Document Editing Problems

How to Copy an Entire Excel Workbook with All Worksheets

Emma Brown Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to duplicate a complete Excel workbook while keeping all worksheets intact, or copy specific selected sheets into a different workbook.

How to Copy an Entire Excel Workbook with All Worksheets

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a backup, building a template, or extracting specific data by duplicating an existing workbook or its worksheets.
Observed behavior: Requires step-by-step instructions on utilizing the Save As function for entire workbooks and the Move or Copy function for individual sheet tabs.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all recent changes to your original workbook to avoid losing data in the copied version, and open any destination workbooks if you plan to copy specific sheets into an existing file.

Solution 1Recommended

Duplicate the Entire Workbook Using Save As

The fastest and most reliable way to copy a complete workbook with every worksheet is to use the Save As command to generate a new file.

This method duplicates the entire file, preserving all formatting, formulas, macros, and connections exactly as they appear in the original document.

Open the original file

Launch Excel and open the workbook you want to duplicate.

Access the Save As menu

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the Excel ribbon, then select 'Save As' from the left-hand menu.

Save as a new copy

Choose your preferred folder or location, type a different file name into the 'File name' box to prevent overwriting the original document, and click the 'Save' button.

Quick Shortcut: You can press the F12 key on your keyboard to instantly open the Save As dialog box in Excel.

Solution 2

Copy Specific Worksheets to a New or Existing Workbook

Use the Move or Copy feature if you only want to extract certain worksheets instead of duplicating the entire file.

Free Spreadsheet Editor

Easily Duplicate Workbooks and Sheets with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office provides an intuitive, highly compatible spreadsheet editor that makes duplicating entire workbooks and managing complex sheet tabs incredibly easy and completely free.

1. Open your file in WPS Office: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the workbook you need to copy.
2. Use Save As for a full copy: Click 'Menu' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', enter a new file name, and click 'Save'.
3. Copy specific tabs: Right-click the sheet tabs at the bottom, select 'Move or Copy', check 'Create a copy', and choose your destination workbook from the list.

100% compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).One-click 'Save As' feature for fast and secure workbook duplication.Effortlessly manage, move, and copy multiple sheet tabs across different files.Lightweight software with a familiar interface that requires zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I select all worksheets at once to copy them?

Right-click any worksheet tab at the bottom of your screen and select 'Select All Sheets' from the menu. Once all tabs are highlighted, you can right-click again and use the 'Move or Copy' function to duplicate them all together.

Will copying a worksheet preserve its formulas and formatting?

Yes, using the 'Move or Copy' feature or the 'Save As' method ensures that all cell formatting, column widths, row heights, and formulas are preserved exactly as they are in the original sheet.

Why isn't my destination workbook showing up in the Move or Copy dropdown list?

The destination workbook must be currently open in the exact same application instance to appear in the 'To book' drop-down menu. Ensure the target file is open before attempting to copy the sheets.

Document & File Issues