View and restore edit history in Docs

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View and restore edit history in Docs

2 min read

I. Intro

Edit history allows you to easily restore previous versions and backtrack editors' actions. A version is saved every time content is modified, with details about the editor, edit time, and changes made, so you'll be able to find what you need with just a few clicks. To ensure your data is protected, only users with edit permissions can view or restore a previous version.

II. Steps

View edit history

Open edit history

Open the document, click the ··· icon in the upper-right corner of the document, and select Edit History.

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View a previous version

In the edit history list on the right, all previous versions are listed in reverse chronological order. You can find the version you need based on the edit time and editor. Click a version to see the complete content and the changes made.

Show change details: Turn on Show Changes at the bottom of the edit history list to see the changes made to the document.

View edit details: The edits of different users are indicated by the color next to their names in the edit history list on the right.

If a section was edited by just one user, their name will appear directly next to the content.

If multiple users edited the same section, only the first editor's name will be shown next to it. You can hover over the content to see the other editors involved.

Locate edits: Click Previous or Next in the upper-right corner to quickly locate the edits made.

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Expand edit history groups

In the edit history list on the right, previous versions are automatically grouped based on edit time. Click the Show more versions icon next to a time or Show more records at the bottom of a group to expand a group.

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Return to the document page

Click Back in the upper-left corner to exit the edit history view and return to the document page.

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Restore a previous version

Open the edit history list and select a version to restore.

Check the content on the left to make sure it's the one you want.

Click Restore This Record at the top, then click Restore.

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III. FAQs

Who can view edit history in Docs?

To ensure data security, only users with edit permission (including document owners) can view and restore previous versions.

Why can't I find edit history in some documents?

Only users with edit permission can view and restore previous versions of a document. If you only have view permissions, then you won't be able to find Edit History in the menu.

Are all changes to the body text of a document recorded in edit history?

Yes, changes such as adding and deleting content, changing the heading style, adding numbered lists, inserting images, modifying table content, and so on are all recorded.

Note: The edit history works differently for the following block types.

Calendar event, countdown, info collector, and Subscriptions: Changes made within these blocks are not recorded, and they cannot be restored. Only the actions of inserting or deleting the blocks will be recorded.

Flowcharts and UML diagrams: Changes made in diagram editors will not be recorded in edit history. Only the actions of inserting and deleting flowcharts and UML diagrams will be recorded.

Why can't I see any highlighted changes in some versions in Docs?

Make sure you have turned on Show changes in the bottom section of the edit history list. If you still can't find any highlighted content, it is probably because only the formatting has been adjusted.

What are the differences between local records and edit history in Docs?

Your changes are saved as local records when your network is disconnected. The saved records will then be automatically synced to the cloud when your network connection is restored. After syncing, that local record will be deleted and you'll be able to view the change details in edit history.

Why didn't the deleted content get restored after restoring a previous version?

Please check whether the restored version is correct. If you restore a version with content marked as deleted, then that deleted content will not be in the restored version. To retrieve deleted content, you need to restore an earlier version before that content is deleted.

Can I delete a version in the edit history of Docs?

No, this is not supported.

Why can't I find the content I need from edit history of Docs? What can I do?

There may be several reasons why you can't find the content you're looking for.

When edits are made within a short period of time, multiple edit records will be grouped into one. Click the Show more versions icon on the left side of the record to expand the group to view all records.

Confirm whether the document you're viewing and the document you edited are the same document, and whether the location you're viewing and the location you edited are the same location in the document. For example, you can't view the edit history of the source document if you're currently on the document copy.

A network issue may cause data to not sync in time. You can go to edit history to see if there is a prompt saying edits have been saved locally. If so, you can restore the content by copying and pasting. If you don't see that prompt, you can contact Support to retrieve the data. Note: Do not clear your browser cache before contacting Support.