How to Duplicate a Page in WordPress (3 Easy Methods)

Duplicating a page in WordPress is a simple way to save time, maintain design consistency, and test new layouts or content without disrupting the original version of your site.

Whether you’re creating multiple pages with similar structures or conducting A/B testing, understanding how to duplicate pages efficiently is crucial for a smooth workflow.

This guide explains various methods, including using plugins, duplicating pages manually, and working with code. Let’s get started.

Why duplicate a page in WordPress

Duplicating pages in WordPress can helpful for:

• Speeding up content creation: Copying an existing page allows you to quickly replicate layouts and designs, saving you a significant amount of time. For example, if you offer six different services, you may want a landing page for each that has the same overall design, but different content.
• A/B testing: By duplicating pages, you can A/B test different versions of content or designs without affecting the original design.
• Preserving the original page: Duplicating lets you save the original content while you experiment with new ideas, in case you want to restore it later.

Methods to duplicate a page in WordPress

There are several ways that you can duplicate a WordPress page: using a plugin, manually, and with custom code. Let’s explore each one.

1. Using a plugin

WordPress plugins offer the simplest way to duplicate a page, particularly for beginners or those seeking a quick solution. Below are three plugins that help you do this:

Jetpack

Jetpack includes a suite of helpful WordPress tools for marketing, performance, security, and more. And built into that powerful suite is the ability to duplicate pages and posts. To enable the duplication feature, go to Jetpack → Settings. Then, choose the Writing tab. Look for the option that says, “Enable the option to copy entire posts and pages, including tags and settings” and toggle that on. 

To duplicate a page, go to Pages → All pages. Hover over the page you want to copy and click Copy.

This will redirect you to the block editor, with the page copied.

Yoast Duplicate Post

The Yoast Duplicate Post plugin allows you to quickly clone pages and posts so that you can create a new page based on the original design, or save them as drafts for future editing. Here’s how you can use this tool to duplicate a page:

In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins → Add New. Search for “Yoast Duplicate Post.” Once you find it, click Install Now → Activate.

When you’re ready to duplicate a page, navigate to Pages → All Pages. Hover over the page you want to duplicate to see several options. Then, choose Clone to create a copy or New Draft to open the duplicate in the editor.

You can also duplicate pages in bulk to make your workflow faster and more streamlined. To do so, go to Pages → All Pages. Check the box next to each of the pages you want to copy.

Then, from the Bulk Actions dropdown menu, choose Clone or Rewrite & Republish. Then, click Apply. 

If you want to get a bit more granular and edit your duplication settings, navigate to Settings → Duplicate Post. There, you can edit options like copied elements, title prefixes/suffixes, and user permissions.

Duplicate Page 

The Duplicate Page plugin is another reliable option, with the ability to replicate a page or post with a single click. To use this tool, navigate to Plugins → Add New. Search for “Duplicate Page”, and click Install Now → Activate.

To duplicate a page, go to Pages → All Pages. Hover over the page you want to copy and click Duplicate this. That’s all there is to it!

If you want to customize the settings, go to Settings → Duplicate Page. There, you can choose the editor type you want to work with, along with the default status for each copied page.

2. Manually duplicating a page

If you prefer not to use plugins, you can manually duplicate a page. This approach requires copying content and adjusting settings in WordPress.

Using the block editor:

1. Open the page you want to duplicate in the block editor.
2. Click the three-dot menu (located in the top-right corner).
3. Select Copy All Blocks.
4. Create a new page by navigating to Pages → Add New.
5. Paste the copied blocks into the new page.
6. Update the page title, permalink, and featured image manually.

Using the classic editor:

1. Open the desired page in the classic editor.
2. Switch to the Text tab to access the HTML content.
3. Copy all the content.
4. Create a new page by navigating to Pages → Add New.
5. Paste the copied content into the Text tab of the new page.
6. Adjust the page title, permalink, and any other settings.

3. Using custom code (for advanced users)

For developers or advanced users, adding custom code can create duplication functionality.

