How to Recover Previous Version of Word Document: 4 Proven Methods

I am writing a 200 pages eBook in Word. I recently deleted one chapter and wrote it again from scratch. But now, I get this feeling that I liked the previous version better. So, my question is how to recover previous version of Word document?

— From Reddit Community

This is a common question among Word users. We all make mistakes and end up overwriting a document or making unwanted changes. Only to realize the earlier draft was much better. Luckily, it is possible to get back a document’s earlier version in a few minutes.

This guide will show you how to recover old version of Word document using 4 easy methods. We will also look at how you can use data recovery software to get back the deleted previous versions of a document!

Part 1: Is There a Way to Recover Previous Versions of a Word Document?

Yes. But it only works if a version of the document was actually saved or uploaded to the cloud. The exact recovery methods depend on where the file was stored and whether backup was enabled before the changes.

• Documents saved to OneDrive or SharePoint: Both of these options support version history. This allows you to restore earlier saved versions.
• Files stored locally: You can get back an older copy using AutoRecover, Windows File History, or Previous Versions. But this method only works if File History was enabled earlier. And you can use a data recovery tool if an earlier version of a document was deleted.

Part 2: Does Word Have Version History?

Yes. The version history feature is available in the Word app. But this doesn’t become available for every document you create.

This capability is enabled only when the files are stored on the supported cloud. These supported options are one of Microsoft 365’s services OneDrive, SharePoint as well as OneDrive for Business. After enabling it, Word automatically saves multiple versions of your documents. You can access these versions to view or restore an earlier version.

You don’t get the same Version History experience for documents saved locally. So, you need to rely on AutoRecover, Windows File History, and other options.

How long does Word keep version history?

There’s no particular time limit here. So you can continue to utilise version history while the file remains in SharePoint or OneDrive. It will only stop working once the stored versions are removed or you reach the storage limits.

• For OneDrive Personal: Previous versions are generally available for the life of the file. So, they remain available unless you delete them manually.
• OneDrive for Business and SharePoint: It depends on the versioning and retention history of your organization. So, the number of versions may be limited by the administrator.

Part 3: How to Recover Previous Versions of Word Documents?

Word and Windows OS offer multiple ways to recover old versions of the document. The right method depends on the save location and available backup options.

You can use one or multiple recovery options depending on the situation.Let’s explore how to restore previous version of Word document.

• Method 1: Recover Document with Word AutoSave
• Method 2: Recover Previous Version from a Cloud Backup
• Method 3: Recover Previous Version Using File History
• Method 4: Recover Previous Version from MS Word Version History

Method 1: Recover Document with Word AutoSave

Word offers AutoSave and AutoRecover features. These can be used to recover different autosaved copies of your document. You can also use it to restore unsaved changes. As long as the app created a recovery copy, you can get it in just a few clicks.

This method works only if Word created an AutoRecover file before the document was closed. In case of no recovery file, you will have to try a different recovery method.

Option 1. If You Have Saved the Document:

1. Open the document. Click on File > Info.
2. Look at the Manage Documents section. You will see all the different versions of the document. The document’s filename will have the “(autosave)” suffix.

3. Select an earlier version to open it.
4. Click on the Recover or Save As option. In the end, select a safe location for the recovered Word file.

Option 2. If You Haven’t Saved the Document:

1. Open the document. Click on File > Info.
2. Click on Manage Documents. Select Recover Unsaved Documents. This will let you browse all the recent unsaved files.

3. Select a version and click on Open.
4. Click on the Recover or Save As option. After that, select a location for the recovered Word file.

You should know that AutoRecover files are temporary. So, they will not always be available! If you can’t find the document with this method, then try the next ones below.

Method 2: Recover Previous Version from a Cloud Backup

Do you use a cloud service like OneDrive? Was the Word document backed up to the cloud? If the answer is yes, then you can easily get an earlier version of the document from the cloud.

Microsoft automatically stores all the different versions of files on the cloud. All that’s required on your part is to compare versions and select the one you want.

Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your OneDrive account in a browser.
2. Open My files. Find the Word document. You can also use the search feature to find the .docx file.

3. Right-click on the file and select Version history. Now, you can review and restore an old version.

Method 3: Recover Previous Version Using File History

Another solid option to restore a previous version of a document is File History. But this works only if File History was enabled before the document was overwritten. Also, the document must be stored in a folder that’s included in the File History backup.

File History periodically backs up files stored in these user folders:

• Documents
• Pictures
• Music
• Desktop
• Videos

You can also include any other folder, but you have to do it manually.

Now, let’s look at how to recover older version of word document via File History:

1. Open the folder where the Word document is located.
2. Right-click on the file and select Properties.
3. Access the Previous Versions tab.

4. A list of all the available versions will show up. You can now select an earlier version and click on Restore.

The Previous Versions tab is empty? This means the backup option was not enabled before the document was changed. Another possibility is that you never enabled this option in the first place! In either case, you can proceed to the next recovery option.

Method 4: Recover Previous Version from MS Word Version History

If the document is saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, you can recover an earlier version with version history. Microsoft automatically saves previous versions on the cloud. The best part? The recovery mechanism is present right inside the Word application.

These are the instructions on how to recover an old version of a Word document:

1. Open the document. Click on File > Info.
2. Click on Version History. You will see a panel with different versions. Each one will have the date and timestamp.

3. Click on a version to view it. After finding the right version, click on Restore.

Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Previous Versions of Word Documents?

What if the earlier version of document was deleted? There is still hope for you. It can be restored provided that the document was stored locally. It doesn’t matter if it was deleted. A data recovery tool can be used to recover it.

Our recommended solution for this is iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery. It can help you recover permanently deleted Word documents. It also helps you recover documents lost due to formatting, system crashes, or other scenarios.

Why Choose RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery? It can help you recover documents in just 3 simple steps (scan > preview > recover). It also has a 99.7% recovery rate, which is one of the best in the market. So, if you want a beginner friendly solution, go with RecoverGo.

Key Features:

• Recover permanently deleted DOC and DOCX files with easy steps.
• Find lost Word documents and previous file versions with three scanning technology.
• Restore Word documents from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, external hard drives, and other supported devices.

Follow these steps to recover the document via this tool:

1. Download and install RecoverGo. Launch the program and select the drive. It must be the location where the Word document was stored. Click on “Search for lost data” to start the scan.

2. Wait until the scan is complete. After that, click on Filter and select Document under File Type. This will filter the results and only show the documents.

3. Select the documents you want to restore. Click on Recover.

Preventative Tips: How to Turn on Automatic Backup in Microsoft Word

This option in the Word app can be a lifesaver as it reduces the risk of data loss. It allows the app to save copies of your documents on autopilot.

Here are a few settings you should enable:

1. Open the Word app.
2. Go to File > Options > Advanced.
3. Scroll to the Save section. Check Always create backup copy.
4. Click OK.

Once this option is enabled, the Word app will start to save backup copies automatically. These copies are normally stored in these folders:

• C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word
• C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Word Documents on Windows 10/11?

Summary

This guide has shown how to recover previous version of Word document. You should start with built-in options offered by Word: AutoSave, Version History, and AutoRecover. All of these are present inside the application and are very easy to use.

If these don’t work, then you can also use File History. But it only works if this backup option was enabled before overwriting the document. If the document’s earlier version is deleted, then you should use iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery. It is easy to use and can help you retrieve permanently deleted Word documents in 3 simple steps.