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How to View and Restore an Earlier Version in Google Docs

Follow these steps in order.

  1. Click "Version history" in the File menu

    Click the "File" menu at the top, then hover over "Version history."

  2. Select "See version history"

    Click "See version history" in the submenu, and a timeline of edits will appear on the right side of the screen.

  3. Click a version to preview it

    Click any date or time in the list to preview the document's content as it was at that point.

  4. Click "Restore this version"

    Once you've found the version you want, click "Restore this version" at the top of the screen to revert the document to that point.

When something important got deleted by mistake

In a document several people are editing together, it's easy to lose track of who changed what and when, or to accidentally delete something important. Opening version history lets you roll the document back to any earlier point in time.

Restoring a version doesn't erase what happened afterward

Restoring an earlier version doesn't wipe out the edits made after it β€” every version in between stays recorded in the history, so if you change your mind, you can always jump back to the most recent version too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does restoring a version completely erase the newer content?

No β€” even after restoring an earlier version, the edits made in between remain saved in version history, so you can move back to the newest version again whenever you need to.

Can I name a specific version so it's easier to find later?

Yes β€” clicking the three-dot menu next to a specific point in the version history list and selecting "Name current version" lets you label it so you can find it easily later.