Managing a growing product catalog on Shopify often involves adding new products that are similar to existing ones. 

For Shopify store owners, sometimes, duplicating products is a quick way to save time when creating new product variations or seasonal offerings. 

This guide will show you how to duplicate products on Shopify, both individually and in bulk, streamlining your product management workflow.

How To Duplicate A Single Product In Shopify

Duplicating a product creates an exact copy of the original, including its description, images, variants, and other details. Here’s how to start the Shopify duplicate product process for a single product:

Step 1: Go to Products

• In your admin panel, click Products on the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Click the product that you want to duplicate

• Click on the product you wish to duplicate to open its details page.

Step 3: Tap on Duplicate

• Click on Duplicate in the top right corner.

Step 4: Set Up The Copy Product

• Enter a name, select the details you want to copy, and select a status for the duplicate product.

Step 5: Duplicate The Product

• Click Duplicate product
• A dialog will appear to make sure that you want to duplicate the product. To make your copy, tap on the Duplicate button again.

Tip: Remember to update the SKU and barcode (if applicable) for the new product to avoid inventory conflicts.

How To Duplicate Multiple Products On Shopify

If you need to duplicate several products at once, you can follow these steps:

Note: Make sure to make copies of your catalog of products. Saving a copy at another location is always great, just in case.

Step 1: Export the products to a CSV

• Go to your Shopify admin panel and click on Products.

• Choose the products you want to duplicate

• Click on Export in the top right corner
• Then click Export Products

Step 2: Duplicate the Products In The CSV File

• Open the downloaded file and duplicate the products you want
• Make sure to give the copies different names, like Shirt (Copy) to avoid conflicts when you import the files

Step 3: Save and Import The CSV File To Your Shopify Store

• Save the changes
• Go to Products and select Import
• Click Choose File. Then, search for the CSV file from your computer. After you find it, tap on the file and select the Upload file button to complete.

• Modify the setting as you wish, then click on Upload and Preview.

• Check if the information is correct, then click Import products and let Shopify process.

When finished, you can see your duplicate items in your catalog. You can then edit the copy’s title, description, media, etc., to your needs.

What You Should Consider When Duplicating Products On Shopify

Duplicating products on Shopify can be a handy time-saver, but it’s important to be mindful of a few key considerations to avoid potential issues and ensure a smooth workflow:

• Unique SKUs: If you’re using SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) for inventory tracking, ensure the duplicated product has a unique SKU to avoid conflicts and maintain accurate stock levels.
• Unique Titles and Descriptions: While the initial duplicate will have the same information as the original, update the title and description to clearly differentiate the new product. This is important for both customers and search engines.
• Inventory Levels: The duplicated product will typically start with zero inventory. Make sure to adjust the inventory quantity to reflect the actual stock available.
• Image Variations: Consider using different or additional images for the duplicated product to visually distinguish it from the original.
• Variant Details: If the original product has variants, the duplicated product will also have the same variants. Review and edit the variant details (e.g., prices, SKUs, images) to ensure they’re accurate for the new product.
• Avoid Clutter: Duplicating too many products can lead to a cluttered product catalog. Review your products regularly and archive or delete any that are no longer needed.

Bottom Line

Duplicating products on Shopify is a valuable time-saving technique for managing your product catalog efficiently. Whether you’re adding new products with slight variations or creating different versions of existing products, this feature simplifies the process and allows you to focus on growing your business. Remember to always review and update the duplicated products to ensure accuracy and avoid confusion in your inventory management.

FAQs

1. Will duplicating a product copy its reviews? 

No, product reviews are not duplicated. The new product will start with zero reviews. This is because reviews are typically tied to the specific product ID and customer experiences. If you want to maintain review consistency, consider using product variants instead of duplicating.

2. Can I duplicate products across different Shopify stores? 

No, the built-in duplication feature only works within the same store. To duplicate across stores, you’d need to export products from one store and import them into another. This can be done using Shopify’s export/import features or third-party apps designed for cross-store product management.

3. Does duplicating a product create a new URL? 

Yes, Shopify generates a new URL for the duplicated product based on its title. This is important for SEO purposes and to avoid duplicate content issues. Make sure to update the URL slug if you want it to differ from the automatically generated one.

4. Will the inventory of the original product be copied to the duplicate? 

The inventory settings (such as SKU format and tracking) are copied, but the actual inventory count starts at zero for the new product. This prevents accidental inventory duplication and allows you to set the correct stock levels for the new product.

5. Can I undo a product duplication? 

Yes. There’s no direct “undo” function for product duplication. However, you can delete the duplicated product if you created it by mistake. Always double-check before deleting to ensure you’re removing the correct product.