AOMEI FastRecovery
How to Restore Previous Version of File
How can ancient file and folder versions be efficiently recovered? If you are looking to retrieve an older version or restore previous version of file or folder in Windows, the answers here will be beneficial.
By Lucas / Updated on September 12, 2024
You have changed a lot after spending some time editing a photo or a Word document. Later on, though, you can repent it, believing perhaps the latest edition is not as good as the previous one. How then can one go back or restore the former version of files or directories?
Recovering ancient versions of files carries different possibilities. Usually, Windows Office enables Ctrl+Z file recovery to reverse modifications so that you may return to an earlier modified state for papers, workbooks, or presentations. For many users, though, this approach fails since the files or folders that need to be restored are not the copies being altered but rather those saved a few days or even many weeks previously.
How therefore should one efficiently retrieve earlier iterations of files and folders? See the detailed guides right on by reading on.
Right-click to restore previous version of file
File History is a native backup and restoration capability included in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Along with the OneDrive files accessible offline on your PC, this function stores incrementally copied files kept in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Video, and Desktop folders on your computer.
Use File History to gently restore the original version if File History had been turned on when you edited or overwrote your file.
Step 1. Launch File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the file whose previous version you want to restore is located.
Step 2. Right-click the file you want to restore and select the Restore previous versions option.
Tip: In Windows 11, right-click the file you want to restore, select Show more options, and then select the Restore previous versions option.
Step 3. Choose the previous version you want to restore the file to.
Step 4. Click the Restore button to restore the file to a previous version. Click OK when done.
Step 5. Verify if the file has been successfully restored.
How to restore previous version of a file
If File History does not contain any earlier versions of your files, you will need to proceed with the actions that are outlined below to restore the previous versions of your files.
Method 1: Search file in File Explorer on Windows PC
Even if File History cannot recover prior versions of your files, older copies of your files may still exist on your Windows PC—you simply need to use File Explorer's built-in search capability to find them.
We propose searching all folders on all connected storage devices. Pay close attention to the folder where the file you wish to revert to an earlier version is now placed, and don't forget to check the Downloads folder as well.
Method 2: Recover early files from OneDrive
Many Windows 7/10/11 users save essential data, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint documents, to Microsoft's online storage service, OneDrive. What's amazing about OneDrive is that it preserves a version history of backed-up files, allowing you to revert to a previous version from any location and device.
Step 1. Go to: http://onedrive.com/. Sign in to your OneDrive account.
Step 2. Right-click the file you want to restore and choose.
Step 3. Choose the Version history option.
Step 4. Select the version you want to restore, click the three vertical dots, and select the Restore option.
Method 3: Restore previous version via Windows Backup and Restore
Every variation of Microsoft's operating system since Windows Vista has featured a backup tool known as Backup and Restore. In the event of data corruption, storage device failure, or virus infection, this feature lets you backup files and folders, create system images, and restore data.
Step 1. Open the Start menu. Type “control panel” and press Enter to launch the Control Panel app.
Step 2. Navigate to System & Security > Backup and Restore.
Method 4: Restore permanently deleted files with recovery tool
Still not luck after trying all native methods to restore files to their original versions? It's time then to test data recovery applications. Older backup copies deleted a while ago and no longer found in the Recycle Bin can be fully restored with their assistance. As a Windows user, there are plenty of data recovery applications available; we suggest AOMEI FastRecovery since it can:
- Recover deleted or lost folders from various storage devices, such as USB drives, SSDs, or hard drives. It may be an NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS or other file systems' drive.
- Recover over 2000 file types, including pg/png/gif/mp4/avi/mov/doc/xlsx/ppt/pdf/html/zip, and more.
- Maintain the original path, name, format, and quality of the recovered files. You can filter files based on their classification, date of modification, and size.
- Support for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.
Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.
Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".
Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.
Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.
Conclusion
Users can restore previous versions of files in a variety of ways, including using File History, retrieving them from OneCloud, or using the Backup and Restore feature. If none of these native recovery options work, they can use data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery.
