# How do I download a Google Sheets file as an Excel file?

To download a Google Sheets file as an Excel file, open the spreadsheet on a computer, click File > Download, and choose Excel (.xlsx). The file saves to your computer, and the Sheets original stays in Drive. Google also offers PDF, CSV and ODS downloads. ProfitDrawer's bookkeeping spreadsheets already include the 12-tab Excel .xlsx file, so you only need this step to save an Excel copy of the version you filled in on Google Sheets.

**Steps (computer):**

1. Open the spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Click **File > Download**.
3. Choose **Excel (.xlsx)**. The file downloads to your computer.

Other file types in the same menu include PDF, comma-separated values (CSV) and OpenDocument (ODS).

**Send it as an Excel attachment instead:** click **File > Email > Email this file** and choose **Excel** as the format.

**Good to know:**

- Your Drive copy and the downloaded file are now separate. Keep working in one of them so your numbers do not split across two files.

- Source: [Google Docs Editors Help: Create, view, or download a file](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/49114)
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Category: Google Sheets and Excel how-tos
- Canonical: https://profitdrawer.com/answers/how-do-i-download-a-google-sheets-file-as-an-excel-file.html
- Publisher: ProfitDrawer (https://profitdrawer.com)