Adding a duplicate function:

1. Access your WordPress theme’s .functions.php file:
   
   • Navigate to Appearance → Theme File Editor.
   • Open the .functions.php file.
2. Add the following code snippet to the file:

function duplicate_post_as_draft(){

    global $wpdb;

    if (! (isset($_GET['post']) || isset($_POST['post']) || (isset($_REQUEST['action']) && 'duplicate_post_as_draft' == $_REQUEST['action']))) {

        wp_die('No post to duplicate has been supplied!');

    }

    // Nonce verification

    if (!isset($_GET['duplicate_nonce']) || !wp_verify_nonce($_GET['duplicate_nonce'], basename(__FILE__)))

        return;

    // Get the original post id

    $post_id = (isset($_GET['post']) ? absint($_GET['post']) : absint($_POST['post']));

    // Get the original post data

    $post = get_post($post_id);

    // Create the duplicated post

    if (isset($post) && $post != null) {

        $args = array(

            'post_content'   => $post->post_content,

            'post_excerpt'   => $post->post_excerpt,

            'post_status'    => 'draft',

            'post_title'     => $post->post_title . ' (Copy)',

            'post_type'      => $post->post_type

        );

        $new_post_id = wp_insert_post($args);

        // Duplicate all post meta

        $post_meta = $wpdb->get_results($wpdb->prepare("SELECT meta_key, meta_value FROM $wpdb->postmeta WHERE post_id=%d", $post_id));

        if (count($post_meta) != 0) {

            foreach ($post_meta as $meta) {

                add_post_meta($new_post_id, $meta->meta_key, $meta->meta_value);

            }

        }

        wp_redirect(admin_url('post.php?action=edit&post=' . $new_post_id));

        exit;

    } else {

        wp_die('Post creation failed, could not find original post.');

    }

}

add_action('admin_action_duplicate_post_as_draft', 'duplicate_post_as_draft');

3. Save the changes and refresh your WordPress dashboard.
   
4. To duplicate a post or page, hover over its title in the list view and click Duplicate.

Tips for effective page duplication

• Review the duplicate page: Always check the duplicate to ensure that formatting, links, and images are correct.
• Rename the page: Update the title and permalink to avoid confusion or conflicts.
• Update SEO settings: Adjust metadata — like meta description and titles — to ensure the duplicate aligns with your SEO strategy.
• Check the URL slug: You may need to update the URL to reflect the content of the new page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I duplicate a WordPress page without using a plugin?

Yes, you can duplicate a WordPress page manually without a plugin by using either the block or classic editor. In the block editor, open the page, click the three-dot menu at the top right, and select ‘Copy All Blocks’. Then create a new page and paste the copied content.

For the classic editor, switch to the ‘Text’ tab, copy all the HTML content, open a new page, paste the HTML into the ‘Text’ tab, and update the title and URL. This method does not copy page settings like templates or featured images, so you’ll need to set those up yourself.

Will duplicating a page in WordPress affect my SEO rankings?

Duplicating a page can affect your SEO if you publish the copy without changes. Search engines may see it as duplicate content, which can hurt rankings.

To avoid this, keep duplicated pages as drafts or set them to ‘noindex’ until you update the title, URL slug, and content to make them unique. Also, check metadata and canonical tags so search engines know which page to prioritize. Managing these settings carefully prevents SEO problems.

What should I do after duplicating a WordPress page to avoid SEO penalties?

After duplicating, update the new page’s title, URL slug, and content to make it unique and useful. Keep the draft page set to ‘noindex’ until it’s ready to publish.

Check and fix SEO metadata like meta descriptions and canonical tags so search engines know which page to index. Review internal links and update them if needed. Test the page’s layout and functions before publishing. These steps stop duplicate content penalties and keep your SEO healthy.

How do I fix broken layout or styling issues after duplicating a WordPress page?

Broken layouts or styling issues usually happen because some page builder settings or custom CSS didn’t copy properly. To fix this, clear your site and browser cache then check if the duplicated page uses the right template in WordPress.

If you use a page builder like Elementor or WPBakery, re-save the page builder settings or regenerate CSS files. Make sure images and assets link correctly. Fixing these things restores the page’s look.

How do I choose the best method to duplicate a WordPress page?

The best method depends on your skill level and what you want. Beginners will find plugins like Jetpack the easiest and safest. Developers or power users may want manual duplication or custom code for more control.

Think about if you need to copy SEO settings, page templates, or large content amounts. Plugins usually handle these better if yoi’re a beginner. Know your needs and try out different ways.