Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 19, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
There may be times when you want to make a copy of a workbook, without affecting the original. Excel provides an easy way to do this. Simply follow these steps:
The workbook that is opened uses the same file name, but Excel attaches some sort of phrase to the beginning of the file name, as a prefix. For instance, you might see the file name prefixed with "Copy of" or "Copy (1)." Thus, if the original workbook you selected in step 2 is named "Budget.xlsx," what Excel creates is a workbook named "Copy of Budget.xlsx" or "Copy (1)Budget.xlsx." If you want to rename the file, you will need to either use the Save As command, or rename the workbook after closing it.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8036) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Creating a Workbook Clone.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Sometimes it is helpful to copy worksheets from one workbook to another. If you have dozens of such worksheets to copy, ...
Discover MoreDo you work with a group of workbooks all the time in Excel? Windows and Excel both provide a plethora of ways you can ...
Discover MoreWhen you delete items from a workbook, it is natural to think that the workbook's file size should decrease. This may not ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-03-10 03:34:26
ahmetgns
Again me! In Word, File>Open>Recent list>right click>Open as copy opens a copy but name the document as Document1, not appending 1 the original name. I know this is Excel forum but any solution to this problem is welcome.
2022-02-18 03:16:00
ahmetgns
If right click on a file in the File>Open>Recent list and select "Open as copy" (must be like this in English version) it opens and adds "1" (one) to the file name but does not save a copy on disk, until you click on Save (or Save as...) and select a directory. This is good.
But the way you are describing above saves a copy on disk with a "Copy of " prefix. This is just wrong. Or simply I don't like it since I open as copy just to check some value in the file and close it, without preventing other colleagues on the network who may want to edit file while I am viewing it. Since this file is on a network directory, if I forget to delete the copy after opening it as copy and then closing, it may remain there for long time and confuse my colleagues as which file is being updated and up-to-date.
The first way is good but the file must be in the Recent section to use that way, which may not always be the case.
2021-06-19 09:01:23
Workbook clone: using Windows Explorer, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V takes about one second to create the clone.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments