Google Drive Add-ons for Teaching and Learning

Learn to add more functionality to your documents, spreadsheets, and forms by installing add-ons, tools built by third-party developers for Google Docs, Forms, and Sheets. Once add-ons are installed, you can manage each one individually, and turn them on and off at any time. This tutorial will guide you through the basics of installing and managing Google Drive Add-ons.

Recommended Add-ons

Google + Collection of Drive Add-ons Recommended for Teaching and Learning

Google Drive Add-ons Tutorial

Find and Install add-ons
1. Open a document, a spreadsheet (using the new Sheets), or a form. Each will have different Add-ons specific to the tool.
2. Click the Add-ons menu and then Get add-ons. You will only see Add-ons connected to the drive resource you are using.



3. You can browse the entire Add-ons store, or a particular category using the dropdown menu in the top-left corner. Hover over an add-on to see a short description or to quickly install it. You can also search Add-ons. To see a full description with ratings and user reviews, click the add-on.



4. Click to install the add-on.



5. For most add-ons, a message will appear requesting access to specific data that the add-on needs to work. Read this message carefully and click Accept.6. Once the add-on is installed, it’ll be listed in the “Add-ons” menu within all of your files of that file type. You can turn on the add-on in any of these files and other people collaborating on the file will be able to see and use the add-on as well.



Managing Your add-ons
Add-ons are tools built by third-party developers that you can apply to add new features to Google Docs, Google Forms, and the new version of Sheets. Once you install an add-on, you can choose how you want to use it, including turning it on or off for specific files.

To turn on add-ons for a specific file you are working on, or to turn them off:
1. Open a document, spreadsheet (using the new Sheets), or form.
2. Click the Add-ons menu.
3. Click Manage add-ons.
4. From the list of add-ons, select the one you want to use.
5. Click Manage.




6. Click Use in this document. A checkmark will appear next to this option when the add-on has been turned on. To turn off the add-on for that file, click the option again.

Uninstall an add-on from all of your files

1. Open a document, spreadsheet (using the new Sheets), or form.
2. Click the Add-ons menu.
3. Click Manage add-ons.
4. From the list of add-ons, select the one you want to use.
5. Click Manage.



6. Select Remove.

Additional Resources

• Google Docs Add-on Help
• Extensions vs Web Apps vs Add-ons
• Google Curricular Resources (Includes Apps, Add-ons, and Extensions)