When you upload a Microsoft Word document (.docx) or an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) to Google Drive, you might find that Google automatically converts the file into its own native Google Docs or Google Sheets format. While this makes the files easier to edit in the browser, it can disrupt the original formatting and cause compatibility issues if you need to share the file with colleagues who use Microsoft Office.
If you want to use Google Drive purely for cloud storage and ensure your files remain in their original Microsoft formats, you can easily disable this automatic conversion setting.
How to Turn Off Automatic File Conversion in Google Drive
This setting must be changed from the desktop web version of Google Drive. It applies to all future uploads on your account.
- Open your web browser and navigate to drive.google.com.
- Log into your Google account if you haven’t already.
- Click the Settings gear icon located in the top right corner of the screen (next to your profile picture).
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the pop-up window, ensure you are on the General tab on the left.
- Look for the section labeled Convert uploads.
- Uncheck the box next to Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format.
- Click the Done or Save button in the top right corner.
What Happens Next?
From now on, whenever you drag and drop a Microsoft Office file into your Google Drive, it will remain exactly as it is. A Word document will stay a .docx file, and an Excel file will stay an .xlsx file.
If you ever need to edit one of these files in the browser, you can still right-click the file in Google Drive, select Open with, and choose Google Docs. This will create a temporary editable version without permanently forcing all your uploads to convert.