How to Save a Copy of a Word Document (Windows, Mac, Web, Mobile)

To save a copy of a Word document on Windows, press F12 or go to File > Save a Copy (older or offline versions show Save As), choose where to save it, give the copy a new name, and click Save. The copy is a separate file, so changes you make to it won’t touch the original.

One thing surprises many people: after you save a copy, Word closes the original and leaves you working in the new copy. If your file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint with AutoSave on, make the copy before you start editing, because AutoSave keeps saving changes to whichever file is open. Steps for Mac, Word for the web, iPhone, iPad, Android, and File Explorer are below.

Quick Answer

1. Open the document in Word.
2. Press F12, or select File > Save a Copy (or Save As).
3. Pick a location, such as OneDrive or a folder on your PC.
4. Type a new file name.
5. Select Save. You’re now working in the copy.

In This Guide

• Before you start: Save As vs. Save a Copy
• Save a copy in Word for Windows
• Save a copy in Word for Mac
• Save a copy in Word for the web
• Save a copy on iPhone, iPad, or Android
• Copy the file without opening Word
• Which method should you use?
• Troubleshooting
• Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start: Save As vs. Save a Copy

This guide covers Word in Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac, Word for the web, and the Word mobile apps, as of September 2026. The command you see depends on where the file is stored:

• Save As appears for files saved on your computer, and in versions of Word without AutoSave.
• Save a Copy replaces Save As when AutoSave is on. AutoSave is a Microsoft 365 feature that saves your file every few seconds as you work, and it’s turned on by default for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. You’ll see an AutoSave switch in the top-left corner of the Word window.

Both do the same job: they create a new, separate file. Microsoft’s advice for AutoSave files is to use Save a Copy before you make changes, so your edits go into the copy and not the original. See Save a copy before editing to prevent changing the original file. Our guide on turning on AutoSave in Word for Mac explains how the switch works.

How to Save a Copy in Word for Windows

1. Open the original document in Word. If it’s a OneDrive or SharePoint file with AutoSave on, don’t edit anything yet.
2. Start the copy. Press F12, or select File > Save a Copy. If you see Save As instead, select that. Expected result: Word shows a list of save locations or opens the Save As dialog box.
3. Choose a location. By default, Word saves the copy in the same place as the original. To pick somewhere else, choose from OneDrive – Personal, OneDrive with your organization’s name, Sites (SharePoint), This PC, or select Browse to open File Explorer and pick any folder.
4. Name the copy. Type a new file name, such as “Report – Draft 2.” Using a different name avoids confusing the two files.
5. Choose a format if needed. Leave Save as type set to Word Document (.docx) for a normal copy. You can also pick formats like PDF, Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Word 97-2003 Document (.doc).
6. Select Save. Expected result: The new file’s name appears in the title bar. The original closes, and you’re now editing the copy.

These steps follow Microsoft’s page Save, back up, and recover a file in Microsoft Office. If you want to go back to the original, reopen it from File > Open or from its folder.

Already edited the original by mistake?

If AutoSave saved changes you didn’t want in the original, you can restore an earlier version. Select the file name at the top of the window or go to File > Info and look for Version History. Our guide on seeing version history in Word walks through it.

How to Save a Copy in Word for Mac

1. Open the document in Word for Mac.
2. Open the save dialog. On the File menu, select Save As, or press Command + Shift + S. If AutoSave is on for the file, you may see Save a Copy instead; select it.
3. Pick a location. Navigate to the folder you want. If the dialog shows an online location and you want a folder on your Mac, select On My Mac. To switch to OneDrive or another online service, select Online Locations.
4. Enter a new name in the Save As box.
5. Check the format. In the File Format list, keep Word Document (.docx) or choose another format.
6. Select Save. Expected result: The copy opens under its new name.

Microsoft’s Mac steps are in Save a file in Office for Mac. You can also duplicate the file in Finder: select it, then choose File > Duplicate or press Command + D.

