How to Edit Google Docs Offline

Using the Google Docs Mobile App

Open Google Docs. This app icon looks like a blue rectangle with a bunch of white lines on it that you'll find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching. Log in if you are not.

Tap ☰. You'll see this in the top left corner of your screen.

Tap Offline files. It's near the middle of the menu next to an icon that looks like an underlined checkmark inside a circle. All the files you've marked for offline use will appear.

Tap to select your Docs file that you want to edit. That file will open and any changes you make will be saved locally until you can connect to the internet again. The file will update to reflect your edits across all platforms once you're connected to the internet.

Using a Chrome Web Browser

Login to your Chrome web browser. You can click the profile icon in the top right corner of your web browser to find the option to log in.

Go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings. You'll have to use the Chrome web browser that you opened and logged into already. Google Drive should load and a Settings window will pop-up.

Check the box next to "Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs … on this device while offline." This allows you to access Google Drive documents when you aren't connected to the internet.

Click Done. You'll see this in the top right corner of the pop-up window. When you go to your Google Drive when you're offline, you'll see the documents you can edit and the grayed-out documents you are unable to open.

Double-click a Google Doc to open it. You'll notice a "Working offline" or "Saved to Device" label at the top of the screen, which indicates that your changes have been saved locally and will apply online once you're connected to the internet.