Client workbook from agency template
Make a copy of Master CRM Template, rename Acme Corp CRM 2026, and swap logo cells plus default owner dropdown.
How do you clone a Google spreadsheet?
Cloning creates a new Google Sheets file from an existing one so you start from a proven layout without editing the master template. Use File > Make a copy inside the sheet or copy from Google Drive. The clone usually brings tabs, formatting, named ranges, and bound Apps Script, but sharing permissions reset.
When to use it
Clone when onboarding a new client, kicking off a quarterly planning file, or letting each teammate own a personal copy of a team template without touching the golden master.
When to skip it
Skip cloning for live collaborative data everyone should share. Edit the original or use filter views instead of duplicating rows across ten files.
How it works
-
1
Open the source spreadsheet and choose File > Make a copy (or right-click the file in Drive > Make a copy).
-
2
Name the copy clearly with client, quarter, or owner so it is searchable in Drive later.
-
3
Choose the destination folder; avoid cluttering the template folder with working copies.
-
4
Open the clone and update Settings tabs, IDs, and dropdown lists tied to the new context.
-
5
Re-authorize Apps Script if the clone prompts for permissions under a new owner account.
-
6
Archive or delete stale clones on a schedule so Drive does not fill with abandoned drafts.
Examples in Google Sheets
Personal budget from a public template
File > Make a copy on a shared template link so you own the editable version in your Drive root.
Quarterly OKR reset
Clone last quarter's sheet, clear outcome rows on the Tracker tab, keep formulas and conditional formatting rules.
Build this without starting from a blank cell
Use a Better Sheets tool for clone a spreadsheet, then watch a walkthrough when you want the full pattern.
Better Sheets resources
Common mistakes
- Editing the master template instead of a copy, breaking every future clone until you restore version history.
- Assuming IMPORTRANGE links rewrite automatically; clones may still point at the old file URL.
- Forgetting to remove sample PII from template rows before sharing the clone externally.
- Copying into a Shared drive without checking whether the new owner can run bound scripts.
- Making ten clones without a naming convention, so nobody finds the current production file.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Make a copy include Apps Script?
- Yes for bound scripts in the same file. Linked container-bound projects copy with the spreadsheet.
- Clone vs duplicate tab?
- Clone is a whole new file. Duplicate tab copies one sheet inside the same workbook.
- Can viewers clone a sheet?
- Viewers cannot make a copy unless the owner allows copying in share settings or they use export workarounds.
- Do protections copy over?
- Range protections usually copy, but exception user lists may need updates for the new team.
- Will triggers copy to the clone?
- Installable triggers may need re-setup in the clone's Apps Script project. Test scheduled jobs after copying.
- How do I clone to another Google account?
- Make a copy while logged into the destination account, or share the template then copy from their Drive.
- Can I automate cloning?
- Apps Script DriveApp.makeCopy() or Advanced Drive API creates clones on a form submit or menu action.
- Does clone break publish links?
- The clone gets its own URLs. Old publish links still point at the original file until you unpublish there.
Related Tutorials
Watch how clone a spreadsheet works
Google Sheets Easter Eggs Beyond PRIDE
Automatically Copy Spreadsheet Tab to New File with Values Only, No Formulas
Scrape Google Maps
MAKE Your Google Sheets Add-on USABLE
How To Duplicate a Tab and Move it to the End in Google Sheets
Related blog posts
Guides that explain clone a spreadsheet in more depth.
Learn to Code in Google Sheets, For Programmers | For Advanced Google Sheet Users
If you know how to code, you'll learn in this step-by-step tutorial how to code in Google Sheets.
Read post →/Copy URL Trick
Discover a faster way to share Google Sheets using the /Copy URL Trick. Automate url editing, save time and promote effortless collaboration.
Read post →What's Better Than Google Sheets?
Nothing is better than Google Sheets. You just need to learn more about the unlimited power of Google Sheets. Functions, Formulas, Apps Script and more.
Read post →Related glossary terms
Google Sheets templates
A template is a master spreadsheet layout you copy before real work begins: tabs, formulas, dropdowns, and instructions pre-built so each new project starts consistent. Templates live in your Drive, Google's template gallery, or a shared team folder. The goal is clone once, customize names and settings, never edit the golden master in place.
Read guide →duplicate rows and tabs
Duplicating inside a workbook means copying a sheet tab or repeating row data for another entry. Right-click a tab and choose Duplicate to clone an entire sheet with formulas adjusted for the new tab name. For rows, copy-paste or drag-fill copies values and formats, which is fast but risky for unique IDs unless you regenerate keys in a helper column.
Read guide →workbooks and multiple tabs
In Google Sheets a workbook is the whole spreadsheet file containing one or more tabs (sheets). Each tab has its own grid, but tabs share the file's permissions, Apps Script project, and named ranges. Smart workbook structure separates raw data, calculations, and presentation so editors know which tab to touch.
Read guide →naming conventions
Naming conventions are agreed rules for files, tabs, columns, and named ranges so anyone can guess where data lives. Good names reduce VLOOKUP errors, make IMPORTRANGE links obvious, and stop duplicate Dashboard (2) tabs from spreading across your Drive.
Read guide →default values in Sheets
Default values fill gaps when a cell is empty or pre-populate new rows with standard choices. Use IFBLANK in formulas, data validation lists with a suggested first option, template row copy, or ARRAYFORMULA that writes a fallback until someone overrides manually.
Read guide →Done reading about clone a spreadsheet?
Membership unlocks 636+ tutorials, unlimited generators, and every template. Practical lessons. Zero fluff.
Need this once
Jump to a free tool or a single tutorial for this topic.
Learning Sheets for real
Unlock the full library, generators, and templates with membership.