How to make a copy of a Google Doc

Summary

Make a copy duplicates a Google Doc, text and all, into a separate file. It is the quickest way to reuse a finished document as a template without touching the original.

Step-by-step guide

1. Step 1

   Open the File menu

   Open the document you want to duplicate. Click **File** in the menu bar, to the left of Edit, to open the menu of document actions.

2. Step 2

   Choose Make a copy

   In the File menu, click **Make a copy**. A Copy document dialog opens over the page.

3. Step 3

   Name the copy

   The **Name*** field holds the suggested name for the duplicate. Replace it with a name that tells the two files apart, for example by adding a word in brackets. The dialog also lists **Share it with the same people** and **Copy comments and suggestions**, which stay unticked unless you need them.

4. Step 4

   Confirm the copy

   Click **Make a copy** at the bottom of the dialog. Click **Cancel** instead if you want to close the dialog without creating a file.

5. Step 5

   Work in your new copy

   The copy opens in a new tab with the name you chose, and your text is carried across. Edit it freely; the original document stays open in its own tab or can be closed.