How To Import Spreadsheet Into Google Sheets

How To Import Spreadsheet Into Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a great tool for collaborating and working in the cloud.

But many people and services still use other spreadsheet formats like Microsoft Excel files or CSV files (comma separated value files).

Why is this a problem?

Because often you will find you need to transfer data from one of these spreadsheets into Google Sheets.

While you could copy and paste the data manually, it’s typically easier to simply import the data.

That way you can be certain you’re getting all the data, and also take advantage of carrying over any formatting in the original file.

How to Upload a Spreadsheet to Google Sheets (in 5 Steps)

Here’s how to import a spreadsheet into Google Sheets:

Step 1

Open the Google Sheet you want to import into, then open the File menu and choose Import

Step 2

In the Import window, choose the file to import.

You can select a file from your Google Drive or upload a file.

Google Sheets can import any non-password protected file in the following formats:

• .xls (if newer than Microsoft® Office 95)
• .xlsx
• .xlsm
• .xlt
• .xltx
• .xltm
• .ods
• .csv
• .txt
• .tsv
• .tab

Step 3

Select where you’d like to import the data from the dropdown.

Not all filetypes and files will have all options, but in general you can choose to do the following:

• create a new spreadsheet
• replace the current spreadsheet entirely
• insert new sheet(s) for the data
• replace the current sheet
• append the data to the current sheet
• or append the data starting at the selected cell

Step 4

Click Import Data and the data will be imported in the specified location

Step 5

If the imported spreadsheet contained formatting, the formatting will also be imported.

Note however that certain formatting might look a little different in Google Sheets and need to be corrected

FAQs (about uploading spreadsheets)

Here’s some frequently asked questions related to importing spreadsheets into Google Sheets:

Can I import an Excel spreadsheet into Google Sheets?

In a new (or existing) Google Sheets file, you can import data from an Excel file. Even when you make changes to the Sheets file, your Excel file will remain unchanged. 

Read more: How To Convert Excel To Google Sheets

Can I import a file into Google Sheets?

You can import and convert any existing files to Docs, Sheets, or Slides. Simply go to your Google Drive, select the file on your computer and upload it. You can convert it to a workable format too.

Read more: How To Import Data Into Google Sheets

How do I link Google Sheets together?

When using Google Sheets, you could discover that the data you require is sat in several other workbooks, making it challenging to work with.

While you could copy-paste data across files to make sure everything is in the same location, doing so can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

Making a direct link to the data you require is a preferable method so that everything updates automatically when the source data changes.

Here’s how: How To Link Google Sheets Together

Summary

Example Spreadsheet: Make a copy of the example spreadsheet, and Excel File

In this tutorial, I covered how to import spreadsheet into google sheets. Want more? Check out all the Google Sheets Tutorials.