Previous versions of files in Windows — how to use them
Overwrote a document, saved the wrong version, or deleted a section you didn't mean to? Windows sometimes keeps earlier versions of files tucked away — here's how to reach them.
How to do it, step by step
Right-click the file or folder
Find the document or folder in File Explorer that you want to roll back, and right-click it.
Choose "Properties"
From the menu that appears, choose "Properties" — it's usually the last item on the list.
Open the "Previous Versions" tab
In the Properties window, find the "Previous Versions" tab. You'll see a list of earlier saved states of the file or folder, each with a date.
Pick a version and restore it
Click "Open" first to check the contents and confirm it's the right version, then click "Restore" to replace the current file with it. Choose "Copy" instead if you'd rather keep both versions separately.
Why the list is sometimes empty
The "Previous Versions" tab only shows data when File History is turned on or system restore points are active on that computer. If those features were never set up, the list will simply be empty — that's not an error, it just means there's nothing saved to go back to.
When it's a job for IT
- The "Previous Versions" tab is empty, and you need to recover an important document from before it changed.
- The file was deleted entirely rather than just modified — that's a different scenario from restoring an older version.
- You want File History turned on across company computers so this option is there when you need it.
Can't find an earlier version of a file?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.