Published on Jun 30, 2025 5 min read

Effortless Guide: How to Create a Duplicate Menu in WordPress with One Click

Sometimes, you might find the need to replicate your WordPress menu, especially when you’re tweaking your site without affecting the live version. Backing up your current menu or experimenting with a new layout can be essential. Manually duplicating a menu, however, is often tedious as it requires recreating each menu item individually. Here’s where the one-click solution comes in handy.

By using the right plugin, you can swiftly duplicate your WordPress menu. This process is straightforward, quick, and doesn’t require coding, making it ideal for beginners. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to duplicate a WordPress menu with one click. The method is safe and won’t alter your current settings. Let’s dive into a systematic overview.

Why Duplicate a WordPress Menu?

Duplicating a WordPress menu can be highly beneficial. You might want to back up your current menu before making changes to avoid losing your previous setup. It’s also useful when switching themes, as different themes can display menus in unique ways. By duplicating the menu, you can experiment with the appearance without affecting the live version. Whether you’re building landing pages or sub-sites with a similar layout, having a duplicate of your main menu saves both time and effort.

Duplicating menus also facilitates collaboration with developers or designers, allowing them to test new layouts without tampering with your actual site menu. For both novice and advanced users, this provides additional freedom and control, streamlining your workflow and reducing the risk of errors. Duplicating a WordPress menu is a smart and efficient move, whether for testing, backup, or customizing a version.

Steps to Create a Duplicate Menu in WordPress

Follow these simple steps to duplicate a WordPress menu with just one click.

Step 1: Install the Plugin “Duplicate Menu”

To easily duplicate a menu, we’ll use the “Duplicate Menu” plugin. It’s a free and reliable option.

Installation Steps:

• Go to your WordPress dashboard.
• Click Plugins on the sidebar.
• Select Add New.
• In the search box, type Duplicate Menu.
• Look for the plugin by Jonathan Christopher.
• Click Install Now.
• Once installed, click Activate.

That’s it! The plugin is now active and ready to use.

Step 2: Locate the Menu You Want to Copy

With the plugin installed, a new feature is available in your Menus section.

• Navigate to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress dashboard.
• At the top, you’ll see your list of saved menus.
• Select the menu you wish to duplicate from the dropdown.
• Click Select to view its items.

Ensure this is the exact menu you want to copy and review it before proceeding.

Step 3: Duplicate the Menu with One Click

Now for the easiest part—duplicating the menu.

• On the Menus page, notice the new option labeled Duplicate Menu.
• Click this option.
• A popup will prompt you for the new menu’s name.
• Enter a name, like “Main Menu Copy” or “Test Menu”.
• Click Duplicate Menu.

Your new menu will appear in your list almost instantly, including all the same items as the original menu.

Step 4: Use the Duplicated Menu

Once duplicated, you can utilize the menu as needed.

• Return to Appearance > Menus.
• From the dropdown, select the new menu name.
• Click Select.
• You’ll now see the copied version and can:
  • Edit it freely.
  • Change links.
  • Add or remove items.
  • Assign it to a different location.

This ensures your original menu remains untouched.

Step 5: Assign the New Menu to a Theme Location (Optional)

You may want to employ the duplicated menu in another location, such as for mobile view, the footer, or testing.

To assign the duplicated menu:

• Stay in the Menus section.
• Scroll to the Menu Settings.
• You’ll see Display Location options like Primary, Footer, or Mobile Menu.
• Check the box for where you want the new menu to appear.
• Click Save Menu.

Now, the new menu will appear in the chosen theme location.

Step 6: Edit and Customize Your Duplicated Menu

With your duplicate ready, you can make changes freely.

Common Edits:

• Rename menu items.
• Change URLs.
• Add custom links.
• Rearrange item order.
• Add submenus or dropdowns.

Editing a copy prevents any damage to the original menu, making it perfect for testing new ideas.

Advantages of Using a Plugin Over Manual Duplication

Some WordPress users try to manually replicate menus, duplicating each element. This process is risky and time-consuming. Errors such as broken links, incorrect labels, or missing menu items can occur. Therefore, using a plugin is the smarter choice.

• Save Time: A plugin can replicate your entire menu with a single click, eliminating the need for manual duplication.
• No Need to Retype Every Item: Manually entering each menu item is labor-intensive. A plugin skips all that effort.
• Reduces Human Errors: Links won’t be mistakenly lost or missed. The plugin duplicates everything accurately.
• Safer Editing Process: While working on a menu copy, the original remains unaltered and safe.
• Works with All Themes: The plugin is versatile as it’s designed to function with any WordPress theme.
• Lightweight and Efficient: Apps like “Duplicate Menu” handle one task efficiently without slowing down your site.

Using a plugin ensures speed, safety, and simplicity.

Conclusion

Using the right plugin makes duplicating a menu in WordPress effortless. It provides more freedom, minimizes errors, and saves time. With just one click, you can create a duplicate of your menu for safely testing new layouts, modifying links, or customizing designs without affecting your live site. Easy even for novices, the lightweight “Duplicate Menu” plugin works with all themes. Whether you need to create similar menus across sites or want a backup, let the plugin handle the task rather than doing it manually. It’s quick, safe, and enhances your WordPress workflow.