Google Drive: How to Enable and Disable Offline Mode

Summary: Learn how to Enable and Disable Offline Mode in Google Drive. Make Offline copies available and access your Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets offline from Your Computer.

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Instructions

Note: This is a Guide on Google Drive, it explains how to enable and disable the activate Offline Mode for files. So you can access them without an Internet connection.
An Internet connection is required to set the mode for stored files.

Table of Contents:

  1. About the Google Drive
  2. Google Drive Offline
  3. Enable Google Drive offline
  4. Disable Google Drive offline

About the Google Drive

The Files app gives a quick access to all the files stored on the Chromebook and those stored on the web through Google Drive. You can also use it to open files that are saved on an external storage device that is connected to the Chromebook.
Use the integrated Files app on the Chromebook to access files. (For example: Documents, PDFs, images, and media that are stored on the device or on the web in Google Drive.)

Google Drive Offline

All the documents that are saved in Google Drive can be made available offline. To enable offline mode, you must be online and have a good Internet connection.

Note: If your ChromeOS is not connected to the Internet, you cannot enable offline capability. Connect to a network first, then follow the steps below. Also, keep in mind that you must have at least one saved document that is stored in Google Drive to use offline.

Enable Google Drive offline

Note: Where the steps do not resolve to enable and disable the Google Drive to work offline, Google provides the following instructions: Work on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offline This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. 
  1. Go to Google Drive either by clicking the Drive Icon google drive or by visiting drive.google.com while you are online, and the sync process begins automatically. (You see a notification in the status area on the lower right of the screen showing you the progress of the syncing operation.)
  2. Once it is done, the documents are available to be accessed offline.
  3. If any Google documents are open, clicking the google drive Drive icon opens a list of these documents.
  4. You may either close these documents or go to drive.google.com directly.

Disable Google Drive offline

  1. In the Chrome browser, go to drive.google.com.
  2. Click the Settings icon gear icon in the upper right corner of your browser.
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Click the box next to "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline."
Note: To disable offline access, clear the box.

Doc, Sheets, and Slides homescreens

  1. In the Chrome browser, open the Docs, Sheets, or Slides homescreen.
  2. On the left, click the Menu icon apps list.
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Click Turn on. To disable offline access, click Turn-off.

Now your files and folders are automatically synced and are now available without an Internet connection.

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Additional Information

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Affected Products

Chromebox, Chromebook, Chromebook, Chromebook, Chromebook 3120 (End of Life)
Article Properties
Article Number: 000129844
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 24 Jun 2025
Version:  9
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