Copy layers from one document to anther in Photoshop

Photoshop allows users to share the same layers between different images or documents without the need to recreate it from scratch. Here we will show you two easy ways to copy layers from one document to anther in Photoshop on a Windows PC.

Method 1. Drag-n-drop to share a layer between documents in Photoshop

Drag-n-drop is the most intuitive way to select and copy a layer from the original document to another document in Photoshop. Each document opens in a tab in Photoshop. You can click document tabs below the top toolbar to quickly switch from one tab or document to another in Photoshop, or press Control + Tab to switch between opened documents in Photoshop.

Open the document to find the layer you like to share in the Layers panel, click and hold the layer and drag the layer to the title of the other document.

copy and share a layer between documents in Photoshop for windows

You will see the second document opens, then drop the layer on the canvas of the second document in Photoshop. You will see the layer being inserted into the layers list in the Layers panel for the second document.

copy and share a layer between documents in Photoshop for windows

Method 2. Copy layer from one document to another in Photoshop

Click the title to bring the first document to front in Photoshop, right click on the layer you like to share from its Layers panel, choose Duplicate Layer from the contextual menu. In the Duplicate Layer window, click the drop-down menu next to Document and select the name of the destination document, and click OK. The duplicated layer will be available in the layers panel for the second document.

copy layer from one document to another via duplicate layer in photoshop for windows