No Ticket Needed

Appearance

How to Restore a Previous Version of a File in OneDrive

Applies toMicrosoft 365OneDriveSharePoint
6 min fix Updated 8 Aug 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Right-click the file in OneDrive or SharePoint, select Version history, find the date and time of the version you want, click the three dots next to it, and click Restore.

Checked against Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Microsoft Learn - OneDrive sync and SharePoint and between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

OneDrive and SharePoint automatically save previous versions of your files every time a change is made. If you accidentally overwrite or edit a file incorrectly, you can restore an earlier version. This article explains how to view, restore, and download previous versions.

Before You Start ​

  • The file must be saved in OneDrive or SharePoint.
  • Version history is enabled by default for most file types.

Instructions ​

1. View Version History from File Explorer ​

Access past versions directly from your desktop.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the file in your OneDrive folder.
  2. Right-click the file.
  3. Select Version history (on Windows 11, you may need to click Show more options first).
  4. A panel opens showing a list of saved versions with dates and timestamps.
  5. Click a version to preview it.

2. View Version History from OneDrive on the Web ​

Access past versions through your browser.

  1. Open OneDrive in a browser (onedrive.com or your organization's SharePoint site).
  2. Navigate to the file.
  3. Right-click the file (or click the three-dot menu (⋯) next to it).
  4. Select Version history.
  5. A list of saved versions appears with dates, file sizes, and the name of the person who made the edit.

3. View Version History from an Office App ​

Check versions while working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

  1. Open the file in the Office desktop or web app.
  2. Click the file name in the title bar.
  3. Select Version History from the dropdown.
  4. A panel opens on the right showing all saved versions.
  5. Click a version to preview it side by side with the current version.

4. Restore a Previous Version ​

Replace the current file with an older version.

  1. Open Version History using any method above.
  2. Find the version you want to restore.
  3. Click Restore (or the three-dot menu (⋯) > Restore).
  4. The selected version becomes the current version. The previously current version is saved as a new version in the history — you do not lose it.

5. Download a Previous Version ​

Save an old version as a separate file without overwriting the current one.

  1. Open Version History.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) next to the version you want.
  3. Select Download.
  4. The file is downloaded to your computer. Rename it to avoid confusion with the current version.

6. Recover a File AutoSave Wrote Over ​

AutoSave writes every keystroke straight into the original file, so a document you opened only to borrow from has already been saved over — version history is what brings the earlier copy back.

The pattern is specific. You open last quarter's report, or an approved proposal, or a colleague's template, and you start reworking it. Then you decide you wanted the original after all and reach for the move that has always worked: close without saving. There is nothing to discard. With AutoSave on there was never an unsaved draft — every edit went into the stored file as you typed it.

To get the original back:

  1. Open Version history on that file using any of the three routes in Sections 1 to 3.
  2. Find the last version timestamped before you opened the file today. The list shows the date, time, and who made each edit, so the point where your changes begin is visible.
  3. Restore it with the steps in Section 4. Restoring is reversible — the version you overwrote is kept as a new entry in the history, so you can still pull work back out of it afterwards.

To stop it happening again, click File > Save a Copy and give the file a new name before you type anything. You are then working in the copy and the original stays untouched. This is also why Save As is missing on an AutoSave file: Office replaces it with Save a Copy because there are no unsaved changes left to move into a new file. For what the toggle does, and why it is greyed out on some files, see Understanding AutoSave and AutoRecover in Office.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

OneDrive retains version history for up to 30 days for most files (or 500 versions, whichever comes first). Your organization may have different retention policies — if the version you need is gone, ask the site owner or IT to check whether the file is covered by a longer retention policy or a backup, and send them the file's full OneDrive or SharePoint path.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Version history" not availableFile is stored locally onlyMove the file to your OneDrive or SharePoint folder. Version history only works for cloud-stored files.
Old version is missingRetention period exceededVersions older than 30 days (or beyond the 500-version limit) may be removed. Contact IT for backup options.
Restored version is wrongWrong version selectedRestore again — each restore creates a new version, so the previous current version is still available in the history.
A file you opened to copy from is now saved overAutoSave wrote your edits into the originalThere was no unsaved draft to discard. Restore the earlier version using Section 6, then read Understanding AutoSave and AutoRecover in Office for the habit that prevents it.

Last updated:

Frequently asked questions

Does restoring an old version delete the current version?
No. Restoring an old version creates a brand new version at the top of the history list. The 'mistake' version is preserved in the history if you ever need it back.
Can I see what changed before I restore it?
Yes. Instead of clicking Restore, click 'Open File' (or click the version date). The old version will open in a read-only mode so you can verify it is the correct one.