Skip to content
BLBlender

Replace With Copy

by Brrainz·Modeling

Images © Brrainz. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Replace With Copy earns its place in the Blender extensions library for a focused job: swapping objects for copies of a template while keeping parenting, collection membership, and placement intact. It's a compact add-on released under GPLv3.

What is Replace With Copy?

Replace With Copy is a Blender add-on by Brrainz for batch-replacing multiple objects with a template object. You select the template first, then Shift-select the targets you want to replace, and each target is swapped for a copy of the template while its transforms and scene placement stay intact.

The workflow runs from the Object menu in Object Mode. By default each replacement gets its own mesh or data block, so the new objects are unique copies; holding Alt while triggering the menu entry keeps the copies linked to the template's data instead. Parents, bone parenting, collection membership, and visibility flags are preserved on the new objects, and every run is a single undo step.

The add-on targets Blender 4.2 LTS and newer and is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. It's a small download and requires no special permissions. Bug reports, ideas, and pull requests are welcomed through the GitHub repository.

Who is Replace With Copy best for?

Replace With Copy is best for blender users batch-replacing multiple objects with copies of a template while preserving transforms and scene relationships.

How much does Replace With Copy cost?

Replace With Copy is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Template-first workflow: select the template object first, then Shift-select the targets to replace
  • Unique or linked data: each replacement gets its own mesh or data block by default; hold Alt to keep the copy linked to the template instead
  • Scene-aware: parents, bone parenting, collection membership, and visibility flags are preserved on the new objects
  • Transforms and scene placement of the targets are kept intact
  • Undo friendly: every run is a single undo step
  • Runs from the Object menu in Object Mode for batch-replacing multiple objects

Tags

#Blender add-on#object replacement#batch replace#template#Modeling#Blender 4.2#GPLv3#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Does Replace With Copy work with Blender 4.2 LTS?

Replace With Copy targets Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, so it runs on current 4.2 releases and later versions. The add-on is distributed through the Blender extensions system, where you can add it by dragging and dropping the extension into Blender or by installing it from disk. It's a small download at around 4 KB, and the latest listed version is 1.0.1, updated in October 2025. If you're on a Blender build older than 4.2, check the developer's page for compatibility details before installing.

How do I use Replace With Copy in Blender?

Replace With Copy works from the Object menu in Object Mode. Select the template object first, then Shift-select one or more target objects you want to replace, and choose Replace With Copy from the Object menu. Each target is swapped for a copy of the template. Every run counts as a single undo step, so you can experiment and roll back cleanly. To install the add-on itself, drag and drop the extension into Blender or download the file and install it from disk through Blender's extensions preferences.

How do I keep replacements linked to the template's data?

Replace With Copy gives each replacement its own mesh or data block by default, so the new objects are unique copies of the template. If you want the replacements to share the template's data instead, hold Alt while activating the Replace With Copy menu entry, and the copies stay linked to the template. This lets you choose between independent duplicates and linked data. In both modes the targets' transforms and scene placement are kept intact on the new objects.

What happens to parents and collections when I replace an object?

Replace With Copy is scene-aware, so parents, bone parenting, collection membership, and visibility flags are preserved on the new objects. The replacements also keep the original targets' transforms and scene placement intact, meaning position, rotation, and scale carry over to the copies. This means the object relationships stay in place after a swap. Each replacement run is bundled into a single undo step, so you can revert the operation if the result isn't what you expected.

Is Replace With Copy free, and what license does it use?

Replace With Copy is listed as free here and is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, which covers how you can use, modify, and redistribute the add-on. The extension does not require any special permissions in Blender. Bug reports, ideas, and pull requests are welcomed by the developer through the GitHub repository. For current licensing terms and any updates, check the developer's page listed for this add-on.

Alternatives to Replace With Copy

Also in Modeling for Blender.

Similar plugins