How to Make a Copy in Kami: A Real Guide for Students and Teachers

We’ve all been there. You open an assignment, ready to get work done, and… nothing. You can’t type, you can’t draw, and the screen is just staring back at you. Or maybe you’re a teacher who just realized you accidentally sent the original answer key to thirty students instead of a blank copy.

Panic sets in.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you. Whether you’re a student trying to edit a locked file or a teacher organizing your digital classroom, learning how to make a copy in Kami is the one skill that fixes 90% of these headaches.

Here is the thing—Kami is an incredibly powerful tool, but sometimes the buttons aren’t where you expect them to be. I’ve spent countless hours troubleshooting this with classes, so here at Axeetech, let me walk you through the actual, practical ways to get this done without tearing your hair out.

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Why Can’t I Just Edit the File?

Before we jump into the buttons, let’s take a second to understand what’s actually happening.

Usually, when you can’t edit a Kami file, it’s because of permissions. Think of it like a piece of paper behind a glass wall. You can see it, but you can’t write on it until you pull it out from behind the glass. Making a copy is essentially pulling that paper out and putting it on your own desk.

There are two main ways to do this. I recommend trying the first method (inside Kami) first, but if that fails, the second method (Google Drive) works every single time.

Method 1: The “Save Button” Trick (Best for Students)

This is the most common scenario I see. You open a link your teacher sent, but it’s “View Only.” You need your own version to actually do the homework.

Here is how we fix it directly inside the app:

1. Open the document in Kami. You’ll likely see a message or a locked symbol telling you that you don’t have permission to edit.
2. Look for the Floppy Disk. In the top right of the menu bar, you will see a Save icon (it looks like an old-school floppy disk).
3. Click “Create Your Own Copy.” When you click that Save icon, a menu drops down. You should see a button that says “Create your own copy” or sometimes just “Save Now” if it has already created a temporary version for you.
4. Rename it. This is crucial. Kami might name it “Copy of [Assignment Name].” Do yourself a favor and add your name to the file title immediately so you don’t lose it later.

Note: If you are using an LMS like Canvas or Schoology, sometimes there is a specific “Open Assignment” button you missed that creates the copy automatically. Always check your assignment dashboard first!

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Method 2: The Google Drive Method (The “Fail-Safe”)

If the Kami interface is acting glitchy, or if the buttons just aren’t showing up, we go to the source.

Remember, Kami is basically a fancy layer that sits on top of your Google Drive files. If you can’t copy it in Kami, you can definitely copy it in Drive. I honestly use this method more than the first one because it never fails.

1. Go to your Google Drive.
2. Find the file. It’s usually in a folder called “Kami Uploads” or “Classroom.”
3. Right-click the file.
4. Select “Make a copy.”
5. Open the new file. Now, right-click that new file you just made, hover over “Open with,” and select “Annotate with Kami.”

Boom. You now have a totally fresh version that belongs to you, fully editable and ready to go.

Method 3: For Teachers (Sharing Individual Copies)

If you are a teacher, your struggle is different. You aren’t trying to copy a file for yourself; you are trying to make sure every student gets their own copy so they aren’t all writing over each other on one master document.

I have seen entire lesson plans derailed because of this settings toggle.

When you are assigning work through Google Classroom or Canvas using the Kami integration:

• Google Classroom: When you attach the Kami file, look at the dropdown menu next to the attachment. You must change it from “Students can view file” to “Make a copy for each student.”
• The “Link” Method: If you are just emailing a link to students (not using an LMS), open your Kami document, click the Share button (top right), and ensure the permission is set to “Anyone with the link can… Create Individual Copy.”

If you forget this step, your students will all land on your original file. It’s a mess. If that happens, unfortunately, you usually have to delete the assignment and repost it with the correct setting.

Troubleshooting: “It’s Still Not Working”

Sometimes you follow the steps, and technology just refuses to cooperate. Here are a few things I’ve learned to check:

• Check your storage. If your Google Drive is 100% full, you cannot make copies. You need to delete some old files first.
• Check the file type. Kami works best with PDFs. If you are trying to copy a weird image file or a corrupted document, it might struggle. Try converting it to a standard PDF first.
• The “Split and Merge” Tool. If you only need to copy one page of a giant packet, don’t copy the whole file. Go to the Kami main menu (the dashboard), click “Split and Merge,” and you can drag just the single page you need into a new file. It saves so much time.

How to Organize Your Kami Files

Okay, so you’ve mastered how to make a copy in Kami. Great. But now you have a new problem: a Google Drive filled with files named “Copy of Copy of Algebra HW” and “Untitled Document (4).”

I call this the “Digital Backpack” syndrome—everything is crumbled up at the bottom, and you can never find what you need when the teacher asks for it.

By default, Kami dumps almost everything into a folder it creates called “Kami Uploads.” If you never look in there, it becomes a black hole. Here is a simple, realistic system to keep your sanity.

1. The “Move It Immediately” Rule

The biggest mistake we make is thinking, “I’ll organize this later.” We won’t. We never do.

