Are you tired of manually creating similar product variants on Shopify, wasting precious time and effort when you just started selling online? This article will unlock the secret to efficient variant creation, saving you time and ensuring a smooth product management experience.

Read on to discover the simple steps to duplicate variants and boost your Shopify store’s efficiency!

How to add a variant by duplicating an existing variant on Shopify

Step 1: Access the Product area

• In your Shopify admin, go to Products 
• Click the name of the product where you want to add a new variant.

Step 2: Go to the Variants Section

• Scroll down to the Variants section on the product details page.

Step 3: Duplicate a Variant

• Click the “…” button next to the variant you want to duplicate.
• Select Duplicate.

Step 4: Modify the Duplicated Variant

• A new variant will be created with the same details as the original.

Note: You need to change at least one option value to make it a unique variant. For example, if the original was a “Small Blue” shirt, change the new one to “Small Red.” You can also edit other details like price, SKU, or inventory as needed.

Step 5: Save the New Variant

• Click the “Save” button at the top right to add the new variant to your product.

By following these steps, you can quickly create new product variants in Shopify, saving time and ensuring consistency across your product listings.

Common issues and solutions

Here are some common issues you might encounter when adding a variant by duplicating an existing one on Shopify, along with their solutions:

Issue: Unable to save the duplicated variant

• Cause: You haven’t changed any option values, creating an identical variant.
• Solution: Edit at least one option value in the duplicated variant to make it unique. For example, change the color or size option.

Issue: Inventory for the duplicated variant is incorrect

• Cause: Duplicated variants start with zero inventory by default.
• Solution: Manually adjust the inventory quantity for the new variant to reflect the actual stock level.

Issue: Product image is not showing for the duplicated variant

• Cause: The duplicated variant inherits the image from the original variant.
• Solution: Upload a new image specific to the duplicated variant or select a different image from the existing product images.

Issue: Changes made to the original variant are not reflected in the duplicated variant

• Cause: Duplicated variants are independent entities once created.
• Solution: Make the desired changes directly to the duplicated variant after duplication.

Issue: Cannot duplicate a variant with specific options

• Cause: Shopify’s built-in functionality doesn’t allow for duplicating specific options within a variant.
• Solution: Consider using a third-party app that offers this feature or manually add a new variant with the desired options.

FAQs

Can I duplicate a variant directly within the Shopify admin interface?
No, Shopify doesn’t offer a direct “duplicate” option for variants. You can manually add a new variant and copy the details from an existing one or use a third-party app to streamline the process.

Will the duplicated variant have the same inventory level as the original?
No, the duplicated variant will have its own independent inventory level, starting at zero. You’ll need to adjust the inventory quantity manually after duplication.

If I change the price of the original variant, will the duplicated variant’s price also change?
No, duplicated variants have their own independent pricing. Changing the original variant’s price won’t affect the duplicated one.

Can I duplicate a variant with specific options, like only duplicating the “Small” size variant?
Shopify’s built-in functionality doesn’t allow for the duplication of specific options within a variant. However, some third-party apps might offer this capability.

What are the benefits of duplicating a variant instead of creating a new one from scratch?
Duplicating a variant saves time by automatically copying most of the existing variant’s details, such as titles, images, and options. This is particularly useful when creating similar variants with minor differences, like adding a new color option to an existing product.

In conclusion

Duplicating existing variants in Shopify streamlines product management, saving time and effort when adding similar options. Have you discovered any other handy Shopify tips or tricks for efficient product management? Share your knowledge, and let’s learn from each other in the comments below!

Related Posts:

• How to Add Variants on Shopify
• How to Add Variants to an Existing Product on Shopify
• How to duplicate products on Shopify in 2 minutes