# How to duplicate a design in Canva on Mac: two ways, step by step

> Learn how to duplicate a design in Canva on Mac from the Projects tab or the editor, plus fixes for save errors and a locked editor message.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/duplicate-a-design-in-canva
Updated: 2026-11-08

To duplicate a design in Canva on Mac, open the Projects tab, click the More (•••) icon on the design's thumbnail, and choose Make a copy. If the design is already open, choose File, then Make a copy, and the copy opens in a new tab.

## Quick answer

- Open the Projects tab, click the More (•••) icon on the thumbnail, and choose Make a copy.
- Inside an open design, choose File, then Make a copy. The copy opens in a new tab.
- ⌘D copies one selected element or slide. It does not copy the whole design.
- A copy keeps the content but not the original's sharing settings, according to Canva help summaries.
- Canva's help pages could not be opened during research, so check menu names against your screen.

Applies to: Canva desktop app for macOS and the Canva editor, 2026. Time: 2 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- Canva desktop app for Mac, from canva.com/download/mac
- A signed-in Canva account with the design in your Projects list
- An Apple silicon or Intel Mac, both supported by the Canva Mac app
- Canva and macOS updated to the latest versions

## How to Duplicate a whole Canva design on Mac in Canva on a Mac

1. **Open the Projects tab.** Open the Canva desktop app on your Mac and sign in. Click the Projects tab to see your saved designs. Search by name if the design sits in a folder you cannot find.
2. **Hover over the thumbnail.** Move the pointer over the design thumbnail itself. A More icon with three dots (•••) appears on the thumbnail. Click it to open the menu. Tip: If the dots do not appear, move the pointer across the thumbnail again. Do not hover over the empty space beside it.
3. **Choose Make a copy.** (More (•••) > Make a copy) In the menu, click Make a copy. Canva creates the new design. The copy stays in the same page or folder as the original, so you do not need to move it. Tip: Make the copy before you edit anything. That way the original stays as you saved it.
4. **Find the copy in the same folder.** Look in the folder that holds the original. Open the copy and confirm it looks right. Compare the first page with the original. Tip: Rename the copy right away so you do not edit the wrong file.
5. **Open the design in the editor.** To work from the editor, double-click the design to open it. Keep the original in its own tab or window if you want to compare the two.
6. **Choose File, then Make a copy.** (File > Make a copy) With the design open, click File in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Make a copy. Canva creates the copy and opens it in a new tab. Tip: If File is missing or the item is grayed out, update the app first. Then try the Projects route.
7. **Check the new tab.** Read the tab title and confirm the design name. Make your edits in the copy only. Leave the original tab alone until you finish. Tip: Give the copy a short label, such as the event or client name, before you start editing.
8. **Duplicate one element or slide with ⌘D.** Shortcut: ⌘D. To copy one element or slide, not the whole design, select it in the editor and press ⌘D. The copy appears on the same page or slide. Tip: Use ⌘D for repeated items on one page. Use the More menu or File menu for a whole design.

A duplicate is a full copy of a design. It has the same pages, text, images and layout as the original. Edits to the copy do not change the first version. That matters when you need a second poster for another event, or a new post in a different format.

## Two routes that copy a whole design

Canva gives you two ways to copy a whole design in the Mac app. Pick the route that matches your screen. If you are looking at your list of designs, use the More icon on the thumbnail. If the design is already open, use the File menu.

- Projects tab: More (•••) on the thumbnail, then Make a copy.
- Editor: File, then Make a copy. The copy opens in a new tab.
- One element or slide: select it and press ⌘D. This does not copy the whole design.

## Duplicate a Canva design from the Projects tab

Start in the Projects tab. This is the list of designs you have made or saved. Find the thumbnail you want. Move the pointer over it, and a More icon with three dots appears. Click the dots and choose Make a copy.

You do not need to open the design first. Canva's help summary on duplicating designs says the copy stays in the same page or folder as the original. Look in that folder, then open the copy to confirm it matches.

