How To Revert to a Previous Version of a Google Doc

There may be occasions when you work on a document over an extended period of time. If you are working on the Google Docs platform, each paper draft will be saved through Google’s Version History feature. This feature presents a convenient way to track changes made to your document as all your edits are chronologically archived on the platform. With Version History, it is possible to restore earlier forms of your document if you were unhappy with later drafts.

In this tutorial, we will look at using Version History to restore previous versions of a Google Doc. Whether using your PC or accessing your documents from a mobile device, the guide below will show you how to retrieve earlier copies of your work.

Revert to Previous Version of a Google Doc on a PC

To restore a previous version of a document on Google Docs, you will have to have permission to edit the file. This should not be a problem if you created the content. Multiple drafts of the same file are grouped on the right-hand side of the screen. Depending on how diligent you were, they might have names, or they could be arranged using the date they were created.

To retrieve a previous version of a Google Doc on your PC:

1. At the top of the page, go to “File.”
   
2. Scroll down to “Version History” and tap “See Version History” from the menu displayed.
   
3. Previous versions of the document will be displayed on the right side of the screen. Browse through to find what you are looking for. Press the drop-down arrow to expand your search.
   
4. Click on the version to display it in the main window. You will see the changes made along with the person who made them.
   
5. Once you have decided on the copy that you want to restore, tap the “Restore This Version” button at the top of the page.
   
6. A pop-up alert will warn you that the document will be restored to the earlier version. Hit “Restore” to accept the changes.
   
   

Your previous Google Doc has now been restored. If you are unhappy with the copy of the file you retrieved, you can always go back to the last edited version by following the same process in Version History.

Revert to Previous Version of a Google Doc on an iPhone

To restore a previous copy of a Google Doc, you will have to have permission to edit the file. Google groups various versions of the same document together, making edits easier to locate. The copies are usually named or arranged in chronological order.

To restore an earlier version of a Google Doc on an iPhone, check out the steps below:

1. Go to “File,” located at the top of the page.
2. Select “Version History” from the menu shown and click on “See Version History.”
3. Move to the top of the page and hit “Save Notice.”
4. You will see previous document versions on the right-hand side of the window. Scroll through the list to find what you are looking for. You can expand your search by tapping the drop-down arrow.
5. Selecting a document will present it in the main window. You will see all the changes made along with who made them.
6. To restore the file, press the “Restore This Version” button at the top of the page.
7. A message will let you know that the document will be restored to the previous version. Hit “Restore” to confirm.

You have now restored a previous file on Google Doc, and your latest edit has been saved in Version History.

Revert to Previous Version of a Google Doc on an Android

You will need to have permission to edit a Google Doc that you would like to restore. If you created or co-created the file, you have nothing to worry about. Versions of the same document are assembled on Google Docs, making it easier to retrieve previous copies. They will either be named or will appear in chronological order.

The method described below will help you restore a previous version of a Google Doc on an Android device.

1. Navigate to the top of the Google Doc and tap “File.”
   
2. From the menu that appears, go to “Version History” and then “See Version History.”
   
3. A list of previous versions of the file will appear on the right side of the screen. Select what you are looking for by clicking on the document. If you would like to expand your search, tap the drop-down arrow.
   
4. The file you chose will now be opened on your window. You will be able to see the changes made to the document.
   
5. Press “Restore This Version” located at the top of the page to switch to the older copy.
   
6. Now click “Restore” on the pop-up message that appears, confirming that you would like to restore the previous version of the file.
   

The older copy of your Google Doc will now be restored while the last edit is saved under Version History.

Revert to Previous Version of a Google Doc on an iPad

The Version History feature in Google Docs saves multiple drafts of a document. To access these copies, you will need permission to edit the file. Saved edits are arranged according to their creation date or using their names if you had named them.

If you would like to restore a previous copy of a Google Doc on your iPad, here’s how to do that:

1. At the top of the Google Doc page, click “File.”
   
2. Select “Version History” from the drop-down menu that appears.
   
3. Tap “See Version History.”
   
4. From the list on the right of the screen, scroll to the version of the file you would like restored. The drop-down arrow will expand your search.
   
5. Click the document to open it. It will show the edits made and the person who made them.
   
6. Navigate to the top of the page and tap the “Restore This Version” button.
   
7. A pop-up message lets you know that you are about to switch to an older copy of the file. Click “Restore.”
   

You have now retrieved a previous version of your Google Doc. The latest edit will now be stored in Version History.

Oldie but Goodie

There are several reasons why you may want to go back to an earlier edit of your Google Doc. The good news is that you can still find these versions of your documents stored on Google. Retrieving older copies of your file saves you from trying to recreate the content, which can get pretty frustrating. The Version History feature of Google Docs will group multiple drafts, making it easier to find and retrieve them.

Have you found yourself in need of restoring a previous version of your Google Doc? What methods did you use to do that? Let us know in the comments below.