Files guide

Going back to an earlier version

To go back to an earlier version:

Right-click on the file in the list — or use the three dots button at the end of the row.
Choose «Versions», at the bottom of the menu (it is in the last group, together with «Details»).
The window that opens lists how it was before, newest first. Each one has two buttons:
- «Download this version» — if you only want to look at it, without touching the current one. When in doubt, do this first.
- «Restore this version» — puts it back in place of the current one.

When a version is created

By itself, every time the file is uploaded or saved again under the same name: when you save after opening it with «Open locally», when you close the online editor, or by uploading it again by hand from the browser. You don’t have to do anything for it to happen.

There is no version

If you read «No previous versions», that file was uploaded once and never saved again: there is no “before” to go back to. If instead it was deleted and not changed, look in the «Trash».

The «Versions» entry isn’t there

You need the «Version history» permission on the folder the file is in. To check, click the «Your access» chip in the bar above the list, on the left. If you don’t have it, ask whoever manages that folder.

Questions this guide answers

how do I go back to the previous version
I overwrote a file
where are the old versions
recovering a change I shouldn't have made
version history
how do I see a file's versions
download an old version
restore a version
I saved over the good document
go back to how it was yesterday
a colleague ruined the file