CC Duplicate Menu User Guide

Last updated: 30th March 2026 for CC Duplicate Menu version 1.0

Overview

CC Duplicate Menu allows you to duplicate any WordPress navigation menu directly from the menu editor with a single click.

The plugin creates a full copy of the selected menu, including all items, hierarchy and structure, while ensuring the duplicated menu is completely independent of the original.

This makes it ideal for testing, restructuring navigation or creating variations of existing menus.

Where to find the Duplicate Menu button

After installing and activating the plugin:

  1. Go to Appearance → Menus
  2. Select or edit an existing menu

You will see a Duplicate Menu button located between:

  • Save Menu
  • Delete Menu

This placement mirrors the natural workflow of editing menus in WordPress.

How to duplicate a menu

Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to Appearance → Menus
  2. Select the menu you want to duplicate
  3. Click Duplicate Menu
  4. Wait briefly while the menu is copied
  5. You will be automatically redirected to the new menu

What happens when a menu is duplicated

When you duplicate a menu, CC Duplicate Menu:

  • creates a new menu
  • appends ” (copy)” to the original menu name
  • duplicates all menu items
  • preserves:
    • hierarchy (parent/child relationships)
    • order
    • labels and links
  • creates new menu items, not references

This ensures that:

Changes made to the duplicated menu do not affect the original menu.

Example

Original menu:

Main Menu
├── Home
├── Services
│   ├── Web Design
│   └── SEO
└── Contact

After duplication:

Main Menu (copy)
├── Home
├── Services
│   ├── Web Design
│   └── SEO
└── Contact

Both menus are now independent.

Common use cases

1. Testing new menu layouts

Duplicate a live menu and experiment safely without affecting visitors.

2. Creating alternative navigation structures

Build variations for:

  • landing pages
  • campaigns
  • different user journeys

3. Reusing complex menus

Avoid rebuilding large menus manually by duplicating and modifying them.

4. Creating mobile or footer variations

Use a base menu and adapt it for:

  • mobile navigation
  • footer menus
  • simplified navigation

Behaviour notes

  • The plugin only works within the WordPress admin area
  • The duplicate button appears when editing a menu
  • If no menu is selected, the button will not be shown
  • The new menu opens automatically after duplication

Security and permissions

  • Only users with permission to manage menus can duplicate menus
  • All duplication actions are handled securely within WordPress
  • No external services are used

Developer notes

CC Duplicate Menu includes filters and hooks to allow future extension.

These can be used to:

  • exclude specific menu item metadata
  • modify copied values
  • extend duplication behaviour

Developer documentation will be expanded in future releases.

Troubleshooting

Duplicate button not visible

  • Ensure a menu is selected
  • Confirm you are on Appearance → Menus
  • Check that the plugin is activated

Menu not duplicating

  • Refresh the page and try again
  • Check user permissions (must be able to manage menus)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this overwrite my existing menu?

No. A completely new menu is created.

Are menu items linked between menus?

No. Each menu has its own independent items.

Are nested menus supported?

Yes. All levels of menu hierarchy are preserved.

Does it work with custom links, pages and categories?

Yes. All standard WordPress menu item types are supported.

Next steps

Once duplicated, you can:

  • rename the new menu
  • assign it to a theme location
  • modify structure and links as needed