Can’t create an organisation in PixieBooks for Google Sheets

Some users may run into an issue when using PixieBooks for Google Sheets with a Google Workspace Cloud Identity Free (CIF) account.

What’s happening

Workspace Cloud Identity Free does not include Google Drive storage.

While CIF accounts can create new documents in Google apps like Sheets and Docs (which are stored locally), they can’t open shared templates or documents that rely on Google Drive.

PixieBooks for Google Sheets uses a shared Google Sheet stored in Drive, so on CIF accounts the PixieBooks spreadsheet won’t open.

Why this affects PixieBooks

The PixieBooks Google Sheets file is a shared document hosted in Google Drive.

Because CIF accounts don’t have Drive storage, Google blocks access to that shared file — even though Google Sheets itself is available.

Current workarounds

At the moment, there are two options:

Option 1: Use a personal Gmail account
This allows the PixieBooks Google Sheet to open correctly. However, we understand this may not be ideal from a confidentiality or data-handling perspective.

Option 2: Use a paid Google Workspace account
Any Google Workspace plan that includes Drive storage will resolve the issue.

The goal of PixieBooks for Google Sheets is to remain free and accessible, so requiring a paid Workspace account isn’t the intended solution.

FAQs

How do I disconnect from Xero?

You can disconnect PixieBooks from Xero directly from your PixieBooks dashboard.

Sign in at app.pixiebooks.com, locate the organisation you want to manage, and select Disconnect from Xero. You’ll be asked to confirm before the connection is removed.

If you’re unable to find the disconnect option, or the connection doesn’t remove as expected, contact us at
support@pixiebooks.com and we’ll help you resolve it.

I don’t have the correct permissions to connect my Xero organisation

If you can log into your business’s Xero account but don’t have the permissions required to connect your organisation to PixieBooks, you’ll need to ask your Xero account administrator to complete the first part of the setup.

Once they’ve connected the Xero account and selected your organisation, you’ll need to ask them to either:

Once PixieBooks is connected to your organisation, you’ll be able to log into the PixieBooks dashboard with your Xero account at app.pixiebooks.com to view your account and manage your subscription.

Send this link to your accountant or organisation administrator so they can read the step-by-step instructions or follow along with the video:

PixieBooks for Xero set up guides

What if I don’t have access to my Xero account?

If you don’t have access to your Xero account, you can still use PixieBooks, but you won’t be able to set up or manage the connection yourself.

You’ll need to ask your accountant or Xero organisation administrator to either:

Send this link to your accountant or organisation administrator so they can read the step-by-step instructions or follow along with the video:

PixieBooks for Xero set up guides

Can I cancel my subscription? 

Yes. If you’re unhappy with PixieBooks for any reason, you can cancel your subscription via the PixieBooks dashboard.

  1. Sign in at app.pixiebooks.com.
  2. Click Manage subscription.
  3. If you subscribed before we moved to Stripe, you’ll be taken to Xero, where you can cancel your subscription.
    If you subscribed after the move to Stripe, you’ll be taken to Stripe, where you can manage your subscription.

Contacting support 

If you encounter issues that cannot be resolved through the troubleshooting guide or would like to report a PixieBooks error, please fill out the form or send us an email at support@pixiebooks.com.