It’s currently possible to use Google Chrome to make Google Drive files like Sheets, Docs, and Slides available for offline use. As part of a new beta test, Google has now decided to extend this functionality to other content stored in Drive. This can include Microsoft Office files, images, PDFs, and additional non-Google formats.
To pertinent to note here, though, that this beta test called “Google Drive Offline for Binary Content Beta” is currently open only for G Suite domain admins that have the Drive File Stream enabled. Those admins who previously took part in the Alpha test for offline Docs, Sheets, and Slides will be whitelisted automatically for the latest beta.
When a G Suite domain in enrolled in the beta, it will then allow users to enable offline from inside the Drive or Docs settings. They can simply right-click on the files then and click on “Make available offline.” Offline preview is also going to work when this is enabled. Users will be able to open the non-Google formats in their native applications such as Microsoft Office.
The beta is being conducted on a limited scale for now until Google works through the bugs and makes sure that the feature is stable enough. It would eventually be released for the consumer version of Google Drive as well once it’s out for G Suite users.
Filed in . Read more about Google Drive. Source: gsuiteupdates.googleblog