How to Make a Copy of a Word Document (Simple Steps)
If you’re wondering how to make a copy of a Word document to keep your files and data safe, storing duplicates outside the regular directory is a no-brainer. Thankfully, all Office tools give you convenient options to make a copy of your documents, one of which is OneDrive.
In this guide, you’ll learn all the available options to make a copy of your Word documents anywhere on your local or cloud drive. Read on below to find out how to go about it.
Why Do You Need to Know How to Make a Copy of a Word Document?
Before we delve into the details of making a Word document copy, it’s worth noting the perks of doing so, as there could be much more to gain from it than you imagine.
So, what are the perks?
- You can store a Word document copy on an external drive should the original file get lost on your PC
- A Word document copy enables you to make as many edits as you desire without altering the original file
- If you have editorial access to a document on OneDrive, a copy of it lets you go back to the original content for future references
With that out of the way, let’s proceed with the different methods for making a Word document copy.
How to Make a Copy of a Word Document: Three Easy Methods
The steps in the following methods will guide you through each approach. Whether you prefer working in File Explorer or directly inside the Word application, there’s an option that suits your workflow. According to Microsoft’s official support documentation, Word offers several built-in ways to duplicate and save files efficiently.
Method 1: Copy & Paste
This method is the easiest; you can harness it to make a copy of your document in a different storage location or directory. It works entirely within File Explorer, so you don’t even need to open Word. To use it,
- Go to the directory where the Word document is stored
- Right-click on the document and select Copy from the context menu
- Next, go to the folder where you want to store the copy
- Right-click anywhere inside the folder and select Paste from the context menu.
You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste, which speeds up the process considerably when managing multiple files.
Method 2: Open as a Copy in Word
This is an equally easy method that you can use to create a copy of a document right inside Word. It’s particularly useful when you want to immediately start editing the duplicate without leaving the application. To use this method,
- Open the target document in Word.
- Click the File tab in the upper-left corner of the window
- Next, select Open from the context menu
- In the mini window that opens up, click Browse and select the document you want to make a copy of
- Click the drop-down next to Open at the bottom-right corner
- Select Open as Copy from the options
- You’ll recognize the copied file from its name. Click the Save as or Save button to save it
Method 3: Save to OneDrive
Using this method, you’ll have a Word document copy on your local storage and another on the cloud. This is a great option for anyone who wants an automatic off-site backup of important files. Follow the steps below to do just that:
- Open the target document in Word
- Click the File tab in the upper-left corner of the window and select Save as
- If you’re registered on OneDrive, you should find the option there
- Select OneDrive and save the file in any folder of your choice
You’ll have two copies of the document at this point, one on your local storage and the other on OneDrive. This ensures your work is protected even if your local drive fails.
Final Notes
That’s all you need to know about how to make a copy of a Word document. You can create as many copies as you need using the above methods, but ensure you add a number or symbol while naming them for easy identification. Keeping your copies clearly labeled will save you time and confusion when you need to locate a specific version later.
