The Smart Way to Work with Canva Templates

Learn how to work with Canva templates the easy way and organise your designs so everything is exactly where you need it.

You know that feeling when you open a Canva template, start editing, and halfway through, wish you’d kept an untouched version of the original? With a small tweak in how you save and organise your templates, you can avoid that frustration. Let’s see how. ***Video walk-though is down the page.

Step 1: Open and Save the Template

When you click a link to a Canva template, you’ll see a page with a preview of the design and a purple "Use template for new design" button.

Click that button, and it’ll open in Canva’s workspace, ready for editing. If you choose a template from Canva's library (rather than a link from a purchased or shared one) the process will be the same, just open it into your editing workspace and proceed with these steps.

Don’t start editing just yet! First, we need to make sure this template has a home in your files.

• Go to the menu icon in the top left corner (the three horizontal lines).
• Click on the 'home' icon in relatively the same spot to return to your home page. 

You’ll see the template you just had open, there in the 'Recent Designs' section.

Step 2: Protect the Original Template

Here’s where we get clever. Rename the template to make it clear this is your untouched original:

• Click on the template name..
• Remove “Copy of” and rename it as MASTER (in capital letters so it stands out).

Why does this matter? Because now you have a pristine version of the template that you can come back to again and again, without hunting for the original link, or trying to find it in the millions of templates inside Canva.

Step 3: Make a Copy

Now that your original is clearly labeled, it’s time to create a copy to edit.

• On the home page, click the three dots on the template thumbnail.
• Choose "Make a Copy."

This is the version you’ll customise. It’s like having a fresh piece of paper every time you sit down to design—no eraser marks, no stress.

Step 4: Name Your Project

Before you dive into editing, give your copy a meaningful name. Something you will see next week or in a few months, and know which design lives behind that thumbnail in your home page. Either:

• Do this here in the home page, using the same steps as above to edit the name, or
• Open the template into Canva's edit workspace, then click and edit the file name in the top of the the widow.

_{***This video starts with opening a template from a link, but the same steps apply if you’re opening a template directly in Canva. Once it’s open in your workspace, follow along.}

Why This Tiny Process Makes a Big Difference

Keeping a “Master” version of every template isn’t just about being organised—it’s about working smarter. You’ll save time, avoid mistakes, and always have a backup ready to go. It’s one of those small steps that adds up to a lot less frustration (and more time spent on the fun stuff).

Enjoy creating!

Want more tips like this? Explore courses and resources at All Ages Creative Academy to make designing in Canva fun, stress-free, and something you actually look forward to.