Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Creating a Workbook Clone.
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.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
When you open a workbook, Excel displays the worksheet that was visible when the workbook was last saved. You may want, ...
Discover MoreWhen you need to work on a workbook, you may want to do so without modifying the original contents of the workbook. This ...
Discover MoreNeed to allow others to contribute to your Excel workbook? It's easy to do if you just share it. This tip provides an ...
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.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Comments