Make your Google Doc or Sheet into a template for others to copy and use privately

At the end of a URL for any google doc (including spreadsheet, slideshow, or drawing) remove the "edit" (And anything after that) and replace it with one of these...
1. copy (for a very simple "copy this" page)
2. template/preview (for a full preview of the document, which they can then click "use template" on the top right to make their own private copy.)

[brianirungu]

Exactly what I was looking for. I've scoured the internet for the last 30 mins trying to find this exact process. Thanks a million. Blessings.

[toniv]

this was SO helpful! I have been searching Google on how to do this and wish i found this video earlier. No one else could explain how to do this and you did it clearly and quickly - THANK YOU :)

[jamarReid-evbz]

Thank you so much George. I spent all day trying to create a template in Google Sheets. And Google does not make it easy to create a template in Sheets. There is little to no tutorials on YouTube that shows how to take an existing spreadsheet and create a template. So Thank you for your important advice and insight.

[RAHowarth]

I've used this so many times, I had to look for this video in my liked history to remind me of the process just now, so thought I should comment to say thank you again! :)

[alyssalewis]

This was so simple and helpful! Surprising how hard it was to find this info before coming upon your video. Thanks!

[johnmollura]

The template feature is a game-changer.!!! Thank you!

[kelly_browning]

BRILLIANT!!! Thank you so much George!

[automagicbanddirector]

heads up: Comments you put in cells on the spreadsheet will NOT be carried over with the Template. I am really hoping Google fixes this at some point.

[lauraasilverioo]

I appreciate this so much. Thank you for sharing this tip.

[RAHowarth]

Thank you for sharing this is game-changing! GG Natasha too!

[igoa-adventure]

Hi, this is super useful. Thanks. I have a question. Do I need to share the original document in any way? I've had to manually accept the "requesting access to the following spreadsheet" email from people wanting to use the spreadsheet.

[cutechickiewaffles]

@george kao: I have google folders that I'd like to share with my clients. Within each folder are files that have links to other files within the folder. How can I share this so each client can have their own copy, but the links within remain linked to only their copy? These are customizable forms, which is why I want them to have their own copy, while maintaining access myself, as I may be the one customizing it for them.

[imrnkhan]

Thanks for this very concise explanation Appreciated. The template/preview tip is so cool. Is this still valid?

[djspiel]

This is great! Is there a way to save to my templates?

[ImtiazAhmed-sb]

Bro, you killed it! Google will remember you. 😂🤍

[Summerof-dhre]

Can you copyright a google sheet/doc? I made a menu, grocery list, and recipes that I want to start selling, but I don't want anyone else to steal the idea and say it was theirs

[therealpicklerick]

OMG, SAVIOR! Sheets is so limited on handheld devices. I THINK especially iPad

[lisaperkes]

Thank you for the tutorial! I can't get this to work when my users click the link on a phone. It asks them to request access to my google sheet. Any tricks you have to fix that?

[gisl]

what happens If you delete the copy you shared as a template? Does the people who haven't saved it lose it?If they said use template, it is not the copy I made for them but it is a copy of what I sent to them right?