Restore a previous version of a document

Docs keeps a version history for every document you own or can edit. You can save a snapshot at any point, then browse the list and roll back to an earlier state whenever you need to.

Save a version

1. Open the document in Docs.
2. Click File in the toolbar.
3. Click Save version now.

A message confirms "Version saved". The version is added to the list and labeled with the date and time it was saved.

View and restore a version

1. Click File in the toolbar.
2. Click Version history. A submenu opens showing all saved versions, each labeled with its date and time.
3. If the list is empty, No versions yet appears. Save a version first if you want a restore point.
4. Click the version you want to go back to. A confirmation dialog opens.
5. Click Restore to confirm.

Docs saves the current state as a new version before it overwrites anything, so you can come back to where you were by restoring that entry.

Delete the version history

You can delete a document's whole version history, for example to free up space.

1. Click File in the toolbar.
2. Point at Version history. Delete history… is the last row, below the list of versions, and grayed out until there is a version.
3. Click Delete history…. A dialog says how much space it frees.
4. Click Delete history to confirm.

Every earlier version goes, and so do the versions of the document's comments. You can't undo this. Images and comments you deleted from the document are removed right away, except those added or replied to in the last three days. If removing them fails, the versions are still gone, but those images and comments stay. If someone else has the document open, their Undo can't bring those back.

Who can use version history

Version history is available to anyone with edit access to the document. If you can only view the document, the File menu does not show these options. See Share a document and set access to change who can edit.

Only an owner of the drive the document is in can delete its history: you in your own drive, or any member of the team in a team drive. An editor you shared the document with can save and restore versions, but doesn't see Delete history….