![Person at a MacBook reviewing a layout before they duplicate a design in Canva on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/duplicate-a-design-in-canva/how-to-duplicate-a-design-in-canva-1-b5053b.jpg)

## Make a copy from inside the editor

If the design is already open, look at the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click File, then choose Make a copy. Canva creates the copy and opens it in a new tab. The original stays open in its own tab.

Use this route when you want to try a version without leaving the page. It is also the quickest route when the design is already on your screen and you do not want to go back to the list.

## Why ⌘D is not a whole-design copy

Many Mac users press ⌘D first. In Canva's help summaries, ⌘D duplicates a selected element or slide. It copies what you selected and places the copy on the same page. It does not create a second design file.

The Canva documentation reachable during research does not list a Mac shortcut for copying a whole design. If you want a whole-design copy, use one of the two menu routes above.

- **265M+** Monthly active users Canva reported for the end of 2025, up 20% year over year ([source](https://techbriefly.com/2026/02/19/canva-hits-265-million-active-users-and-4-billion-in-annual-revenue/))
- **31M+** Paid users Canva reported for the end of 2025, in the same report ([source](https://techbriefly.com/2026/02/19/canva-hits-265-million-active-users-and-4-billion-in-annual-revenue/))

## What the copy keeps and what it leaves out

A copy keeps the content of the design. Pages, text, images and layout carry over. Canva's help summary about save errors says a copy does not keep the original's sharing settings. Set sharing again on the copy before you send a link.

Keep the original until you have checked the copy. Open both side by side and scroll each page. Compare the text and the image placement. Delete nothing until the copy is final.

| Route | Where you start | Where the copy goes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Projects tab | More (•••) on the thumbnail, then Make a copy | Same page or folder as the original |
| Editor | File, then Make a copy | A new tab, opened straight away |
| One element or slide | Select it, then press ⌘D | Duplicated on the same page or slide, not a new design |

_Where each route starts and where the copy lands, based on Canva help summaries._

## Make a copy as a fix for a save error

Sometimes Canva says your changes did not save. A sync error can block saving. Canva's help summary says a Make a copy option can appear in that case. It creates a new design and leaves the original untouched.

1. Write down the changes you made in the last few minutes.
2. Choose File, then Make a copy, if the option is offered.
3. Open the copy and check every page you edited.
4. Keep the original until the copy is confirmed good.

Do not assume the copy has every edit. Check each page. Retype anything that is missing. Then set the sharing settings again, because the copy does not keep them.

## What to do when the editor says it is locked

The message We've locked the editor can appear when the editor stops accepting changes. Canva's help summary says to avoid continue editing, because later changes may not save. The fallback is a new design. Paste the elements you need from the stuck one.

## A worked example: one poster, two events

Say you made a poster for a Saturday market. The Sunday market needs the same layout with a new date. Open the Projects tab, use More and Make a copy, then rename the copy with the Sunday event name.

Change the date and time in the copy. Check that the old date is gone from every page. The original still says Saturday, so you can reuse it for the next Saturday event.

## Common mistakes when you duplicate in Canva

- Using ⌘D when you wanted the whole design. ⌘D copies one element or slide.
- Editing the original after you make a copy. Check the tab name before you type.
- Sending the original link to a client. Copies do not keep sharing settings, so set them again.
- Leaving both files with the same name. Rename the copy as soon as it opens.
- Forgetting where the copy went. It sits in the same folder, so sort by date to find it.

## Check the copy before you share it

Open the copy and click through each page. Look for missing images, changed fonts and text that wrapped to a new line. Compare the copy with the original side by side. A short check saves you from a client who saw the wrong version.

![Designer at a desk with a laptop, the setting for duplicating a design in Canva on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/duplicate-a-design-in-canva/how-to-duplicate-a-design-in-canva-2-1dbbe0.jpg)

## Verify these steps on your own Mac

This page was written from Canva's help summaries and the Mac download page. Canva's help center pages returned errors during research, so the steps were not tested on a Mac. Menu names can change between app versions.

