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Introduction
Working in Umbraco is typically a pleasant experience – the interface is intuitive, and editors can publish content without deep technical knowledge.
Yet, many editors (sometimes even developers) are unaware of some smaller features that can save time and frustration.
Over the past years, while supporting clients and teams using Umbraco, we’ve seen the same pattern: editors spend extra minutes (sometimes hours) on tasks that could be solved with just one click.
This article brings together practical tips – from hidden clipboard tricks to better sorting – that can help you get the most out of your Umbraco back office.
The power of the clipboard in the Umbraco CMS
The clipboard is one of those features you either love or never use at all.
For many editors, it remains almost invisible, even though it’s built into the back office.
The clipboard allows you to copy and reuse content, blocks, and media without re-creating them from scratch.
Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you worked without it.
Boundaries of the clipboard
Do note, however, that clipboard data doesn’t move between different environments (domains or subdomains). It is available only within the instance where you copied the content.
TIP 1: Copy an entire Block Grid
The Block Grid editor has become a standard in modern Umbraco projects.
Sometimes you need to copy not just one block, but an entire set of content.
Instead of duplicating the node or copying block by block, you can:
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Hover over the property name,
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Click the three dots,
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Select Copy Blocks.
The whole grid is now in your clipboard, ready to be pasted elsewhere.
Copying all blocks in the Block Grid property editor
TIP 2: Copy all blocks from the Block List
The same trick works for Block List.
If you want to replicate content quickly, you don’t need to rebuild the list manually.
Use the property menu and copy everything at once – then paste it into the new location.
TIP 3: Reuse selected image in the Media Picker
Let's imagine that you need to pick the same image or folder on the other page.
Of course, you can try to search for the same image by a node name.
Unfortunately, you will be struggling for sure once the node is duplicated in name.
It could also be challenging if the structure of folders and files is not kept in good shape by the Dedicated Media Folder package.
Therefore, you can take advantage of the clipboard available in the Media Picker property editor.
Copying selected media in the Media Picker property editor.
Once the media is copied you can pick it from the Clipboard available in the Media Picker dialog as shown below.
Selecting media from the Clipboard of the Media Picker.
TIP 4: Removing all blocks
You don’t have to delete blocks one by one.
Use the property menu, click Remove all items, and the editor will instantly clear the content area.
Remove all items option in Umbraco Block List
TIP 5: Overview of trashed content or media nodes
Deleting content from the tree doesn’t mean it disappears – it moves to the Recycle Bin.
Over time, the bin can grow so large that even opening it in tree view becomes painful.
Few editors realize you can click directly on the Recycle Bin itself and see a list or grid overview of everything inside.
This makes maintenance much easier and helps you quickly identify old or forgotten content.
TIP 6: Sorting in Umbraco
Sorting is one of the most underrated features in Umbraco.
It allows you to:
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Quickly reorder child pages in navigation,
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Organize media libraries by name or date,
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Drag-and-drop content into a logical order.
When used properly, sorting prevents editors from wasting time looking for “lost” items in large trees.
For a step-by-step guide, see our dedicated article:
TIP 7: Create Content Templates
If you often build similar pages – for example, product pages or landing pages – you don’t need to start from scratch each time.
Umbraco allows you to save content templates (sometimes called blueprints).
With them, you can create a new page with a predefined structure of blocks, text fields, and images.
It’s a great way to keep consistency across large websites and reduce repetitive work.
Conclusion
Small features can make a big difference.
By learning to use the clipboard effectively, keeping the Recycle Bin clean, and mastering sorting and templates, you can reduce repetitive work and focus more on creating content that matters.
If you found these tips useful, share this article with your team – you might be surprised how many editors still struggle with tasks that Umbraco can solve in one click.
Don't you see these features in your Umbraco project?
Probably your Umbraco CMS is not upgraded to the latest minor version.
There is also a chance that your Umbraco CMS is outdated and no longer supported.
If you’re unsure, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Our team can review your setup and ensure that your editors have access to all the available productivity tools.
We encourage you to check our Umbraco related services out as well.