To create a separate version of a Word document, use Save a Copy or Save As and give the new file a distinct name. If you want the original to stay untouched, make the copy before you begin changing its contents.
Make a copy in desktop Word
- Open the source document and choose File > Save a Copy or File > Save As, depending on your Word version and file location. In Word for Windows, F12 can open Save As.
- Choose a folder or OneDrive location and enter a new file name.
- Select Save. Check the title bar or file path: you are now editing the new copy, not the original.
Microsoft’s save-and-copy instructions recommend copying before edits and explain that Word switches to the new file after saving it. For basic saving steps, see our Word saving guide.
Make a copy in Word for the web
Word for the web saves changes automatically to OneDrive. To create another cloud file, choose File > Save As > Save As, choose a name and location, and save. Microsoft’s web copy guide describes this path.
Copy a Word file without opening it
You can also duplicate the file from your computer’s file manager. This leaves the open-in-Word step out entirely.
On Windows
- Open File Explorer and go to the folder that holds the document.
- Select the file and press Ctrl+C.
- Open the destination folder, or stay in the same one, and press Ctrl+V.
If you paste into the same folder, Windows names the new file with ” – Copy” at the end. Right-click it and choose Rename to give it a clearer name.
On a Mac
- Open Finder and select the document.
- Choose File > Duplicate, or press Command+D.
Finder adds “copy” to the new file’s name in the same folder. Make sure the document is closed in Word first so the duplicate includes your latest saved changes.
Once a backup copy is saved, you can safely delete the original Word document without losing its content.
Copying is different from version history
A new file is useful for a separate branch or handoff. For a OneDrive or SharePoint file, Version History may be better when you just need to inspect or restore an earlier state of the same document. A duplicate in the same folder is also not a complete backup against device or account loss; keep important files in an appropriate backed-up location.
If you overwrote the original
Do not count on Undo to reverse a file save. Check Version History for a cloud file or your normal backup and recovery options. Save a separate copy before making further edits if you need to preserve the current state.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com