When you first make that copy using the Save button in Kami:

1. Look right next to the file name at the top of the screen.
2. You will see a little Folder icon.
3. Click it before you start working.
4. Move the file out of “Kami Uploads” and into a specific folder for that class (e.g., “Biology 101” or “English Period 3”).

It takes three seconds, but it saves you twenty minutes of panic-searching later.

2. Rename to “Future You.”

A file named “Chapter 4” tells you nothing three months from now when you’re studying for finals.

I force myself to use a strict naming convention, and I highly recommend you do the same. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just consistent:

[Class Name] – [Assignment Name] – [Date]

For example: History – WW2 Map Project – Oct 12

If you are a student, this proves you did the work. If you are a teacher, this keeps your master copies separate from student submissions.

3. Color-Code Your Folders

This sounds like something only “organized people” do, but it’s actually for us visual learners who hate reading lists.

• Go to your Google Drive.
• Right-click your class folders.
• Select Change Color.

Make Math blue, English red, Science green—whatever matches the color of the notebooks you’d buy in real life. When you’re rushing to open a file in Kami, your brain spots the color faster than it reads the text.

4. The “Old Work” Archive

At the end of every semester, don’t delete your Kami files. You might need them for a portfolio or a grade dispute later.

Instead, create a folder called “Archive [Year]” and drag all your old class folders into it. It clears your main screen so you can focus on what’s current, but keeps your hard work safe just in case.

The 30-Second Pre-Submission Safety Check

You’ve done the work. You’ve organized the folder. Now, for the final boss battle: hitting “Submit” without accidentally sending your teacher a blank page.

It happens more often than you think. You work hard for an hour, hit submit, and the teacher opens a completely empty document. It’s heartbreaking.

Here is the quick routine I teach everyone to run through before they close that tab.

1. Wait for the Checkmark

Kami is cloud-based, meaning it saves automatically, but it needs a solid internet connection to sync. Look at the floppy disk icon in the top menu bar.

• If you see a spinning circle? Do not close the tab. It is still trying to save your latest edits.
• If you see a little green checkmark (or it says “All changes saved”), you are safe to proceed.

2. The “Export” Trap (Critical Step)

If you are downloading the file to upload it to Canvas, Schoology, or Teams, this is where 99% of mistakes happen.

When you click Download or Export, You will see a menu with a few options.

• Do NOT select “Original No Annotations.” This literally strips all your answers off the page and gives you the blank worksheet again.
• ALWAYS select “PDF with Annotations.” This flattens your text and drawings onto the page so they can’t fall off or disappear.

3. The “Open in New Tab” Test

I never trust technology blindly. Before I upload that file, I do one final check.

1. Go to the file in your Google Drive or your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click it to open it (just in a regular PDF previewer).
3. Can you see your answers?

If the preview is blank, your teacher’s view will be blank too. Go back to Kami and check your Export settings again. If the answers are there, you are green-lit to submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a copy on Kami?

Click the Save icon (floppy disk) in the top right corner and select “Create your own copy” from the dropdown menu. If that doesn’t appear, go to your Google Drive, right-click the file, and select “Make a copy.”

How do you duplicate a page on Kami?

Open the Split & Merge tool from the Kami dashboard and upload your document. You can then drag the specific page you want to copy multiple times into the bottom “Export” area to create duplicates.

How to copy and paste drawings on Kami?

Use the Select Tool (mouse arrow icon) to click on your drawing or drag a box around it. Once selected, press Ctrl + C (Command + C on Mac) to copy and Ctrl + V to paste it.

How do I copy the same file multiple times?

The fastest way is through Google Drive. Right-click the file you want to clone and select “Make a copy,” repeating this step as many times as needed.

How do I copy and paste an image to Kami?

You can simply copy an image from the web or another document using Ctrl + C and paste it directly onto your Kami canvas using Ctrl + V. Alternatively, use the “Add Media” tool in the sidebar to upload an image file.

How to duplicate a drawing in sketches?

If you mean duplicating a sketch you drew in Kami, use the Select Tool to highlight the drawing, then copy and paste it using your keyboard shortcuts. You can then drag the duplicate copy to a new location on the page.

How do I copy a link on Kami?

Click the Share button (connected dots icon) in the top right corner of the screen. In the menu that pops up, ensure permission is set to “Anyone with the link,” then click “Copy Link.”

How can I make a copy on Kami?

Open your document and look for the Save/Floppy Disk icon in the menu bar. Click it and choose “Create your own copy” to instantly generate a new, editable version of the file.

Does Kami automatically save?

Yes, Kami saves your work to Google Drive automatically as you type. However, always check for the little green checkmark inside the floppy disk icon before closing the tab to ensure your latest changes are synced.

Final Thoughts about how to make a copy in Kami

Digital assignments can be frustrating when the permissions get crossed, but once you master how to make a copy in Kami, you regain control of your workflow. It’s one of those small technical skills that makes the rest of the school year run smoother.