If an Office app is running in the background or the file is not shared on a network or if you are certain that no one is currently editing it, then an instance of the Office app with the file open might be running in the background. We suggest that you close the app or background process on an iPad or iPhone.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open a document in the Google Docs app .
2. Tap Edit .
3. To select a word, double-tap it. Move the blue markers to select more text.
4. Start editing.
5. To undo or redo an action, click Undo or Redo .

You can edit Google Docs files offline if you’ve synced them with your device beforehand. Both the Google Docs website and mobile app support offline editing. Enabling offline editing in Google Docs is great for users without a steady internet connection. Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

Use Google Docs offline on iOS and Android You can also view and edit files offline or without a mobile network connection on iOS devices such as an iPhone or iPad, along with Android devices. You will need to turn on the offline feature on each file.

If you can’t edit a file, a few things could be wrong: The file owner didn’t give you permission to view the file. You’re signed in to a different Google Account. Someone else with edit access removed your permission to edit.

Using the Google Docs App The Google Docs app works with Google Drive for seamless mobile document editing. Using the app, you can create or open documents and view or edit the files on the iPad. You can share documents, comment on them, and mark them for offline access.

Save Google Docs, Sheets & Slides for offline use

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Right click the Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file you want to save offline.
3. Turn on “Available offline.”

Use Google Drive Files Offline on Android or iOS

1. Open the Google Drive app on your Android or iPhone.
2. Navigate to the file you want to save for offline access.
3. Tap the more icon (three dots) on the file.
4. Select “Make available offline.”

How to turn on offline access

1. Open Google Drive.
2. At the top right, click Settings. Settings.
3. Turn on Offline setting.
4. To work offline, in your Chrome browser, open Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides users on iOS can now edit Microsoft Office files. The capability to edit Office files on Google Workspace apps was brought to the Web last year and Android in September. You can edit, comment, and collaborate on Microsoft Office files using the aforementioned Google apps on iOS.

Tip: To edit a Google Docs, Sheets or Slides file offline, use the Google Docs , Sheets, or Slides app. Learn how to work on Google Docs, Sheets and Slides offline. Open the app for Google Drive Docs, Sheets, or Slides. Tap Menu Offline.

If you aren’t connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile network, you can still view and edit files, including: Open the app for Google Drive. Next to the file, tap More . To save a preview of the file offline, turn on Available offline.

The most full-featured way to edit a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file stored on Google Drive is with Microsoft Office, of course. People who use Office on Windows may open Office files from Google Drive with a plug-in.

Next, start Chrome and browse to your file on Google Drive (http://drive.google.com). Right-click (or, [Ctrl]+click) on a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document, then choose “Open in…” and select the corresponding Office app (Figure B). When you’re done with your edits, the file saves to Google Drive.