When collaborating on a shared document in Google Drive, you might want to make significant changes or experiment with the formatting without altering the original file for everyone else. Alternatively, you might want to use an existing document as a template for a new project.
Instead of copying and pasting the text manually into a blank document, Google Drive allows you to duplicate the entire file with a single click.
In this guide, you will learn how to make a copy of a file in Google Drive.
How to Copy a File from the Drive Dashboard
The fastest way to copy a file is directly from your main Google Drive file list.
- Open Google Drive in your web browser.
- Locate the file you want to duplicate (it can be a Doc, Sheet, Slide, Image, or PDF).
- Right-click on the file.
- From the context menu, select Make a copy.
Google Drive will immediately create a duplicate file in the exact same folder. The new file will be named “Copy of [Original File Name].” You can right-click the new file and select Rename to give it a better title.
How to Copy a File While Editing
If you already have a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide open and realize you need to make a copy, you don’t have to navigate back to the main Drive dashboard.
- While the file is open, click the File menu in the top left corner of the screen.
- Select Make a copy from the drop-down menu.
- A dialog box will appear. Here, you can type a new name for the copied file.
- You can also click on the “Folder” section to choose exactly where in your Google Drive the new copy should be saved.
- If the original file is shared with others, you have the option to check the box to Share it with the same people.
- Click Make a copy to confirm.
A new browser tab will open automatically, displaying your newly copied document, ready for you to edit independently of the original.