How To Back Up Google Sheets Spreadsheet? All Methods 2026

Your Google Sheets spreadsheets might live in the cloud, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re invincible!

Accidental deletes, overwritten data, or even freak account issues or glitches can wipe out your important data in seconds.

Which is why it's crucial to regularly back up your Google Sheets spreadsheets!

Backing up your spreadsheets essentially keeps them safe and secure at all times. 

In this guide, I share how you can back up your Google Sheets spreadsheets using four different methods:

1. Make another copy in Google Drive.
2. Export a copy.
3. Use Google Takeout.
4. Use Apps Script (create trigger).

With that said, let’s take a closer look at each of these methods now.

Read more: How to backup and restore Google Sheets spreadsheets?

One of the quickest ways to protect your Google Sheets files is to create a duplicate of the same spreadsheet and then save it directly within Google Drive.

This method allows you to store another carbon copy version of your spreadsheet, without having to use any other tools!

Here’s how you can easily back up your Google Sheets spreadsheet using Google Drive:

1. Open the Google Sheets spreadsheet you want to back up.
2. Click ‘File > Make a copy’ in the top menu.
3. Select ‘My Drive’ and choose where you want the backup saved.
4. Rename the copied spreadsheet to include today’s date.
5. Click ‘OK’.

And that’s it! Your spreadsheet is now securely backed up and safely stored inside Google’s trusty ecosystem. 

Since the backup remains as a Google Sheet, all your formulas and formatting stay perfectly intact.

However, keep in mind that any edits made to the original spreadsheet (after creating the backup) won’t automatically update in the copied version.

This method also doesn’t protect you if you lose access to your entire Drive account or accidentally delete files in Drive.

In saying that, as this method is instant, built-in, and requires no setup, it's perfect for those looking to create quick and regular backups inside Google!

Read more: How to delete Google Workspace account?

Do you prefer keeping your backups completely under your control? Downloading a local copy of your Google Sheet may be a reliable option!

This method essentially stores a version directly on your computer or external device, ensuring you can access it at all times (even without an internet connection!)

Here’s how you can externally back up your Google Sheets spreadsheet:

• Open your Google Sheets spreadsheet.
• Select ‘File > Download’ from the top menu.

Choose from one of the following formats that suits you best:

• Microsoft Excel (.xlsx): Keeps your formulas intact and is compatible with Excel.
• OpenDocument (.ods): Ideal for open-source spreadsheet software.
• PDF (.pdf): A read-only format that’s perfect for sharing with a team.
• CSV (.csv): Raw data export (you must download one sheet at a time).

Save the file to your hard drive, USB drive, or external storage device

And there you go! You now have a fully offline version of your spreadsheet, which remains easily accessible even if Google services are unavailable!

Keep in mind that this is a manual process, and backups can become outdated if they’re not refreshed regularly.

But because you control exactly where and how the file is stored, this method is a dependable choice for long-term archiving and offline access!

Read more: How to import and export data in Google Sheets?

Looking for a comprehensive backup of everything in your Google Drive, including all your Google Sheets files? Google Takeout is the way to go!

Google Takeout is a free Google service that allows you to export your data across all Google products at once, including Drive, Gmail, Photos, and more.

This method essentially gives you a full copy of your files, giving you a complete offline archive of your account’s contents.

Here’s how you can back up your Google Sheets spreadsheet using Google Takeout:

1. Go to Google Takeout.
2. Select ‘Drive’ (or choose specific file or /folders).
3. Pick your preferred export format.
4. Set the frequency (one-time export or backups every 2 months for a year).
5. Download the resulting ZIP or TGZ archive to your local device.

It’s that easy! Once completed, you’ll have a complete account backup, including all your Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more.

Because it captures everything in one go, Google Takeout is ideal for creating a securely stored offline master backup.

However, it's worth mentioning that if you have large file sizes, download times may be time-consuming.

Read more: How to change ownership of a Google Sheets spreadsheet?

The fourth and final way to back up a Google Sheets spreadsheet is by using Google Apps Script. 

In this case, the backup method isn’t a traditional full-system backup; it’s essentially a snapshot of your sheet at its current state, saved as a copy in a Google Drive folder.

This process involves using a script within Google Apps Script and then setting up a trigger to run the script automatically every week.

Although the setup is somewhat more technical, it does provide seamless automation options for creating and storing backups.

I recommend using this method only if you have experience with Google Apps Script.

For a visual step-by-step walkthrough of this process, check out this guide.

If you use Google Sheets to manage your business or personal data and are not currently backing up your files, you may be at risk of potential data loss!

Even though your files live in the cloud, they’re still vulnerable to accidental deletions, overwriting, or unwanted changes made by collaborators.

Plus, account access issues, syncing errors, or file corruptions can also put your data at risk.

But by keeping regular backups, you’ll create a safety net that allows you to restore your spreadsheets quickly and accurately.

This not only protects your work but also gives you peace of mind, knowing your important information is secure and recoverable at any time!

With four easy backup options available, keeping your Google Sheets data safe is straightforward, giving you confidence that your data is always protected.

Thanks so much for reading this how to back up Google Sheets spreadsheet article.