Duplicate SharePoint Lists: How to Create a Custom List

Last Updated on January 18, 2023

Need to create a copy of an existing custom list?

Fortunately, the process now is straightforward, unlike the classic way of duplicating a custom list in SharePoint Online.

In this guide, I’ll show you how you can easily duplicate a custom list in SharePoint Online in three short steps.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents:

The modern way of creating a list in SharePoint Online

In the past, if you want to create a copy of a list, you have to do two steps:

The problem with this is that the steps weren’t that friendly to new users. They also needed the user to have admin privileges to work.

With the modern experience, there are now four ways to create a new list:

Note: For a more thorough explanation of lists, check out this article: SharePoint 101: What Is a List and How to Create One.

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The process now will only take you as little as a minute.

For starters, navigate to the homepage of the site:

You will then see the different options to create a list in SharePoint Online.

Click the option to create one from an existing list:

On the next screen:

Note: For more information on creating a custom list, check out this article: [Guide] How to Create a Custom List in SharePoint Online.

Complete the details about the new list:

Click the create button to start duplicating the list:

After the system finishes copying the list, it will then open the newly created list:

The process of copying a list in SharePoint Online got so simple compared to the classic way of doing it.

Unfortunately, there are things that aren’t copied over to the new list, like:

You may have already noticed this. But only the columns are copied to the new list. You will have to manually enter the list items yourself.

List settings and security must also be set up again on the new list since they aren’t copied to the new list.

Strictly speaking, the only things that are copied are:

This doesn’t include content types though. You will need to set them up again for the list or site where you created the new list.

On the bright side, you can virtually copy any list from any site in the tenant that you have access to.

This means that the original list doesn’t have to be on the same site where you want to create a duplicate of that list.

You might also get confused while browsing the site options. They are arranged alphabetically — starting with the site where you’re currently on.

Did you get confused by anything along the way? Let me know in the comments below.

For business inquiries, please send me a message through this contact form and I’ll get back to you asap.