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How to Copy an Excel Worksheet to Another Workbook on iPhone or iPad

Emma Brown Oct 10, 2026 873 views

Question details

Users need a method to transfer or copy an entire worksheet from one Excel workbook to another while using an iPhone or iPad, as the direct feature is missing.

How to Copy an Excel Worksheet to Another Workbook on iPhone or iPad

Product: Microsoft Excel for iOS
Device & OS: iOS
Scenario: Trying to duplicate or move a full worksheet into a different workbook on a mobile device.
Observed behavior: Excel for iOS lacks a direct command to move or copy an entire worksheet to another workbook, requiring users to rely on manual copy-paste workarounds.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection to access Excel for the web, and verify that both your source and destination workbooks are saved in a cloud storage service like OneDrive.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Excel for the Web to Copy and Paste Data

Since the Excel iOS app lacks a direct sheet-copying feature, using Excel for the web via your mobile browser provides the most reliable way to transfer data while preserving formats.

By accessing the web version of Excel on your iPhone or iPad, you can bypass the limitations of the mobile app. This method helps maintain cell positions and most number formats during the transfer.

Open Excel for the web

Launch Safari or Chrome on your iPhone or iPad, navigate to the Office website, and log into Excel for the web.

Open both workbooks

Open the source workbook containing the sheet you want to copy, and the destination workbook. If you are on an iPad, utilize the Split View feature to display both browser tabs side-by-side.

Copy the source worksheet data

In the source workbook, tap the 'Select All' triangle located at the top-left corner of the worksheet grid, then select 'Copy'.

Paste into the destination workbook

Switch to your destination workbook, tap the '+' icon to create a new blank sheet, tap cell A1, and select 'Paste' to transfer your data.

Use Excel for the Web to Copy and Paste Data

Formatting Limitations: While this web workaround preserves cell positions and basic number formats much better than the native app, some complex conditional formatting may still be lost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I directly copy a sheet to another workbook in the Excel iOS app?

Microsoft Excel for iOS currently does not include a native 'Move or Copy' command for transferring entire worksheets between different workbooks. Users must rely on manual copy-pasting workarounds via the web version.

How does Split View on iPad help with transferring Excel data?

The iPad Split View feature allows you to open two applications or two browser windows side-by-side. This makes it significantly easier to select and copy data from the source workbook on one side and paste it into the destination workbook on the other without constantly switching tabs.

Will my formulas break when I copy and paste cells to a new workbook on iOS?

Standard formulas and basic number formatting generally transfer without issues when using Excel for the web. However, if your formulas reference other sheets in the original workbook, or if you use advanced conditional formatting, some references may break or formatting may not display properly.

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