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Overview
This Knowledge Base article explains what is version history, how to view and restore versions in SharePoint.
The Version History feature is an integral part of Microsoft’s 365 built-in data protection in SharePoint and OneDrive. An item or file's version history lets a user see or restore to a previous version, helpful for undoing unintended changes, whether accidental or due to malicious activities like ransomware. It also ensures auditability to meet an organization's legal and audit requirements.
Users can use version history to:
- View a previous version: Users can view a previous version without overwriting their current version. During a review of the version history within a Microsoft Office document, such as a Word or Excel file, versions can be compared to determine what the differences are.
- Restore to a previous version: If a user makes a mistake in a current version, the current version gets corrupted, or if they simply like a previous version better, they can replace the current version with a previous one. The restored version becomes the new current version. Learn more Restore a previous version of an item or file in SharePoint.
- Track history of a file or item: Users can use version history to see when a file or an item was changed and identify who made the changes.
Viewing the Version History
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Open the list or library from the Quick Launch bar.
If the name of your list or library does not appear, click Site contents or See all, and then click the name of your list or library.
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Right click on the space between the item or document name and date, and then click Version history from the menu. You might need to scroll the menu to see Version history.
If you don't see Version history, click the ellipsis (...) in the dialog box and then click Version history.
You'll see a list of versions of the file.
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In the Version history dialog box, hover next to the version you want view and click the down arrow on the right side to get a list of options.
Click View.
Note: For all document versions except the latest, you'll see View, Restore, and Delete. For the latest version, you'll only see View and Restore.
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The Version history dialog box opens with various actions you can select.
The actions available vary with version and with attributes that are set up by the administrator or owner.
The choices change based on whether you selected the latest file, or an earlier version.
The Version history window for the most recent version of the file includes actions to manage, notify, check out, or create a workflow.
The view of the version history for a previous version of a file shows the option to restore or delete that version.
Restore a Previous Version
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Open the list or library with the item or document that you want to view history.
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Next to the item for which you want to view history, select the ... (ellipses).
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Select Version history.
If you don't see Version history, select More, and then select Version history.
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In the Version history dialog, hover your mouse over the date link on an earlier version. To show the menu, select the down arrow.
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In the menu, select Restore.
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To restore your selected version as the current version, select OK.
Note: SharePoint doesn't remove the earlier version you just restored. It creates a copy and makes it the latest version.
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When you're done, select the X in the upper right corner of the Version history window to close it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) - I don't see a version history option.
Versioning is on by default in SharePoint libraries, and off by default in SharePoint lists. Versioning needs to be turned on to see the version-history option on menus or in ribbons.
2) - My versions don't go back far enough.
When you set up versioning, you set a maximum number of versions to save. When the maximum number of versions are saved, SharePoint deletes the oldest to accommodate newer versions. You can set SharePoint to save more versions, up to the system limit.
Enable and Configure Versioning in a List or Library
Note: Only Site Owners and Site Editors can enable, disable or edit the version settings in SharePoint.
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Open the list or library that you want to enable versioning.
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Select Settings 
, and then select List Settings or Library Settings.
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On the Settings page, select Versioning settings.
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From the Version settings page, you have the following settings available:
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For a Document library:
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Require content approval for submitted items.
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Create a version each time you edit a file in this document library using either major versions only, or major and minor versions.
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Limit the number of versions and drafts to retain.
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Set who can see draft items.
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Require documents to be checked before they can be edited.
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For a List:
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Require content approval for submitted items.
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Create a version each time you edit an item in the list.
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Limit the number of versions and drafts to retain.
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Set who can see draft items in the list.
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Select OK.
Additional Resources