Creating a Duplicate Before Making Edits

This feature only works on Squarespace 7.1

If you’ve ever made edits to your Squarespace site, saved the page, and realized you made a mistake and desperately tried to go back to the original, this feature alone is worth upgrading to 7.1 if you’re not on it already.

I particularly appreciate that duplicating a site will not change anything on the original, live site.

It’s also stress-relieving that any changes I make to the duplicate site will not sync to the original.

I make a duplicate of every 7.1 site I work on.


To make a duplicate of (almost) your entire site:

  1. When logged in, click on your Account Dashboard

  2. Click on the site you want to duplicate

  3. Click “Duplicate Website” (takes a few minutes, depending on the size*)

  4. Your duplicate site will have the same site title but will end with the word “Copy”

Some site-specific settings will not duplicate, but having a duplicate of MOST of your website, particularly the content pages, is handy insurance before making any major edits.

What will not duplicate?

  • *Sites over 150 pages

  • Add-on features and subscriptions, like domains and Email Campaigns

  • Audio files uploaded to audio blocks

  • Blog comments

  • Demo content or content marked for deletion, like pages and blog posts in trash cans

  • Files uploaded through the link editor

  • Free or premium licensed stock images

  • Images and videos in the Asset library that aren't used on the pages of the site

  • Saved sections (you can save a section to your “account” and reuse on the duplicate site)

  • Selling settings, including orders, discounts, and subscriptions

  • Third-party integrations that require authenticated access, like connected accounts and API keys

  • Website-specific settings and panels, like analytics, billing plans, contacts, and contributor permissions


Duplicating “SECTIONS”

When I’m building on Squarespace, I reuse sections frequently. That way, when I want to replicate the style or formatting that I used in a section, I can reuse it anywhere on my site or on another Squarespace 7.1 site that I own or manage. This saves a lot of time!

Here’s how to take advantage of the “save section” feature:

  • Hover your mouse anywhere within the section you want to duplicate. You must be in EDIT mode. You’ll see the heart icon in the floating section toolbar.

  • Click on the “heart icon” and save to your website.

screen capture of where to add a section

If you want to tackle duplicating your website, individual sections, pages, and more, Squarespace’s video explains it all:


Sue Wallis Williams

Sue Wallis Williams helps businesses with their online marketing presence through marketing, social media, graphic design and website development.

https://walliswilliams.com
Next
Next

Should You Update Your Squarespace Site Yourself or Hire a Pro?