How to Select and Duplicate Multiple Sheets in Excel for the Web
Question details
The user wants to know if it is possible to select and copy multiple worksheets simultaneously using Excel for the web.
- Product
- Excel for the web
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to manage and duplicate multiple worksheet tabs at once while working in a browser environment.
- Observed behavior
- Excel for the web lacks the multi-sheet grouping and duplication functionality found in the desktop version, forcing users to duplicate sheets one by one.
Ensure your workbook is saved and synced to OneDrive or SharePoint so that any changes made via desktop applications will instantly update in your web browser.
Open the Workbook in the Excel Desktop App
Switching to the desktop version of Excel unlocks the ability to group multiple worksheets and duplicate them all at once.
Excel for the web is a streamlined version of the software and does not support grouping tabs. By opening the file in your desktop app, you regain full worksheet management capabilities.
In Excel for the web, click the 'Editing' or 'Viewing' button located in the top ribbon, then select 'Open in Desktop App'.
Once the file opens in desktop Excel, hold down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard and click each worksheet tab you want to duplicate.
Right-click on any of the selected (grouped) tabs and choose 'Move or Copy...' from the context menu.
Check the box that says 'Create a copy', select where you want the new sheets to appear, and click 'OK'.
Duplicate Worksheets Individually in Excel for the Web
If you do not have the desktop application installed, your only native option in the browser is to duplicate each sheet one at a time.
Easily Manage Multiple Worksheets with WPS Office
Since Excel for the web restricts multi-sheet duplication, consider using WPS Office. It provides full desktop-level spreadsheet features for free, allowing you to seamlessly group, copy, and manage tabs without an expensive subscription.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Workbook: Open your saved .xlsx file using WPS Spreadsheet.
- 3. Duplicate Multiple Sheets: Hold the Ctrl key to select multiple tabs, right-click, and choose 'Move or Copy' to duplicate them all at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I group sheets in Excel online?
Microsoft Excel for the web is designed as a simplified, cloud-based version of the desktop software. It currently lacks advanced worksheet grouping and simultaneous multi-sheet operations to keep the browser performance optimized.
Will Microsoft add multi-sheet duplication to Excel for the web?
Microsoft frequently updates its web applications based on user feedback. While multi-sheet management is a highly requested feature, there is no official release date for when it might be added to Excel for the web.
Can I copy a sheet from one workbook to another in Excel for the web?
Yes, you can copy a single sheet to an entirely different workbook in the web version. Right-click the worksheet tab, select 'Copy to', and choose the destination workbook. However, you can only do this one sheet at a time.
Is there a free way to duplicate multiple sheets at once?
Yes. You can download a free desktop spreadsheet application like WPS Office, open your Excel (.xlsx) file, and use its native multi-sheet selection tools to duplicate tabs all at once, just like in desktop Excel.
