How to Convert Excel to Google Sheets

When your work involves Google Sheets, there might come instances where the need arises to transform Excel files into Google Sheets. But how does one perform this transition? Although the process of converting Excel into Google Sheets isn’t straightforward, a couple of approaches can be employed.

Transformation through Excel File Import into Google Sheets
Alteration during Upload to Google Drive
Utilize Google Drive for Upload and Conversion

These techniques pave the way for collaborative efforts and leveraging Google Sheets’ robust functionalities. Let’s delve into specific instances to grasp the nuances of converting Excel to Google Sheets.

Table of Contents

Supported Excel File Formats for Google Sheets Compatibility

Google Sheets accepts the following Excel file formats:

.xls
.xlsx
.xlsm
.xlt
.ods
.csv
.tsv
.tab

Transitioning from Microsoft to the Google Suite

While many file formats can be transferred between Microsoft Office and G Suite, adapting to Google’s software might pose challenges. To effectively navigate this terrain, enrolling in a comprehensive G Suite course to acquire fundamental and intermediate skills proves to be the swiftest solution.

Converting Excel Files into Google Sheets by Importing

The process of converting Excel files to Google Sheets involves importing data from diverse formats like xlsx, ods, and csv. Here’s a step-by-step guide to converting Excel files into Google Sheets through data import:

Initiate by accessing the Google Drive Homepage and logging in using your credentials.
Once on the Google Drive Homepage, select the New button followed by Google Sheets.
In the newly opened Google Sheet, navigate to File and click on Import.
Within the Import File dialog box, opt for the Upload tab.
Drag the Excel file you intend to convert into the dialog box, or alternatively, choose ‘Select a file from your computer’ and proceed with manual selection.

Upon successful upload, a dialog box will appear, offering three options:

Create a new spreadsheet: Generate a fresh spreadsheet for the converted Excel file.
Insert a new sheet: Incorporate the imported file into your current spreadsheet, creating a new sheet tab.
Replace the spreadsheet: Opting for this erases the current spreadsheet content, replacing it with the transformed Excel file.

In my experience, the conversion process has demonstrated near-perfection. I’ve successfully converted numerous Excel files to Google Sheets, even those with intricate formulas and conditional formatting, achieving optimal outcomes.

Nonetheless, certain functionalities might be lost during the Excel-to-Google Sheets transition:

Macros don’t function in Google Sheets.
Interactive controls become non-operational.
Certain Excel features remain unavailable in Google Sheets, such as split worksheets, linked shapes, and specific chart types.

This method is most suitable for situations where a few Excel files need conversion to Google Sheets.

Converting Excel to Google Sheets While Uploading to Google Drive

For scenarios involving multiple Excel files necessitating transformation into Google Sheets, the most effective approach involves saving Excel files on Google Drive. Google Drive offers an option to automatically convert Excel files to Google Sheets during the upload process. Below, we detail this method, including guidance on saving Excel files to Google Drive.

Converting Excel Files to Google Sheets during Upload:

Initiate by accessing the Google Drive Homepage and logging in with your credentials.
Locate the gear icon in the top-right corner and select it.
Click on Settings.
In the ensuing Setting dialog box, opt for the ‘Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format’ choice.
Finalize by clicking Done.

From now on, whenever you upload an Excel file to Google Drive, it will undergo automatic conversion into Google Sheets format. To save an Excel file to Google Drive, follow these simple steps:

Access your Google Drive.
Select New > File upload.
Choose the desired files from your computer and open them.

Throughout the upload process, you’ll receive notifications indicating the status of file transfer, offering a secure backup solution for your Excel files.

Converting Excel Files to Google Sheets through Google Sheets

The process of transforming Excel files into Google Sheets can also be achieved by directly opening the file in Google Sheets. Here’s how to do it:

Access Google Sheets.
Navigate to File > Open or click the Open file picker icon.
Choose the Upload option.
Drag and drop your file into the designated area or click Browse to manually locate it.
Identify your original Excel file on the computer and select it.
Finalize by clicking Open.

A notification will appear, indicating Google Sheets is in the process of opening the file, a task that usually takes a few seconds. Once completed, your Excel file will be accessible as a Google Sheets file, maintaining its original formatting.

Converting Excel Files to Google Sheets after Uploading to Google Drive

For those who already possess Excel files within Google Drive or prefer manual conversion over automatic, this method offers a tailored solution. This approach allows you to selectively convert Excel files into Google Sheets without altering the format of your files on Google Drive.

Converting an Excel File in Google Drive to Google Sheets:

Right-click on the desired file earmarked for Google Sheets conversion.
Navigate to Open with and select Google Sheets.

This action triggers the file to open in Google Sheets while retaining its Excel format in Google Drive.

Exporting Google Sheets Files as Excel Spreadsheets

After making alterations in an Excel spreadsheet within Google Sheets, the need to revert these changes to an Excel file may arise. To facilitate this process, adhere to the following steps:

Access File > Download within Google Sheets.
Select Microsoft Excel (.Xlsx).

Google Sheets Formulas Incompatible with Microsoft Excel

Certain Google Sheets functions lack compatibility with Microsoft Excel. These should be avoided when creating files intended for Excel users:

UPLUS
UNIQUE
UNARY_PERCENT
UMINUS
TO_TEXT
TO_PERCENT
TO_DOLLARS
TO_DATE
SPLIT
SPARKLINE
SORT
QUERY
POW
MULTIPLY
MINUS
LTE
LT
JOIN
IMPORTXML
IMPORTRANGE
IMPORTHTML
IMPORTFEED
IMPORTDATA
IMAGE
GTE
GT
GoogleTRANSLATE
GoogleTOURNAMENT
GoogleFINANCE
FILTER
EQ
DIVIDE
DETECTLANGUAGE
COUNTUNIQUE
CONTINUE
CONCAT
ARRAYFORMULA
ADD

Limitations in Excel-to-Google Sheets Conversion

While the transition from Excel to Google Sheets is manageable, certain limitations should be taken into account. A few important considerations are as follows:

Google Sheets imposes a 5 MB file size cap for imported files. Any Excel file exceeding this limit prompts an error message indicating the file’s size is prohibitive for import.
Additionally, Excel boasts more cells compared to Google Sheets. In scenarios dealing with extensive data and larger files, exporting Excel to Google Sheets could pose challenges. Google Sheets supports a maximum of 1000 rows and columns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Transform an Excel File into Google Sheets?

The simplest approach to migrating Excel to Google Sheets involves these steps:

Launch a blank Google Sheets page.
Navigate to File > Import > Upload.
Drag and drop the Excel file into the pop-up window.
Confirm the selection to initiate Excel to Google Sheets conversion.
Is Converting .xlsx Files to Google Sheets Possible?

Indeed, the process of exporting .xlsx files to Google Sheets is achievable via Google Drive in a two-step process:

Right-click on the desired file.
Select Open with > Google Sheets.

In Conclusion

Transitioning Excel files to Google Sheets is a straightforward procedure. This guide has elucidated the process step by step, including the option to upload Excel files to Google Drive.