How To Make A Copy Of A Word Document

Copying a Word document is easy.

If it wasn’t easy for you so far, we’ll make it easy for you today.

The short answer is this: To copy a Word document, you’ll need to select it in your file explorer, right click it, click copy. Then, feel free to move it anywhere you’d prefer!

Stick around for step-by-step instructions with pictures, depending on your device and operating system.

Why copy your Word document?

You might want to do that for different reasons:

• You want to duplicate your .DOCX file
• Create a backup
• Duplicate to “save” a past version of your file → Edit the new one
• Use it as a template
• Etc.

How to make a copy of the Word document

It all depends on the device and operating system you’re using.

Feel free to use the “Sections” navigation, to jump to the relevant part.

That’s on the sidebar on desktop, and the top button called “Sections” on mobile.

1. How to copy on Windows 11

1. Start by right-clicking the file
2. Select the “Copy” icon at the top of the dropdown
3. Right click anywhere else in the folder (so NOT on the file)
4. Select “Paste” icon at the top of the dropdown (not “paste shortcut” or anything else)

Voila! You’re done. Your Word document is now copied.

Feel free to move the new file wherever you want in your folder(s).

PRO TIP: You could use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + C for copy.

And then you could use CTRL + V for pasting. No need for right click!

2. How to copy on Windows (older versions)

1. Start by right-clicking the file
2. Select “Copy”
3. Right click anywhere else in the folder (so NOT on the file)
4. Select “Paste” (not “paste shortcut” or anything else)

Voila! You’re done. Your Word document is now copied.

Feel free to move the new file wherever you want in your folder(s).

PRO TIP: You could use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + C for copy.

And then you could use CTRL + V for pasting. No need for right click!

3. How to copy on Mac

1. Start by right-clicking the file
2. Select “Duplicate”
3. Select “Paste” (not “paste shortcut” or anything else)

Voila! You’re done. Your Word document is now copied. Feel free to move the new file wherever you want in your folder(s).

PRO TIP: You could use the keyboard shortcut CMD (⌘) + D for duplicating the document. No need for right click!

4. How to copy on iPhone (iOS)

You’ll first need to locate the document in the “Files” app.

The Files app comes pre-installed on all iPhones.

If your document is in an app such as Email, Notes, etc – you’ll need to save it in Files first.

1. Locate the file
2. Press and hold the file
3. Click “duplicate”

Voila! You’re done. Your Word document is now copied.

5. How to copy on Linux

Copying a Word document in Linux will require you to open the terminal.

1. First, you’ll need to get to the folder where the file you’ll operate on is located. Type in:

   $ cd foldername

   Replace “foldername” with the path to the folder.
   ‍

2. Type in the following command

   $ cp filename.docx new-copied-filename.docx
   ‍

Replace “filename.docx” with the name of the file you’re copying.

Replace “new-copied-filename.docx” with the name of the new file (the one that’ll be the duplicate).