Google Sheets is something I use almost every day on my phone. It helps me keep track of work stuff, shopping lists, and random ideas. It’s simple and works well most of the time, which is why I really like using it.
But the other day, something strange happened. I opened the Google Sheets app on my Samsung Galaxy M31 like I always do, and suddenly it just wouldn’t open any of my files. It kept showing a message that said, “A network error has occurred. Please make sure you are connected to the Internet and have permission to open this spreadsheet and try again.”
I checked my internet, and everything was fine. I even opened the same files using the browser, and they worked there. It was only the app that was giving me trouble.
After looking around a bit, I noticed more people were facing the same issue. It was really frustrating, especially when you just want to open a file quickly and move on with your day. If this is happening to you too, I’ve gathered some simple ways that might help fix this annoying error on your phone. Keep reading to try them out one by one.
How to Fix Google Sheets: “A network error has occurred.”
Update Google Sheets App
This issue turned out to be a known problem that many users experienced. It was likely on Google’s end, and they eventually released updates to fix it.
What worked for me was keeping an eye on the Play Store for any new updates. A few days after facing the error, I noticed updates available for the Google Sheets app. I installed it on my phone, and after updating the app, the error stopped showing up. I was able to open all my spreadsheets without any issues.
If you’re still facing the same problem, open the Play Store, search for Google Sheets, and update the app to the latest version if available. Once updated, try opening your files again — this fixed it for me.
Check Your Internet Connection
Google Sheets needs an active internet connection to work. If you see the network error, your device might not be connected properly to mobile data or WiFi.
To make sure your internet is working fine, try opening YouTube and playing a video or scrolling through Instagram reels in the app. If nothing loads, your connection may be the issue. If you’re on mobile data, check if your data plan is active. If you’re using WiFi, try turning it off and back on or switching to a different network.
Check Your Android Version
If you’re still seeing the “A network error has occurred” message and updates haven’t helped, it’s important to check which version of Android your device is running. As of the latest updates, Google Sheets now requires Android 8 or higher to work correctly. You can confirm this requirement on the app’s Google Play Store page.
Devices running Android 7 or below are no longer supported, which means the app may stop working even if your internet connection is fine. In many cases, these older devices cannot be updated to a newer Android version, and the latest Sheets updates won’t install either.
If your device is running an older version of Android and cannot be upgraded, the best alternative is to use Google Sheets through a web browser like Chrome. This allows you to access your files without relying on the app.
Use Browser Access as a Temporary Option
If the Google Sheets app is still showing the network error, try opening your spreadsheets using a mobile browser like Chrome or Firefox. For many users, this works without any issues, and it’s a good temporary option while the Google Sheets app isn’t working.
However, keep in mind that this method has some limitations. For example, offline access may not work if you’re trying to enable it after the issue started. Even if you turn on offline mode through the browser, the Sheets app might not register it, especially if it’s not connecting to Google’s servers at all.
If you had offline access set up before the error appeared, you might still be able to view your files without the internet. But enabling it now likely won’t help.
Open and Edit the File in a Desktop Browser
For some users, simply opening and editing the affected file using a desktop browser (like Chrome, Opera, Edge, or Firefox) helped fix the issue. Once the file was accessed and saved from a computer, it started opening normally again on the mobile app.
If you’re still getting the error on your phone, try logging into your Google account on a computer, open the same spreadsheet in Google Sheets, make a small edit (like adding or deleting a space), and let it save. After that, check the app again on your phone.
Clear Cache or Data
Sometimes the app stores temporary files that can cause errors. Clearing the cache is a quick way that help solve minor issues inside the app without losing anything. If that doesn’t help, clearing data resets the app completely and can fix deeper issues.
- To clear the cache of the Google Sheets app, open your device Settings > Apps > Google Sheets > Storage > Clear Cache
- If the error is still there: Clear Data (note: this will reset the app)
This worked for many users, so it’s worth trying before moving on to other fixes.
Reinstall the Google Sheets App
If clearing cache and data does not resolve the issue, a full reinstall of the app can help. This removes any damaged files or settings that may be causing the A network error has occurred on the Google Sheets app.
- Tap and hold the Google Sheets app icon > Select Uninstall
- Open the Play Store > Search for Google Sheets > Tap Install
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