Google Sheets: how to use it and convert from Excel
Google Sheets is the browser spreadsheet that ships with a Google account. This guide covers the everyday workflow, then the Excel ⇄ Sheets conversion path — upload to Drive, open as Sheets, download .xlsx again — plus the formula gaps that trip people up. SheetDo practice formulas are written so they work in both Excel and Google Sheets.
How to use Google Sheets
Start here if you are new to browser spreadsheets — create a file, type values, write a first formula, then share.
- Create: go to sheets.google.com or Drive → New → Google Sheets. Rename the file from the title bar; every change autosaves.
- Enter data: click a cell, type a number or text, press Enter. Tab moves right; Enter moves down. Start formulas with =.
- Basic formulas: try =SUM(B2:B10), =AVERAGE(B2:B10), =IF(C2>=60,"Pass","Fail"). These names match Excel.
- Share: click Share in the top right, add emails or copy a link, and set Viewer / Commenter / Editor. Real-time collaboration is Sheets’ biggest everyday win over a lone desktop file.
A first lookup that works in both Excel and Google Sheets:
Excel ⇄ Google Sheets conversion
Moving workbooks between Excel and Sheets is mostly about Drive uploads and .xlsx download — not a one-click “converter” app.
- Excel → Sheets: upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, then Open with → Google Sheets. Or in a blank sheet use File → Import → Upload and choose Replace or Insert new sheet.
- Sheets → Excel: File → Download → Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). Open the file in desktop Excel or Excel for the web.
- Keep a backup: conversion is a copy. VBA, some ActiveX controls, and certain Excel-only charts may drop or become static.
| Direction | Steps | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Excel → Sheets | Drive upload → Open with Google Sheets | Editable Sheets copy on Drive |
| Sheets → Excel | File → Download → .xlsx | Excel workbook you can open offline |
| Both ways | Prefer English function names | Fewer locale surprises when sharing |
Formula differences and incompatibilities
Most day-to-day formulas transfer. Watch these gaps before you rely on a converted file:
- VBA macros do not run in Google Sheets. Automation needs Apps Script (or rewrite the workflow). Macros are stripped or inert after conversion.
- Sheets-only functions such as QUERY, ARRAYFORMULA, IMPORTXML, and GOOGLEFINANCE have no Excel twin. Excel 365 dynamic arrays (FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT) are close cousins but not identical.
- Locale separators: some regions type =SUM(A1;A2) with a semicolon. Sheets and Excel can disagree after you change language or decimal settings — stick to commas in English UI when sharing globally.
- A few Excel finance helpers (for example RRI) are missing in Sheets; rebuild with POWER or ^ instead. Power Query / Get & Transform has no full Sheets equivalent — use IMPORT* or Apps Script for light ETL.
SheetDo exercises use the shared formula surface (VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, and more). Type them here once; the same syntax works in Excel and Google Sheets.
FAQ
How do I open an Excel file in Google Sheets?
Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets (right-click → Open with → Google Sheets), or File → Import inside a blank sheet. Sheets keeps a copy; your original Excel file stays on Drive until you replace it.
Can I convert Google Sheets back to Excel?
Yes. In Sheets choose File → Download → Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). Charts, most formulas, and formatting transfer; VBA macros and some Excel-only features will not.
Do Excel formulas work in Google Sheets?
Core functions like SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, COUNTIF, and SUMIF use the same English names and similar syntax. Differences appear around macros, locale separators, Sheets-only functions (QUERY, ARRAYFORMULA), and a few Excel-only tools. Practice those shared formulas on SheetDo — they grade the same way in both apps.
What is the difference between Excel and Google Sheets?
Excel is a desktop/online Microsoft product with VBA, Power Query, and deep Windows integration. Google Sheets lives in the browser, autosaves to Drive, and shares with one link. For everyday formulas and lookups, both are close enough that skills transfer.