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Switching from Microsoft Office to Google Workspace doesn't mean you have to abandon your existing files. K12 Montana helps Montana school districts make this transition every year - and one of the first questions we get is: "What happens to all our Word and Excel files?" Google makes it easy to convert them into Google-native formats, and once they're converted, you get all the collaboration features that make Google Workspace great.
Converting a Word Document to Google Docs
Upload your Word (.docx) file to Google Drive. Once it appears in Drive, double-click it to open it. At the top of the screen, you'll see an Open with Google Docs button in the center dropdown. Click it. Google creates a new Google Docs version of the file while leaving the original Word file in your Drive.
Converting an Excel Spreadsheet to Google Sheets
Same process. Upload your Excel (.xlsx) file to Drive, double-click to open, and click Open with Google Sheets.
What Gets Preserved
Most formatting, formulas, tables, and text come through cleanly. Complex Excel macros or Word features that don't have a Google equivalent may not translate perfectly, but for most everyday school documents, the conversion is seamless.
Downloading Back to Office Format
If you ever need to send a file to someone who uses Microsoft Office, you can download your Google Doc as a .docx or your Google Sheet as a .xlsx at any time. Go to File, then Download, and choose the format you want.
Should Your District Make the Switch?
Many Montana school districts have found Google Workspace to be a cost-effective, easy-to-manage alternative to Microsoft Office - especially for Chromebook-heavy environments. If you're curious about what a transition would look like for your district, K12 Montana can walk you through it.
Thinking about moving to Google Workspace or need help supporting an existing deployment? Contact K12 Montana Inc. We've helped dozens of Montana schools make the move successfully.