Forum Discussion
Is there any way I can get a version of word document some months old?
Dear Folks
It looks like I have accidentally deleted some text within a Word document which I input some months ago ( and outside period Word has versions for) but only realise now that it is missing! Is there any way I can recover an old version of this document?
- View OneDrive online, navigate to the document then click the three dots to the right of the document name and select Version History. In version history pane click the three dots next to the version you want to restore or open and do so.
If you need to recover an older version of a Word document from several months ago, here are some options you can explore:
1. Check for AutoRecover Files:
- Word sometimes saves AutoRecover files, which might contain an earlier version of your document.
- Steps to Access:
1. Open Word and go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents.
2. Check if an older version of your document is listed and can be restored.2. Use File History (Windows Backup):
- If you have File History enabled on your Windows computer, you might be able to restore a previous version of the document.
- Steps to Access:
1. Right-click on the Word document in File Explorer.
2. Select Properties and then click on the Previous Versions tab.
3. If available, select a version from a few months ago and click Restore.3. Check OneDrive/Cloud Backup:
- If your Word document was stored in OneDrive or another cloud service, check the version history available in the cloud.
- Steps for OneDrive:
1. Go to the OneDrive website and log in.
2. Locate your document, right-click on it, and select Version History.
3. Look for the version from several months ago and restore it if available.4. Check Temporary Files:
- Sometimes, Word saves temporary files that could contain parts of your document.
- Steps to Access:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.
2. Look for any files that might correspond to the document you're trying to recover.5. Contact IT or Use Data Recovery Software:
- If you work in a corporate environment, your IT department might have backups or archives of your files.
- Alternatively, you can use data recovery software to scan your hard drive for older versions of the document.6. Search for Email Attachments or Other Copies:
- If you’ve ever emailed the document to someone or saved a copy elsewhere, you might find an older version in your sent emails or other storage locations.If none of these methods work, it might be challenging to recover a version from several months ago. However, regular backups and using version history features in the future can help prevent such issues.