How to Save a Copy in Word for the Web

Word for the web (Word in a browser at office.com or through OneDrive) always saves automatically, so there’s no Save As. Instead:

1. Open the document in your browser.
2. Select File > Create a Copy.
3. Choose one of the two options:
   • Create a copy online saves a copy in OneDrive. Expected result: The copy opens with a new name, and you can rename it by clicking the name in the title bar.
   • Download a copy saves a .docx file to your computer’s Downloads folder.

You can also download a copy from OneDrive without opening the file: hover over the document, select Show more actions for this item (the three dots), and choose Download. Microsoft notes that OneDrive keeps earlier versions of files, up to 25 for personal accounts, which you can open from File > Version history.

How to Save a Copy on iPhone, iPad, or Android

iPhone and iPad

Microsoft replaced Save As with Save a Copy in the iPhone and iPad apps, and the apps save as you work, so make the copy first.

1. Open the document in Word (or the Microsoft 365 app).
2. Tap File > Save a Copy. Depending on the app version, File may be behind a menu button with three dots.
3. Choose where to save the file.
4. Enter a file name, then tap Save a Copy.

Microsoft explains this change on Where is Save As?

Android

The Android app works similarly: open the file menu (often a three-dot or File button) and look for Save a Copy or Save as. Choose a location, type a new name, and save. Labels vary by app version and device.

Copy the File Without Opening Word

If you just need a duplicate and don’t need to open the document, copy it in your file manager:

• Windows File Explorer: select the file, press Ctrl + C, then press Ctrl + V in the same or another folder. Pasting in the same folder normally creates a file with “- Copy” added to the name. Then rename it; see how to rename a Word document.
• Mac Finder: select the file and choose File > Duplicate, or hold Option while dragging it to another folder to copy it instead of moving it.

Close the document in Word first so you copy the latest saved version.

Which Method Should You Use?

Situation	Best method
You want to edit a new version and keep the original unchanged	Save a Copy / Save As (F12) before editing
File is in OneDrive or SharePoint with AutoSave on	Save a Copy first, then edit
You need a backup without opening the file	Copy in File Explorer or Finder
You’re working in a browser	File > Create a Copy
You need a copy someone can’t edit easily	Save a Copy and choose PDF as the format
You’re on a phone or tablet	File > Save a Copy

Troubleshooting

I can’t find Save As

If AutoSave is on, Word shows Save a Copy instead. It does the same job. If you’d rather see Save As, you can turn off the AutoSave switch in the top-left corner for that file; Word remembers that choice for the file. To change the default for all files, look in File > Options > Save.

My changes went into the original

That happens when you edit first and then save a copy while AutoSave is on. Open the original and use Version History to restore the earlier version.

I can’t find the copy I saved

Word saves the copy in the same folder as the original unless you chose another location. Check File > Open > Recent, or search your PC or OneDrive for the new name.

The copy opened as read-only

If the original was a read-only or protected file, save the copy to a folder you can edit, such as Documents or your own OneDrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the keyboard shortcut to save a copy?

F12 on Windows opens Save a Copy or Save As. On a Mac, it’s Command + Shift + S. On some laptops you may need to press Fn with F12.

Does saving a copy change the original?

No, but Word switches you to the copy. Any edits you make after that go into the copy.

What’s the difference between Save and Save a Copy?

Save overwrites the current file with your latest changes. Save a Copy (or Save As) writes a new file with a new name or location.

Can I save a copy as a PDF?

Yes. Choose PDF in the Save as type or File Format list. Keep a .docx copy too if you’ll need to edit it later.

Why does Word keep saving my changes automatically?

That’s AutoSave, which is on by default for OneDrive and SharePoint files in Microsoft 365. Save a copy before editing if you want to keep the original untouched.

Summary

1. Open the document and, if it uses AutoSave, don’t edit yet.
2. Press F12 or choose File > Save a Copy (or Save As).
3. Pick a location and give the copy a new name.
4. Select Save; you’re now working in the copy.
5. On the web use File > Create a Copy; on mobile use File > Save a Copy.

Next step: open the document you want to duplicate, press F12, and save the copy with a clear new name before making any edits.