If a OneDrive or SharePoint file was overwritten, do not keep editing in the hope of repairing it. Open version history first. The previous content may still be available with its date and the name of the person who changed it.
Use when the correct earlier version is clear.
Use when you need to compare two versions.
Use when several people edited the document.
Stop editing and find version history
In OneDrive on the web, right-click the file and choose Version history. In an Office app, use the file name or File menu to open version history. Select an older entry and preview it before replacing the current version.
Do it step by step
Find the file in its normal folder.
Review dates, people, and available copies.
Check the missing content and figures.
Choose the least risky recovery action.
Compare the missing section, figures, and document date. If it is the right version, choose Restore. When you are not certain, download the older version or save it under a new name, then compare the two files side by side.
Preview first: prevents restoring the wrong point
Before you finish
- The recovered file contains the intended content.
- Recent valid work has not been removed.
- Collaborators know which version is current.
- Important data also has an independent backup.
After recovery, tell collaborators which version is current and why it changed. Version history is useful for accidental edits, but it is not a complete backup for every kind of loss or account problem.