Making a copy in Kami is a one-click process from your document menu

Open the document you want to copy in Kami, then click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the document. Select "Make a copy" from the dropdown. Kami will create a duplicate with "(copy)" added to the filename and save it to the same folder as the original. You can rename it immediately or change the name later from your file list.

The copy is a completely separate document — changes you make to one will not affect the other. This is useful when you want to keep a template intact, create multiple versions for different people to work on, or save a backup before making major edits.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of any open document and select "Make a copy" to duplicate it instantly.
  • Kami automatically adds "(copy)" to the filename and places the duplicate in the same folder as the original.
  • You can rename the copy right away or edit the name later from your file list.
  • The copy is independent — edits to one document do not change the other.
  • Making a copy works the same way whether you are using Kami on the web, in Google Classroom, or through Google Drive.

Where to find the menu and what it looks like

When you have a document open in Kami, look at the top right corner of the window. You will see a three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a hamburger menu or options menu) next to your profile picture. Click it and a dropdown list will appear with several options, including "Make a copy" near the top of the list.

If you are working in Google Classroom and opened the document from an assignment, the menu location is the same — in the top right of the Kami editor window, not in the Classroom interface itself. The "Make a copy" option works identically whether you launched Kami from Google Drive, Classroom, or directly from the Kami website.

What happens to the copy after you create it

The new copy appears in the same folder as the original document. If the original was in your "My Drive" folder, the copy goes there too. If it was in a shared folder or a Google Classroom assignment folder, the copy lands in the same location. You own the copy regardless of who owns the original.

Kami names the copy by taking the original filename and adding "(copy)" to the end. So a document called "Biology Lab Report" becomes "Biology Lab Report (copy)". If you make a copy of a copy, Kami adds another "(copy)" — "Biology Lab Report (copy) (copy)" — which is why renaming right away keeps things organized.

Renaming the copy immediately or later

You can rename the copy as soon as it is created. A dialog box usually appears asking what you want to call the new file. Type the new name and press Enter. If no dialog appears, you can rename it later by going to your file list, right-clicking the copy, and selecting "Rename".

Renaming does not affect the original document or any connection between them. They are completely separate files after the copy is made, so changing the name of one has no impact on the other.

Using copies for different workflows

Making a copy is helpful in several common situations. Teachers often make a copy of an assignment template for each student, so every student gets a fresh version to work on without affecting the original. You might make a copy before trying major edits, so you have a backup if something goes wrong. Teams sometimes make copies to create versions for different people to review or annotate separately.

Because Kami copies are independent, multiple people can work on different copies of the same document at the same time without overwriting each other's changes. Each person sees only the version they are editing.

Copying a document you do not own

If someone shared a document with you but you do not own it, you can still make a copy. The copy becomes your own document, and you have full control over it. The original owner cannot edit your copy, and you cannot accidentally change their version. This is a safe way to work with a shared template or document without worrying about breaking the original.

If you make a copy of a document that was shared with edit access, your copy is not automatically shared with the same people. You will need to share the copy separately if you want others to see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does making a copy also copy all the annotations and marks I made?

Yes. If you annotated the original document with highlights, comments, drawings, or text boxes, all of those appear in the copy. If you want a clean version without annotations, you would need to remove them before making the copy, or remove them from the copy after it is created.

Can I make a copy of a document that someone else is currently editing?

Yes. Kami creates the copy based on the version that exists at that moment. If the other person is still editing the original, their new changes will not appear in your copy — only the changes that were saved before you clicked "Make a copy".

What if I make a copy but cannot find it?

Check the same folder where the original document lives. If it is not there, search for the filename with "(copy)" in it using the search bar in your file list. If you renamed it immediately, search for the new name instead. The copy should be in the same location as the original unless you moved it.

Can I undo making a copy?

No, but you can delete the copy from your file list just like any other document. Right-click it and select "Delete". Deleting the copy does not affect the original document.