How to Restore Google Drive File Sharing for Excel Files on Windows 11
Question details
The user wants to restore Google Drive file sharing for Excel files on a Windows 11 laptop after the new device setup defaults to OneDrive.
- Product
- Google Drive for desktop and Excel files
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- After setting up a new Windows 11 laptop, the system encourages OneDrive, and the user needs to continue synchronizing and sharing Excel workbooks through Google Drive.
- Observed behavior
- Excel files are no longer set to synchronize or share through Google Drive, and the user needs to restore that workflow.
Before you begin, make sure you have a Google account and the latest Google Drive for desktop installer, and confirm the Excel workbook you want to share is saved in a folder you can access from File Explorer.
Sync Excel files with Google Drive for desktop on Windows 11
Use this method to keep a local folder synchronized with Google Drive and share Excel workbooks directly from File Explorer.
Google Drive for desktop creates a synced folder in File Explorer, so you can open and save Excel-compatible files in WPS Office and have them upload to Google Drive automatically.
This is the best option when you want ongoing synchronization across devices.
Open the Google Drive download page in your browser and click Download for desktop, then run the installer.
Launch Google Drive for desktop, click Sign in with browser, and authorize the app with the Google account that contains your Excel files.
In Google Drive preferences, click Add folder and select the Windows 11 folder that contains your Excel workbook, or choose My Drive to sync the entire Google Drive.
Open WPS Office or Microsoft Excel, then open the workbook from the Google Drive folder in File Explorer and save changes there so files sync automatically.
Right-click the synced Excel file in File Explorer, choose Share with Google Drive, or open drive.google.com, right-click the file, and add email addresses or copy the sharing link.
Upload and share an Excel workbook from drive.google.com
Use this method for a one-time share when you do not want to install a sync app.
Use WPS Office and Google Drive to Sync and Share Excel Files on Windows 11
With WPS Office, you can open and edit Excel workbooks stored in a Google Drive-synced folder, then share them through Google Drive without depending on OneDrive.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office download page, click Download WPS Office Free, and install it on Windows 11.
- 2. Install Google Drive for desktop: Download Google Drive for desktop from Google, sign in, and select the folder where your Excel workbooks are stored.
- 3. Open your Excel workbook in WPS Office: In File Explorer, locate the workbook inside the Google Drive synced folder, right-click it, and choose Open with > WPS Office.
- 4. Save and sync changes: Edit the workbook as needed, then click Menu > Save or press Ctrl+S. WPS Office saves the file in the Google Drive folder, and changes sync automatically.
- 5. Share from Google Drive: Open drive.google.com or right-click the synced file in File Explorer, choose Share, and add people or copy the link with Viewer or Editor access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Drive for desktop work on Windows 11 with Excel files?
Yes. Install Google Drive for desktop, sign in, and choose a sync folder. You can open the synced .xlsx files in WPS Office or Excel and share them from File Explorer or drive.google.com.
Can I share an Excel file without installing Google Drive for desktop?
Yes. Go to drive.google.com, click New > File upload, select the Excel file, then right-click it and use Share to add email addresses or copy a link.
Why is Windows 11 pushing OneDrive instead of Google Drive?
Windows 11 includes OneDrive setup during new device setup, but you can ignore it and install Google Drive for desktop as your default sync app for Excel and other files.
Do I need Microsoft Excel to share WPS Office spreadsheets through Google Drive?
No. WPS Office opens and saves .xlsx and .xls files, and you can use Google Drive sharing with those files just as you would with Microsoft Excel files.
Can I restore sharing permissions for an existing Google Drive Excel file?
Open drive.google.com, right-click the file, choose Share, then re-add the person's email or change permissions. If the file is in a synced folder, make sure Google Drive for desktop is signed in and sync is active.