> **Check your version:** Menu names, including the File menu and the More icon, may differ from what you see. Trust the app on your screen over this page. Canva's help center was not opened during research.

## Mac habits that make duplicates easier

Keep exported files in a named folder in Finder, separate from the designs you duplicate. Export a PDF or image only when a version is final. This keeps your downloads from mixing with working copies.

Name each copy with the date or the client name. The name is the fastest way to find the right file later, especially when the Projects list grows.

## After you duplicate: next steps

Once the copy opens, change one thing at a time. Rename it first. Then edit the text. Save the final version only after you have compared it with the original.

If you copy the same design for many clients or events, keep one clean master file. Duplicate from the master each time. The master stays unchanged, so you always start from the same layout.

## Shortcuts

- Duplicate selected element or slide (not the whole design): ⌘D

## If it does not work

- **The More (•••) icon does not show on the thumbnail.** Move the pointer over the thumbnail itself, then click the three dots. If it still does not show, open the design and use File, then Make a copy.
- **Make a copy is missing from the menu.** Confirm you are in the Canva desktop app and not an older view. Update the app and macOS, then check the menu again.
- **Canva says Changes to my design didn't save.** A sync error can block saving. Canva's help summary says Make a copy creates a new design and leaves the original untouched. Copy the design, then check every page of the copy.
- **The editor shows We've locked the editor.** Do not choose continue editing, because later changes may not save. Open a new design and paste the elements you need from the stuck one.
- **The copy does not have the original's sharing settings.** This is expected, according to Canva's help summary. Set sharing again on the copy before you send any link.
- **I duplicated one element instead of the whole design.** You used ⌘D or copy on an element. For a whole-design copy, use the More menu in Projects or File, then Make a copy, in the editor.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where is the More icon on this design?”: Lazur circles the More (•••) icon on your screen and labels it, so you know where to click. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to duplicate a whole Canva design on Mac?

Not that the research could confirm. ⌘D duplicates a selected element or slide. For a whole design, use the More (•••) menu in the Projects tab, or File, then Make a copy, inside the editor.

### Where does the copy go after I choose Make a copy?

From the Projects tab, the copy stays in the same page or folder as the original. From the editor, the copy opens in a new tab. Rename it early so you can tell the two apart.

### Does the copy keep the sharing settings of the original?

According to Canva help summaries about save errors, no. Set sharing again on the copy before you send it to anyone.

### Are the Mac steps the same as the web editor?

Canva's help summaries describe the same two routes for the web editor. The Mac app menus were not confirmed during research, so compare what you see with this page.

### Does duplicating a design use up my Canva plan limits?

The research did not find a sourced answer. Check the pricing page or plan details on Canva's site before you duplicate large batches.

### Which Macs can run the Canva desktop app?

Canva's Mac download page says the app supports Macs with Intel and Apple chips. It does not list a minimum macOS version, and third-party sites disagree, so check the download page.

### What if Make a copy is missing or grayed out?

Confirm you are in the Canva app, then update the app and macOS. If the option still does not show, open the design and try File, then Make a copy, or use the Projects route.

## Sources

1. [Duplicating designs, Canva Help Center (search snippet only, page not opened)](https://www.canva.com/help/duplicate-designs/), Canva, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Add, duplicate and delete elements, Canva Help Center (search snippet only, page not opened)](https://www.canva.com/help/add-elements/), Canva, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Changes to my design didn't save, Canva Help Center (search snippet only, page not opened)](https://www.canva.com/help/changes-didnt-save/), Canva, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Get started with the Canva Desktop App, Canva Help Center (search snippet only, page not opened)](https://www.canva.com/help/canva-desktop-app/), Canva, checked 2026-11-09
5. [Canva for Mac Desktop App, download page](https://www.canva.com/download/mac/), Canva, checked 2026-11-09
6. [Canva hits 265 million active users and $4 billion in annual revenue](https://techbriefly.com/2026/02/19/canva-hits-265-million-active-users-and-4-billion-in-annual-revenue/), TechBriefly, checked 2026-11-09