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updatedAt: 2026-04-20T19:30:08.000Z
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# Copy a schema

Probably the easiest way to create a new entity type is to copy an existing type: for example, if you copy the **user** entity type, in a matter of seconds you’ll have exact copy of the **user** entity type, the same in every respect.

Well, OK, with one very important exception: the underlying JSON structure will be exactly the same, but your new entity type won’t have any of the data found in the **user** entity type. Remember, you’re only copying the database schema; you aren’t copying the database data.

<br>

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "info",
  "body": "What if you really need to copy the data from **user** to the new entity type? Well, your best bet would be to export the data from **user** and then import it into the new entity type. But that’s a task that goes beyond what you can do using Console."
}
[/block]

<br>

To create a new entity type that uses an existing schema, complete the following procedure:

1. Click **Create** and then click **Entity Type**:

   ![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-001.png)

2. In the subsequent dialog box, click **Copy Existing Entity Type**:

   ![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-002.png)

3. In the next dialog box, click **Select an entity type**, click the entity type whose schema you want to copy, and then click **Save:**

   ![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-003.png)

Note that, by default, Console creates an entity type name for you by appending **\_copy** to the name of the schema being copied:

![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-004.png)

You can keep that name or replace it with a name of your own choosing. That’s entirely up to you.

<br>

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "info",
  "body": "And what if your schema name already ends in **\\_copy**? No problem; Console will simply append a second instance of **\\_copy**:\n\n![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-005.png)"
}
[/block]

<br>

After you click **Save**, the entity type schema is copied and you’ll see the following message:

![](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-006.png)

This message simply means that the schema has been created; in fact, you can immediately start modifying that schema. However, it might take a few minutes before you can start adding new records to that entity type. Yes, the entity type will appear in the **Manage Profiles** section, but if you try to access your new database you might encounter a message like this:

<p style="align:left"><img src="https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/img/console/managing-schemas/creating-and-deleting-schemas/schema-copying-an-entity-type-007.png" width="300" style="border:1px black solid">></p>

What should you do if you *do* encounter this message? The best thing to do is just relax and not worry about it. Wait a few minutes, and then try again. Sometime within the next 15 minutes or so the entity type will be ready and you can begin adding data to it.

# Sibling pages

* [View a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/view-a-schema.md)
* [Export a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/export-a-schema.md)
* [Create a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/create-a-schema.md)
* [Delete a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/delete-a-schema.md)
* [Add an attribute to a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/add-an-attribute-to-a-schema.md)
* [Copy an attribute within a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/copy-an-attribute-in-a-schema.md)
* [Delete an attribute from a schema](https://techdocs.akamai.com/identity-cloud/docs/delete-an-attribute-from-a-schema.md)