🔧 Quick Info: This tool duplicates a category (with its products and settings) to another location in your store or to another storefront. Choose to mirror the copy so it stays synced with the original, or just copy it once. Bulk copy a category and all its subcategories in one go.
What It Does
CopyCat creates a new copy of an existing category in your store. You pick a source category, decide where the new one should live (under a parent category or at the storefront root), and CopyCat builds it for you. When it duplicates a category it brings across the category details (name, URL, description, page title, meta description, meta keywords), the products assigned to the source category so the new category isn’t empty, the product sort order when you choose to keep the copy in sync, the category image (if you choose to copy it), and the category page banner if one exists and you opt in. You can work two ways: copy a single category or bulk copy a category and all of its subcategories, keeping the parent/child structure intact. You also choose how the copy behaves over time – sync with the original (mirror) so it stays in step with the source, or just copy it as a one-time duplicate. CopyCat does the work in the background, so the new category appears in your store a short time later.
When Should You Use This?
Use this tool when you want to reuse an existing category without rebuilding it by hand. Common scenarios include wanting to reuse an existing category and its products somewhere else, running more than one storefront and wanting the same category available on another storefront, wanting a category that stays automatically in step with another one by setting it to mirror, or needing to duplicate a whole category branch including every subcategory in one go.
Before You Get Started
- Make sure you’re subscribed. CopyCat is a paid add-on. If you aren’t subscribed, the launch button reads Subscribe To CopyCat – subscribe first, then come back.
- Know your source category – the one you want to duplicate.
- Decide where the copy should go – the destination storefront (if you have more than one) and the parent category, or leave the parent blank to place it at the storefront root.
- Decide sync vs. copy. Choose mirror if you want the copy to keep updating with the original, or copy for a one-time duplicate.
- Decide about the image and banner – whether to copy the source category’s image (or upload your own) and whether to copy its page banner.
How to Use It
1 Launch the Tool
Navigate to the CopyCat Category Duplicator tool in your Your Store Wizards dashboard for your BigCommerce store and click Launch CopyCat.
2 Choose Your Copy Mode
Choose “What would you like to do?” – Copy a single category or Bulk copy a category and all of its subcategories.
3 Select Source Storefront and Category
If your store has multiple storefronts, pick the source storefront the category lives in. Then select the category to copy. In bulk mode you can select one or more parent categories, and every subcategory beneath them is included.
4 Choose Sync Settings
Choose whether to keep it in sync with the original (mirror) or just copy it as a one-time duplicate.
5 Configure Destination Settings
Under CopyCat Category Settings, pick the destination storefront (if you have more than one) and a parent category – or leave the parent blank to place the copy at the storefront root.
6 Review Category Details (Single Copy Only)
For a single copy, review the Name and URL (CopyCat fills these in for you and adjusts them to avoid clashes), plus the description and meta fields.
7 Choose Image and Banner Options
Choose whether to copy the category image (or upload a replacement) and whether to copy the category page banner.
8 Submit and Monitor Progress
Submit and you’ll see a confirmation that the category is being created in the background. Use View Categories to see the copies CopyCat has made and their status.
Keeping Copies in Sync
If you chose mirror, CopyCat re-checks those categories on a daily schedule and updates them to match the original. Use the Sync Settings button to:
- Set the time of day the daily sync runs
- Choose whether to edit category descriptions with the HTML editor or a plain text editor
Categories set to just copy are not synced – they stay exactly as created.
Troubleshooting
I see “Subscribe To CopyCat” instead of “Launch CopyCat”
CopyCat is a paid add-on and you aren’t subscribed yet. Subscribe, then launch the tool.
The new category didn’t appear right away
CopyCat creates categories in the background, so there’s a short delay. Open View Categories to check progress and confirm the copy was created.
The name or URL of my copy is slightly different
When you copy within the same storefront, the original name and URL already exist, so CopyCat adds a “Copy” label and, if needed, a number to keep them unique. Cross-storefront copies keep the original name and URL.
My copy isn’t updating after I changed the original
Only categories set to mirror are kept in sync, and syncing runs on a daily schedule. Check the category’s setting in View Categories and confirm your sync time in Sync Settings. A category set to just copy never auto-updates.
The category image or banner didn’t copy
The image only copies if you turned that option on (or you can upload your own). A banner only copies if the source category page actually has one and the option is enabled. Copying banners requires the right store permissions.
I got a permission error
CopyCat writes categories (and related products, banners, and channel assignments) to your store, so your store connection needs the matching permissions. Check out our guide on resolving API permission errors.
Where can I get more help?
More guides are available on the support site at support.yourstorewizards.com.