How can I open office doc (Word Excel PowerPoint) saved on my Zoho Workdrive locally on my PC?

How can I open office doc (Word Excel PowerPoint) saved on my Zoho Workdrive locally on my PC?

Option 1: Use Zoho WorkDrive Sync + Local Folder

  1. Install WorkDrive Sync on your computer:

  2. Set it up using your Zoho credentials.

  3. It will create a local folder on your computer (like Dropbox or OneDrive).

  4. Navigate to the synced folder, locate your Excel file, and double-click to open it in Microsoft Excel.

✅ Changes you make will sync back automatically to Zoho WorkDrive.

✅ Option 2: Download File from Zoho WorkDrive Manually

  1. Log in to Zoho WorkDrive.

  2. Find the Excel file you want.

  3. Click the three dots (…) next to the file.

  4. Choose Download.

  5. Open the file from your Downloads folder with Excel.

✅ Option 3: Use Zoho WorkDrive Web App with Zoho Office Plugin

This is not for direct Excel editing but:

  • You can preview and edit in Zoho Sheet, or

  • Use the Microsoft Office Plugin to open it in Excel (Windows only):

  1. Install Zoho Office Plugin for Microsoft Office:

  2. Once installed, you can:

    • Use the Zoho tab in Excel to log in.

    • Access your Zoho WorkDrive files.

    • Open and save directly from Excel.

🔒 Considerations:

  • Ensure you have permissions to edit the file if it's shared with you.

  • WorkDrive Sync works best for frequent access and editing.

  • Plugin method is Windows-only and may have limitations with latest Office versions.


To open and edit Excel files stored on your Zoho WorkDrive using Microsoft Excel, you can utilize both WorkDrive Sync and WorkDrive Genie. Here's how to set them up:

🛠️ Step 1: Install and Configure WorkDrive Sync

WorkDrive Sync synchronizes your WorkDrive files with a local folder on your computer, allowing offline access and automatic syncing.

  1. Download WorkDrive Sync:

  2. Install the application:

    • For Windows: Run the .msi installer.

    • For macOS: Open the .dmg file and follow the installation prompts.

  3. Sign in with your Zoho credentials.

  4. Choose your sync folder location and select the folders you wish to sync.

  5. Start the sync process. A local folder (e.g., Zoho WorkDrive) will be created on your computer.

Note: WorkDrive Sync downloads the selected files to your local storage. Ensure you have sufficient disk space.

🧞 Step 2: Install and Use WorkDrive Genie

WorkDrive Genie allows you to open and edit WorkDrive files directly with your desktop applications without manually downloading them.

  1. Download WorkDrive Genie:

  2. Install the application:

    • For Windows: Run the installer and follow the prompts.

    • For macOS: Open the .dmg file and complete the installation.

  3. Using WorkDrive Genie:

    • Navigate to your WorkDrive via a supported browser.

    • Locate the Excel file you wish to edit.

    • Click on the More Actions (⋯) icon next to the file.

    • Select Open With > Default Desktop App.

    • The file will open in Microsoft Excel. After editing, save the file, and changes will be automatically uploaded to WorkDrive.

Note: WorkDrive Genie requires a supported browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox) and is not compatible with Brave or Safari.

✅ Summary

By combining WorkDrive Sync and WorkDrive Genie, you can efficiently manage and edit your Excel files stored in Zoho WorkDrive using Microsoft Excel:

  • WorkDrive Sync: Keeps a local copy of your selected WorkDrive folders for offline access and automatic syncing.

  • WorkDrive Genie: Enables direct editing of WorkDrive files with your desktop applications without manual downloads.

Ensure both applications are installed and configured properly to streamline your workflow.