browser user agent string to Chrome can help protect your work.
Set Document Offline
Google Docs offers an easy way to make documents available offline: simply click the three dot icon next to a document in the dashboard or open the File menu while working on a document and select Make Available Offline.
Final note
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to enable offline access to Google Drive documents on Mac. If you have any questions, please reach out for help. Don’t forget to share the article with your friends!
