Copying a File

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated November 7, 2013)

A common task when working with documents, spreadsheets, or other items is the need to make copies of those files. This is important when you want to make modifications to a file but don't want to disturb the original. Drive makes it real easy to make copies of any file.

You can easily copy a file by right-clicking on it within Drive. Note that if you hover the mouse pointer over the file in the file listing, it should be highlighted in yellow. Right-click anywhere in the yellow (including on the file name or icon) and choose Make a Copy from the resulting options.

The second method involves using the More button. Follow these steps:

  1. Log into Google Drive (drive.google.com).
  2. Locate the file you want to copy. (Your files should be listed in the main Drive screen, but you might need to open other folders if the file you want to copy is within one of them.)
  3. Select the checkbox to the left of the file name.
  4. Click the More button. (Make sure you click the one at the top of the screen, not the More link at the left of the screen.) Drive presents a number of options you can choose.
  5. Choose Make a Copy.

Regardless of the method you use to make a copy, Drive duplicates the file and adds "Copy of" to the beginning of the file's name. Thus, if you are copying a file named "Budget Figures," the copy will be named "Copy of Budget Figures." Both the original and the copy will be located in the same folder.

Once the copy is made, you can rename it and/or move it to a different Drive location, if desired.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He  is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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