Display Modes Explained: Choosing the Right View for Your Embedded File

Content Only, Toolbar, or Full — Google Easy Embed Pro offers three display modes that control how much of the Google interface your team sees. Choosing the right one depends on whether your team is reading, editing, or doing deep work in the embedded file.

The Three Display Modes

Content Only

Shows just the file content with no Google UI elements — no toolbar, no menu bar, no ruler. This is the cleanest, most focused view.

• Available for: Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings
• Best for: dashboards, reference documents, presentations, and any file your team reads but doesn’t edit inline

A 2024 Nielsen Norman Group study found that reducing interface clutter improves task focus by up to 22%. Content Only mode gives your team that distraction-free experience.

Toolbar

Shows the file content plus the Google editing toolbar — formatting buttons, font controls, and alignment options. The menu bar stays hidden.

• Available for: Docs, Sheets
• Best for: collaborative editing where your team needs quick formatting tools without the full interface

Toolbar mode strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. Your team can bold text, adjust cell formats, and apply styles without navigating dropdown menus.

Full

Renders the complete Google interface including the toolbar, menu bar, and all controls — exactly what you’d see in a standalone Google Docs or Sheets tab.

• Available for: Docs, Sheets
• Best for: power users who need advanced features like inserting images, managing named ranges, creating charts, or using add-ons

File Type Availability

Not every display mode is available for every file type. Here’s the breakdown:

File Type	Content	Toolbar	Full
Google Docs	Yes	Yes	Yes
Google Sheets	Yes	Yes	Yes
Google Slides	Yes	—	—
Google Forms	Yes	—	—
Google Drawings	Yes	—	—

Google Slides, Forms, and Drawings only support Content mode. For Docs and Sheets, all three modes are available. See the full display modes reference for details.

Recommendations by Use Case

Picking the right display mode comes down to two questions: what is the file type, and what does your team need to do with it?

Dashboards and Reports (Sheets)

Use Content Only. Dashboards are for viewing, not editing. The clean view maximizes the data visible on screen. According to a 2023 Databox survey, 64% of teams review dashboards daily — removing toolbar clutter keeps the focus on metrics.

Meeting Notes and Shared Docs (Docs)

Use Toolbar. Your team needs to type, format, and organize notes during meetings. The toolbar provides the essential formatting tools without overwhelming the view.

Project Briefs and SOPs (Docs)

Use Content Only. These are reference documents that should be read, not edited, by most team members. Pair with View access mode for a locked-down, read-only experience.

Spreadsheets for Data Entry (Sheets)

Use Toolbar or Full. If your team enters data into the sheet, they’ll need formatting tools. Choose Full if they also need menus for sorting, filtering, or chart creation.

Presentations (Slides)

Use Content Only — it’s the only option, and it provides a clean slide view ideal for reviews and reference.

Surveys and Forms (Forms)

Use Content Only — the only option for Forms, and the right one. It renders the form without distractions so respondents focus on answering questions.

How to Change the Display Mode

1. Open the board view with your embedded file
2. Click the Display dropdown in the toolbar
3. Select Content, Toolbar, or Full

Only the view owner (the person who first embedded the file) can change the display mode. Learn more about toolbar controls in the toolbar overview.

Pair Display Mode with Access Mode

Display mode controls what your team sees; access mode controls what they can do. Common pairings:

• Content + View — read-only dashboard or reference doc
• Toolbar + Edit — collaborative meeting notes or shared tracker
• Full + Edit — power-user spreadsheet with advanced features
• Content + Comment — presentation or brief open for feedback

Get started with Google Easy Embed Pro — it’s free with no seat limits. Follow the getting started guide to embed your first file in under two minutes.