The lifetime of the application QuickOffice it seems to be coming to an end. This is something that has been known since the development in a matter of a few weeks will be withdrawn from the application stores in which it was available and, among them, is how it cannot be otherwise Google Play.
Do not forget that QuickOffice was bought by Google, and as can be seen at this time what was sought with this movement, in addition to eliminating competition from the market, was to get the development group that would have created the application. These will now work on the specific creations that the Mountain View company has for this type of files, which range from those that allow editing text documents to those that do the same with presentations (called Slides).
The exact date on which QuickOffice will disappear from Google Play has not been specified, but according to company sources this will happen in the “next weeks”. Obviously, those who already have this application installed will not have problems in continuing to use it as it is up to now, although will not receive updates and therefore there will be no improvement from now on.
It's not a surprise
Well, the truth is that no, not at all. The existence of Google's own creations, which have not been updated long ago, along with QuickOffice was something that did not make much sense due to its redundancy. They are developments that they do exactly the same, so one had to disappear so that no confusion would be created for users ... and, as expected, it was the one not created directly by the Mountain View company itself that "has lost the battle."
The decision pursues unify the experience under Docs, Sheets, and Slides, reducing duplication of effort and concentrating improvements in a single ecosystem. With this, Google facilitates native support for Microsoft Office files without conversions and simplifies management with Drive.
There is also a strategic component: QuickOffice has been made free and many of its functions have already been transferred to Google apps, so maintain two parallel products It made no sense. The withdrawal avoids doubts, strengthens the brand, and accelerates the productivity roadmap.
What's changing for those already using QuickOffice
If you already have it installed, you can continue to open it and use its functions normally; There will be no reinstallations from the store when it disappears or new versions. If you uninstall it, you may not be able to recover it from Google Play or the App Store. Google will focus its efforts on Documents, Spreadsheets y Presentations, which already integrate editing of Microsoft Office files without converting them.
As practical recommendations, it is advisable backup your files in the cloud and avoid uninstalling the app if you depend on specific features. If you need to share or migrate documents, use Drive or export to PDF when you don't require additional editing.
Open, edit, and save with cloud storage or VPN
Even if you use a VPN or a storage service that cannot be integrated directly into QuickOffice, it is possible work with your documents opening them from the provider's app and returning them afterwards.
iPhone and iPad: SaveBack and Alternative Flow
iOS limits access between apps, so QuickOffice collaborated with different providers using the function SaveBack to open, edit, and save back to the original app. Supported providers: Accellion, Alfresco, Box, Citrix, Copiun, Egnyte, GroupLogic, Huddle, Moprise, Oxygen, Stratospherix, and Syncplicity.
- From the storage app, use "Open in ..." and choose QuickOffice.
- Make the necessary changes.
- Save the file to your device if prompted.
- Go back to QuickOffice, tap "Open in ..." and select the storage app.
- Upload the updated file using the provider's app.
Android tablets and mobiles
- Install your storage/VPN app from Google Play to access files.
- From that app, open the file you want to edit and choose QuickOffice when prompted.
- After editing, tap Save.
If when opening from your provider's app you select the option "Always", QuickOffice will be set as the default for that file type. If you get an error when saving directly: use Save as To create a local copy, open the provider's app and manually upload it to the desired location.
Format and language compatibility
QuickOffice supports a wide variety of Office formats. In the latest versions: .DOC/.DOCX, .PPT/.PPTX y .XLS/.XLSX can be viewed and edited (also created in “X” formats). Supports . PDF (with annotations on Android) and opens templates like .POT/.POTX o .XLTX, plus .DOT/.DOTX y . TXT with different capabilities depending on the platform; files with macros (.PPSM) can be viewed on Android with macros disabled. Available languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
Limitations and practical advice
- Inserting images in iOS: Available in presentations. If your photos aren't appearing, enable the permission in Settings > Privacy > Photos > QuickOffice.
- Macros: iOS doesn't support files with macros; Android allows you to view them with macros disabled.
- Printing and copies: Use the system print service or export to PDF whenever possible.
- Data recoveryQuickOffice doesn't recover deleted files or data lost due to unexpected shutdowns; it's a good idea to back up frequently and keep copies in the cloud.
The retirement avoids duplication of tools and favors a Drive-centric ecosystem, but doesn't leave you without optionsIf you relied on QuickOffice, you can continue using it as installed or upgrade to Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which continue to receive improvements and Office compatibility.
Source: Google Apps.