Cloning a record in Zoho CRM lets you quickly duplicate an existing record and modify it, saving time when you need similar entries with slightly different details. This feature copies all field values from the source record into a new form, so you only need to adjust what's different.
Why this matters
You'll use cloning when you have a record with most of the information you need but want to create a variation without starting from scratch. For example, cloning a contact record for a new person at the same company, or duplicating a solution article with a similar structure. Cloning is faster and more accurate than manual re-entry, especially for records with many fields.
Step-by-step
Step 1. Open the record you want to clone. Navigate to the module (Contacts, Accounts, Solutions, or another record type) and click the specific record to view its details page.[^1,2]
Step 2. Look for the Edit dropdown button on the details page and select Clone from the menu.[^1,2] The system will open a new form pre-filled with all the data from the source record.
Step 3. Make any necessary changes to the cloned record. Update fields that should differ from the original—for instance, change the name, email, or other details specific to this new record.[^1,2]
Step 4. Click Save to create the cloned record.[^1,2] The new record will be saved as a separate entry with its own ID.
Cloning from mobile: If you're using the Zoho CRM mobile app, open the record, tap the more options icon (three dots), select Clone, make your changes, and tap Save.[1]
Common pitfalls
Cloning requires the Create permission for the record type you're duplicating.[1] If you don't have this permission, the Clone option won't appear. Contact your Zoho CRM administrator to request access if needed.
Note that not all modules support cloning—the feature is available for standard modules like Contacts, Accounts, and Solutions, but may not be available for every custom module in your setup.
What to check
- Verify that all the fields you intended to copy from the source record are present in the cloned record.
- Confirm that you've updated any fields that should be unique to the new record (such as name, email, or ID numbers).
- Check that the cloned record appears in the module list and can be opened without errors.
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*This article is provided by Beam Help — independent expert support for Zoho. We are not official Zoho support.*