Extracting Images from Google Sheets: A Quick Guide
Getting images into Google Sheets is a straightforward process, but extracting them isn’t as intuitive. Unlike typical cell data, images in a Google Sheet aren’t directly accessible as files or links, which can make moving or copying them a bit tricky.
Recently, I was asked: “How do you grab an image from a Google Sheet and drag it out to make a copy elsewhere?”
After some experimentation, I found a simple workaround that makes this possible.
Steps to Extract an Image from a Google Sheet
- Right-Click on the Cell with the Image
Locate the cell containing the image, and right-click on it. - Select “Show Edit History”
In the context menu that appears, choose “Show edit history.” This feature usually displays the recent changes made to that specific cell, but in the case of an image, it reveals additional useful details. - Access the Image Link
Within the edit history pop-up, you’ll see information about who added the image and, more importantly, a clickable link to the image itself. - Download the Image
Click the link, and the image will open in a new tab or window. From there, you can save the image to your device. Note that the downloaded file will often be named “unnamed,” so you may want to rename it for clarity.
Key Considerations
- Filename Issue: The image file will likely have a generic name like “unnamed.” If you need to manage multiple images, be prepared to rename them after downloading.
- Ease of Use: This process isn’t as seamless as dragging and dropping, but it works reliably to access embedded images.
This approach is particularly useful for those who deal with collaborative Google Sheets containing image data, as it allows for easy access and reuse of embedded visuals. While Google Sheets doesn’t yet have a “download image” button, this workaround gets the job done.
For a visual walkthrough, check out my tutorial: