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Can an Item Be in Multiple Locations?

Yes! A single item can exist in multiple locations at once. For example, you might store the same product in different warehouses, job sites, or departments. Each location's inventory, activity, and movement history stays completely independent, so changes in one folder won't affect the others.

This makes it easy to track stock stored in multiple places, record transfers between sites, or organize identical items for different teams, all while keeping accurate quantity records in each location.

Cloning Items

Cloning is the easiest way to duplicate an existing item into another folder or location. It's especially useful when you have identical products stored in different places, or want to keep the same specifications (like name, tags, or custom fields) for similar inventory.

You can clone items using the desktop or mobile app.

When cloning an item, you can:

  • Rename the cloned item(s)
  • Choose how many copies to create (up to 30 at a time)
  • Choose whether each clone gets its own unique Sortly ID
  • Select the destination folder for the clone(s)

To clone an item to another folder:

  1. 1Open the item menu and select Clone

    Click the three dots (⋮) next to the item you want to clone, then select Clone from the menu.

    Item options menu with Clone highlighted

  2. 2Fill out the Clone Item window

    Edit the item name (you can remove "(Copy)" if you'd like, which is recommended if you want the same item to appear identically in different locations). Set the number of clones to create (30 max). Leave Generate unique Sortly ID for each clone toggled off if you want the clone linked to the same Sortly ID, or turn it on to give each clone its own ID. Then choose the destination folder from Clone to Folder.

    Clone Item window with name, clone count, Sortly ID toggle, and destination folder fields

  3. 3Confirm the clone

    Click Clone to confirm.

You'll now see the cloned item in both folders. If you left the Sortly ID toggle off, both items share the same ID, so you can find them together in search results. Each one still behaves independently, meaning updates in one folder (like quantity or activity) won't affect the other.

Search results showing the same item in two folders sharing one Sortly ID
💡 Use cloning when you want identical items in multiple folders with the same details (name, custom fields, photos, etc.) but tracked separately.
⚠️ Cloning is limited to 30 items at a time. You can repeat the process as often as needed if you're adding larger batches.

Moving a Quantity of an Item

If you only need to transfer part of an item's quantity to another location (for example, moving 10 units from Warehouse A to Warehouse B), use the Move to Folder option. This keeps your total inventory accurate across all locations while maintaining a record of the transaction.

To move a quantity of an item:

  1. 1Open the Move to Folder option

    Hover over the item on the desktop app and click the Move to Folder icon (folder with an arrow).

    Move to Folder icon shown on hover over an item

  2. 2Fill out the Move Item window

    Enter the quantity you want to move, or click Move all to move the entire quantity. Optionally choose a move reason (like Expired, Gift, Inventory Count Adjustment, Item Recall, Out of Season, or Picked) or add a note for record-keeping. Then select the destination folder.

    Move Item window with quantity, move reason, and destination folder fields

  3. 3Confirm the move

    Click Move to confirm.

Sortly automatically adjusts the quantities, reducing the count in the original location and adding it to the new one.

✅ You'll also see a transaction entry under each item's History, showing the date, quantity moved, and who performed the action.
💡 Use "Move Quantity" when you're transferring stock between sites or want to track item movement over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between cloning an item and moving a quantity?
Cloning creates a new, independent copy of an item in another folder, useful when you want the same item to exist separately in two places. Moving a quantity transfers part (or all) of an existing item's count from one folder to another, keeping a single running total across your inventory.
Do cloned items share the same Sortly ID or SKU?
Only if you leave the "Generate unique Sortly ID for each clone" toggle off. With it off, both items keep the same ID and will show up together in search results even though they live in different folders. Turn the toggle on if you'd rather give each clone its own unique ID.
Is there a limit to how many items I can clone at once?
Yes, cloning is limited to 30 items at a time. If you need to add a larger batch, you can repeat the process as many times as needed.
Will updating a cloned item affect the original?
No. Once an item is cloned, each copy behaves independently. Changes to quantity, activity, or history in one folder won't affect the item in any other folder.
Can I clone or move items from the mobile app?
You can clone items using either the desktop or mobile app. Moving a quantity is also available on both, though the steps above show the desktop layout.
Have more questions or need extra guidance? Reach out to our Support Team. We're happy to walk you through the process or help you decide which method works best for your workflow.