How to Recover a Previous Version of a File in SharePoint

Recovering a previous version of a file in SharePoint is like turning back time for your document. If you’ve made changes to a file and need to go back to an earlier version, Microsoft SharePoint makes it easy. This can be really useful if you accidentally delete important information or if you want to see how a document looked before recent changes.

03.09.24 Charles Griffiths

By following these steps, you can successfully recover a previous version of a file in Microsoft SharePoint. This feature can save you a lot of time and stress if you ever need to undo changes or retrieve lost information.

How to recover a file from SharePoint

  1. Open SharePoint: Start by opening your SharePoint site in your web browser. This is where your files are stored.
  2. Find Your Document: Navigate to the document library where your file is located. Click on the file you want to recover a previous version of.
  3. Open the Version History: Once you’ve selected your file, look for the “…” (ellipsis) next to the file name or right-click on the file. In the menu that appears, click on “Version History.”
  4. View Previous Versions: A new window will open, showing a list of all the previous versions of the file. Each version will have a date and time, so you can see when changes were made.
  5. Select a Version: Find the version you want to recover. Click on the date or the “…” (ellipsis) next to that version. In the menu that appears, click “Restore.”
  6. Confirm Restoration: A confirmation message will pop up, asking if you’re sure you want to restore this version. Click “OK” or “Restore” to confirm.
  7. Check Your File: Your file will now be restored to the version you selected. Open the file to make sure it looks the way you want it to.
  8. Save Your Changes: If you need to make any further changes, go ahead and do so. Remember to save your file when you’re done.

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