Edit LibreOffice Documents in Android for Free: A Comprehensive Guide

LibreOffice documents have always been challenging to handle on Android devices. Opening an ODF file from your Gmail app on Android usually spells disaster as there is no native support. While Google Docs offers to upload and convert the file, the success rate varies. Other apps that do support it are either paid, subscription-based, or riddled with ads. However, there is a lesser-known app called Collabora Office that provides a solution. Here's everything you need to know about editing LibreOffice documents in Android for free.

What Is Collabora Office

Collabora Office is an Android app developed by Collabora, a certified developer and ecosystem member of the Document Foundation. It is built on LibreOffice, the popular open-source office suite. While Collabora Office shares many features with Collabora's online office suite, it has been specifically optimized for mobile devices.

Why Use Collabora Office

Offline Support

Collabora Office works offline, providing full functionality without the need to connect to the internet. Unlike Google Docs, it does not require uploading and converting ODF files for viewing or editing. You can create full-fledged documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in Collabora Office. It also seamlessly edits ODF files downloaded from your email, which were made using LibreOffice.

True LibreOffice Support

Collabora Office is built on LibreOffice and prioritizes OpenDocument formats. Unlike most apps that prioritize Microsoft Office formats, Collabora Office ensures proper support for ODF files regardless of their origin. Whether the file was created in LibreOffice or OpenOffice, on a Windows PC or a Linux system, Collabora Office can open and edit them just like on a PC.

Optimized for Mobile

Collabora Office is optimized to work seamlessly on touch screen devices of varying sizes and shapes. It supports integration with cloud services like NextCloud and offers an iOS version available on the Apple App Store. It also provides support for Chrome OS.

Free and Open Source

Collabora Office is one of the few free and open-source office suites available on Android. It does not require any one-time payment or subscription and is completely devoid of ads and in-app purchases, staying true to the open-source philosophy.

Supports Microsoft Office Formats

While Collabora Office prioritizes OpenDocument formats, it can also read, edit, and export Microsoft Office documents. This includes both the new (.docx, .pptx, .xlsx) and old (.doc, .ppt, .xls) formats. It also supports exporting documents to PDF and EPUB.

How to Install Collabora Office on Your Android Device

Setting up Collabora Office on your Android device is a quick and easy process.

  1. Download the app from Google Play.
  2. In the Play Store, tap on “Install.”
  3. After it is downloaded, tap on “Open” to launch the app.
  4. Allow data storage access by tapping on “Allow” in the pop-up notification that appears.

How to Create Documents Using Collabora Office

  1. Open the Collabora Office app on your Android device.
  2. Tap on the floating plus icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  3. Select the type of document you want to create (e.g., New Spreadsheet, Presentation, or Text document).
  4. Choose a location to save your new file and tap on “SAVE.”
  5. Start working on your document by tapping on the floating edit button in the bottom right corner.
  6. After you finish editing, tap on the tick button on the top left side to save the changes.

How to View/Edit Documents in Collabora Office

  1. Open the ODF or ODT file on your Android device (e.g., received through email).
  2. In the “Open with” menu, select Collabora Office and choose “Just Once” or “Always.”
  3. The file will be opened in read-only view in Collabora Office.
  4. To edit the document, tap on the floating edit button in the bottom right corner.
  5. Tap on “EDIT A COPY” and then “SAVE” to make a copy of the document in your desired location.
  6. Edit the file as needed and tap on the tick button to save the changes permanently.

Collaborate Over LibreOffice

Collabora Office enables LibreOffice for Android, making it the only real free app that can effectively edit and view OpenDocument files on Android. Since the app is open-source, developers can also contribute to its development by reading and modifying the source code.

On a similar note, if you are looking to scan documents on your Samsung Galaxy phones, check out our guide here.