Google has launched standalone Google Docs and Google Sheets apps for iOS and Android, now allowing users to create and access documents and spreadsheets offline on their mobile devices.
The move to make Docs and Sheets available as standalone apps allows for largely the same functionality as with the Drive app, but now with a more focused approach specifically where needed.
The new Google Docs app for iOS or Android will display a menu of the documents you stored in Drive, listing the ones you edited most recently on top. The app also allows users to customize the view and sorting, enabling better editing across devices.
Up until now, users could only access Google Docs and Google Sheets via Google Drive or online. The new standalone apps make specific content more easily accessible, and also allow for offline work on the go.
"Every year, phones and tablets get better, and more of you are starting to use your mobile devices not just to view, but also to create and edit content. And while Drive is a convenient place to store your stuff, we want to make it easier for you to quickly find, edit and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the go," Google explains.
As previously mentioned, the apps boast built-in offline support, which means that users will be able to view, edit, and create files even when they don't have an Internet connection.
"Now, if you have a brilliant idea for a best-selling novel while traipsing through the Amazonian rainforest (or you know, something more probable, like during flight takeoff)...no problem. You can jot down your idea in the Docs app on your phone, even when you're offline," Google further touts.
Moreover, Google Docs allows users to open and edit documents they have previously worked on from another device, and multiple users can share and edit documents at the same time.
You can find more information on the new standalone Google Docs app at this link, and Google Sheets here. Additionally, Google is also planning to launch a Google Slides standalone app soon, but has not mentioned when exactly that app will become available.
In the meantime, you can get the new standalone apps on Google Play (Docs, Sheets) or on the Apple App Store (Docs, Sheets). You'll still be able to use the Drive app to do everything, but you will also be able to focus on just what you need with the standalone apps.
