Google Docs is a powerful and multifunctional online word processor which has become popular in the market today. But along with its many features, there are certain terms and concepts that may be confusing for users new to the service. One such term is Idle. So, what does idle mean in Google Docs?
What is Idle in Google Docs?
Idle in Google Docs is a feature that enables users to save their documents for continued access. It is a user-friendly way to keep your documents safe and accessible from any device by saving them to the cloud. This feature is not just for saving documents but also for sharing with others. When a user has a document open and if idle for a certain period of time, the document can be discarded or saved for later use.
How to Use Idle in Google Docs
Using Idle in Google Docs is quite easy. All you need to do is open a document in Google Docs, make sure to save the changes, and leave the document idle for a period of time. If no changes have been made in the document after the idle period, Google will prompt you with a decision to either save the document or discard it. If the document is saved, it will be stored in the cloud and can be accessed from any device. You can even share these documents with others as well.
FAQs
What happens when I activate idle in Google Docs?
When you activate idle in Google Docs, your document will be saved to the cloud if there have been no changes to the document in the given idle period. You will be prompted with a decision to save or discard the document.
How long can I leave a document idle in Google Docs?
The exact length of time for a document to stay idle depends on the settings configured by the user. The default time is 15 minutes, but it can be configured to stay idle for up to 30 minutes.
Can I share documents with others in idle state?
Yes, you can easily share documents stored in idle state with anyone you want. All you need to do is click the ‘Share’ button and add the email addresses of the people you want to share the document with.
Do I need an internet connection to activate idle in Google Docs?
Yes, you need an active internet connection in order to activate and use idle in Google Docs. Without an internet connection, you will not be able to save or share documents in idle state.
Can I revert back to the original document if I discard changes while in idle state?
Yes, you can easily revert back to the original document if you discard changes while in idle state. All you have to do is open the document from the saved location, and it will be reverted to its original form.
Conclusion
Idle in Google Docs is a handy feature that can be used to save your documents for continued access. It is especially useful for people who want to share and access documents from different devices. Additionally, it can also be used to discard unwanted changes to documents while they are idle. With this in mind, it's no wonder that idle in Google Docs is a popular feature among users.