Template clutter can quickly take over a Canva account, especially when bundles, duplicates, and half-edited files pile up. This tutorial shows you how to sort, label, and store your templates so you can easily tell the difference between designs you’ve finished and templates you want to reuse.
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Transcript
It’s really common for Canva users to end up with what I like to call a giant “template graveyard,” aka a messy collection of unused templates, duplicates, and half-customized files that have piled up over time. This can happen when you download dozens of template bundles, often feeling the need to grab everything in a bundle “just in case,” even if it’s not really relevant to your needs or style.
Or maybe you’ve duplicated the same template file again and again (intending to keep it as a base for new projects), but ended up with countless “Copy of” designs that never get used as templates or actual designs.
This clutter not only makes it harder to find what you actually need, it can also lead to accidentally editing or overwriting an original template you wanted to keep.
A strong template strategy starts with pruning.
Delete templates you know you’ll never use and clear out the endless duplicates. Then, separate what’s left into two main types:
- Future use templates: These are purchased bundles or layout ideas you’ve saved for later customization. They belong in a top-level “Templates” folder, organized with subfolders by source, style, or content type.
- Brand templates: These are templates you’ve already customized to your visual brand and intend to reuse. I recommend that you store them right alongside the content they support, like keeping your Instagram quote template inside your Social Media folder so it’s ready when you’re batching posts.
This also means being intentional with your file names. It can help to label future use templates so it’s clear at a glance they’re meant as starting points — something like “[Template] Instagram Carousel.” It’s a simple step that keeps you from accidentally grabbing and editing a file you meant to reuse.
If your Canva is currently a mix of everything, start by doing a quick purge to delete templates you know you’ll never use.
Then, take the next step by separating out the templates from your completed designs. This simple two-step process will make your workspace instantly clearer.
