How to Restore Files from OneDrive Version History

Why would you need this? OneDrive keeps older versions of your files. If you accidentally changed something or deleted important work, you can get it back. This tutorial shows you how to view, delete, or restore those older versions.

What is OneDrive? OneDrive helps you store files in the cloud. You can access your files from your computer, phone, or the OneDrive website at OneDrive.live.com. When you add, change, or delete a file in your OneDrive folder, it updates everywhere automatically. You can even work with files offline, and your changes will sync when you go back online.

What is Version History? Version history saves older copies of your files. It works with all file types—Word documents, PDFs, photos, videos, and more. If you have a personal Microsoft account, you can recover up to 25 old versions. If you use a work or school account, the number of versions depends on your library configuration.

Need more help? Check out these resources:

• Restore your OneDrive files – Microsoft Support
• Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive – Microsoft Support

Option One: Using the OneDrive App

1. Open the OneDrive app on your Windows 11 computer.
2. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account or work or school account (if you haven’t already).
3. Right-click on the file you want to check or restore.
4. Click OneDrive, then click Version history.

5. You’ll see a list of all saved versions of this file. Right-click on any version to:
   • Restore — Make this version the current one
   • View online — See what the file looked like
   • Delete version — Remove this old copy

What happens when you restore? The old version becomes your current file (it moves to the top of the list). Your previous current version becomes a past version.

Option Two: Using the OneDrive Website

1. Go to the OneDrive.live.com site in your web browser.
2. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account or work or school account (if you haven’t already).
3. Select the file you want to check. You can either:
   • Check the box next to the file, click the three-dot menu button on the toolbar, and click Version history
   • Right-click the file and click Version history

4. Hover over a version and click the three-dot menu button next to it.
5. Choose what you want to do:
   • Open File — View the file
   • Restore — Make this version your current file
   • Delete Version — Remove this old copy

What happens when you restore? The old version becomes your current file (it moves to the top of the list). Your previous current version becomes a past version.

Summary

OneDrive version history is a safety net for your files. You can view, restore, or delete old versions of any file using either the OneDrive app on your computer or the OneDrive website. If you accidentally change or delete something, you can get an older version back in just a few clicks. Whether you use a personal account (up to 25 versions saved) or a work account (varies), version history makes it easy to undo mistakes and find the version of your file that you need.