How to duplicate (create an array) layout without losing references?

Is this for panelizing or for creating copies of the layout?

The former isn’t supported in KiCAD (yet) and the latter is not a recommended way of doing things.

..

You can (crudely) create a panel from several pcb designs by starting PCBnew as a standalone application (Windows, C:\Program Files\KiCad\bin\pcbnew.exe) and then use the menu File>Append Board, but this will not keep links to any schematics either..
If this is your last step before generating gerbers, good, do it.
If not, don’t do it.

PS: the array function came from footprint pad array creation and has not been adopted/modified for layout use. Better do not use it in the layout editor unless you know what you’re doing. It is not doing what you think it does.

PPS: be careful..

PPPS: (on panelization)