Start a new sheet in three clicks
Open Google Sheets by going to sheets.google.com in any web browser. You do not need to read anything — it runs entirely online. If you are not already signed into a Google account, you will see a sign-in button in the top right. Click it and enter your email and password.
Once you are signed in, you will land on a page showing your recent sheets. In the top left corner, click the blue + Create button. A menu will drop down with one option: Blank spreadsheet. Click that, and Google Sheets will open a new, empty sheet in a new tab.
The sheet is automatically saved to your Google Drive and given a generic name like "Untitled spreadsheet". You can rename it right away by clicking that title at the top of the page, typing a new name, and pressing Enter. That name is how you will find it later when you return to sheets.google.com.
Key Takeaways
- Google Sheets opens in your web browser at sheets.google.com and requires only a Google account — no software to install.
- A new sheet is created by clicking the blue Create button and selecting Blank spreadsheet, and it saves automatically to your Google Drive.
- You rename a sheet by clicking its title at the top and typing a new name, which is how you will find it when you return later.
- Columns are labeled A, B, C and rows are numbered 1, 2, 3 — clicking any cell lets you type data directly into it.
- You can share a sheet with others by clicking the blue Share button and entering their email address, choosing whether they can view, comment, or edit.
Understanding rows, columns, and cells
A Google Sheet is organized into a grid. The vertical lines are columns, labeled with letters starting at A on the left. The horizontal lines are rows, labeled with numbers starting at 1 at the top. Each box where a column and row meet is called a cell.
When you click on a cell, it highlights with a blue border and you can type directly into it. The cell's address — its column letter and row number — appears in a small box on the left side of the toolbar. For example, if you click the cell in column A, row 1, that box will show "A1". This address is how you refer to cells when you write formulas or when you want to tell someone else where to look.
To move between cells, you can click on any cell with your mouse, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard. Pressing Tab moves you one cell to the right; pressing Shift+Tab moves you one cell to the left. Pressing Enter moves you down one row.
Adding and organizing your data
Start by entering column headers — the labels that describe what each column contains. Click cell A1 and type a header name, like "Date" or "Item". Press Tab to move to B1 and type the next header. Keep going across until you have all your headers in place.
Once your headers are set, click cell A2 to start entering data. Type the first piece of information, press Tab to move to the next cell in that row, and continue across. When you reach the end of the row, press Enter to move down to the next row and start again. This is much faster than clicking each cell individually.
If you need to insert a new column or row in the middle of your data, right-click on the column letter or row number where you want the new one to appear. A menu will pop up with options to insert a column to the left or a row above. Google Sheets will shift your existing data over to make room.
Formatting to make your sheet readable
Once you have data in your sheet, you can make it easier to read by adjusting column width, adding bold text, or changing background colors. To widen a column, position your mouse on the line between two column letters at the top until your cursor changes to a resize arrow, then drag left or right. Double-clicking that line will auto-fit the column to its contents.
To format text, select the cells you want to change by clicking one and dragging to another, or by clicking one cell and then holding Shift while clicking another. The toolbar at the top has buttons for bold, italic, and underline. You can also change text color, background color, and alignment from the toolbar.
A common first step is to make your header row stand out. Select the entire first row by clicking the row number "1" on the left side, then click the background color button in the toolbar and choose a light color. This makes it clear which row contains your labels.
Saving and accessing your sheet later
Google Sheets saves your work automatically as you type — you do not need to click a save button or use Ctrl+S. Every change appears in your sheet within a second or two. If you close the browser tab or your computer loses power, your data is still there because it is stored on Google's servers, not on your computer.
To find your sheet again, go to sheets.google.com and look at the list of recent sheets on the home page. You can also search for it by name using the search bar at the top. If you want to keep a sheet straightforward to find, click the star icon next to its name to add it to your Starred section, which appears at the top of the list.
Sharing your sheet with other people
To let someone else view or edit your sheet, click the blue Share button in the top right corner. A dialog box will open asking you to enter email addresses. Type the email address of the person you want to share with, then click the dropdown that says "Viewer" to choose their permission level.
Viewer means they can see the sheet but cannot change it. Commenter means they can leave notes and suggestions without editing the actual data. Editor means they can make changes directly to the sheet. Choose the level that matches what you want them to do, then click Share. Google Sheets will send them an email with a link to your sheet.
If you change your mind, you can remove someone's access by going back to the Share button, finding their name in the list, and clicking the trash icon next to it. You can also change their permission level by clicking their name and selecting a different option from the dropdown.
Common tasks you will use often
To delete a row or column, right-click on its number or letter and select Delete row or Delete column. To move a column, click its letter to select the entire column, then drag it to a new position. To copy data from one cell to another, click the cell, press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac), click where you want it to go, and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V).
If you make a mistake, press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo your last action. You can undo multiple times to go back several steps. If you undo too much, press Ctrl+Y (or Cmd+Y) to redo.
To freeze the header row so it stays visible when you scroll down through lots of data, click on row 2, then go to the View menu at the top and select Freeze > 1 row. Now when you scroll down, the header row will stay at the top of your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Google account to use Google Sheets?
Yes, you need a free Google account to create and save sheets. If you already use Gmail, YouTube, or any other Google service, you already have an account and can sign in with that email and password.
Can I read my sheet as an Excel file?
Yes. Click the File menu at the top left, select read, and choose Microsoft Excel. Google Sheets will read a .xlsx file to your computer that you can open in Excel or other spreadsheet programs. Keep in mind that some Google Sheets features, like certain formulas, may not work the same way in Excel.
What happens if two people edit the same sheet at the same time?
Google Sheets handles this automatically. You will see each person's cursor and changes appear in real time as they type. If two people try to edit the exact same cell at the same time, Google Sheets will show you both versions and ask you to choose which one to keep, but this is rare.
Can I use Google Sheets on my phone?
Yes. read the free Google Sheets app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, sign in with your Google account, and you can view and edit your sheets from your phone or tablet. Changes sync automatically between your phone and the web version.
How much data can I put in a Google Sheet?
A single sheet can hold up to 10 million cells, which is far more than most people will ever need. However, performance may slow down if you are working with very large sheets or running complex formulas on thousands of rows.