Force Make a Copy

Post date: Sep 28, 2015 3:42:43 PM

The PROBLEM - Sharing a document and asking a group to Make a Copy typically leads to issues of confusion! Some may be able to go to File - Make a Copy without any problems, while others begin making changes to the original and therefore making changes for everyone else. Now there is a solution....

The SOLUTION - It is possible to FORCE users to Make a Copy of a document using the following steps:

1. Find the URL link of your Google Document
2. Change the last word in the URL from EDIT to COPY
3. Share the URL with your group

After opening the link, it will require them to Make a Copy in order to open the document!

Force Make a Copy with Google Sheets and Slides too

1. It MUST be a Google Sheet or Slide that YOU created
2. Create a shareable link by going to the blue SHARE button in the top right corner
3. Choose an option that allows you to share the link with ANYONE
4. Click DONE
5. Locate the URL of your Google Sheet or Slide
6. Change the last part of the URL from edit#gid=0 to COPY

Force Make a Copy with Google Forms

1. Open the Google Form's response sheet
2. From the top menu, click on FORM and EDIT FORM
3. In Editing mode, locate the URL of the Google Form
4. Change the last part of the URL from EDIT to COPY

For more information on Force Make a Copy please visit the following blog post:

This super simple Google Docs trick is life changing by Edtech Bytes with Bormann