This article explains how to restore a previous version of a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file stored in OneDrive.

Restoring your file from File Explorer on Windows

1. Make sure OneDrive is running. If you need further information about OneDrive's synchronisation status, read the article "Checking the synchronisation status of your OneDrive client".

2. Open File Explorer

3. Right-click the file that you want to restore

4. Select the option View history

5. Select the ellipses (...) next to the version of the version you want to restore

6. Select the button Restore

Now you will see the following changes:

1. The version selected and restored becomes your current version
2. The previous version becomes the first one in the history list

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Restoring your file from Finder on Apple

1. Make sure OneDrive is running. If you need further information about OneDrive's synchronisation status, read the article "Checking the synchronisation status of your OneDrive client".

2. Select OneDrive's icon in the menu bar

3. Select the button Open Folder

4. Right-click the file that you want to restore

5. Select the option Version History

6. Select the ellipses next to the version of the version you want to restore

7. Select the button Restore

Now you will see the following changes:

1. The version selected and restored becomes your current version
2. The previous version becomes the first one in the history list

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Restoring your file from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

1. Open your document using the desktop application or the web version of Microsoft 365

2. Select the title of your file. You can find it above the toolbar

3. Select the option Version history (on Windows) or Browse Version History (on Apple)

4. The Version history will appear in a new sidebar on the right

5. Select the version you want to open

6. The version selected will be opened in a new window. Close to the name of the file you will see the number of the version, the date and time when it was saved previously (as shown in the example below, "version 3.0: 20/12/2023 10:17").

Just below the Ribbon, you will find the buttons that will allow you to:

• Compare the version selected with the current one
• Restore the previous version

  

6. Microsoft will restore the version and open it again. If you open the Version history as shown in steps 2 and 3, you will see that the new version will appear as "Restored".

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Restoring files from OneDrive web

1. Sign into Microsoft 365 with your university account

2. Open the app launcher

3. Select the OneDrive icon

4. Select the file that you want to restore to an earlier version. Please note: you can only restore one file at a time

5. Right-click the file

6. From the menu, select the option Version history. If you are using the Classic view, you need to:

1. Select the document
2. Select More from the top
3. Select Version History

7. In the Version History pane you will see all the versions available

8. Select the ellipses (...) next to the version of the document that you want to restore

9. Select the option Restore. OneDrive will create a new version in the same folder. 

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Getting IT help

If you need further help, you can:

• Contact ServiceLine to receive support through phone call or chat
• Raise a ticket to iSolutions
• Receive in-person support at our Tech Hubs

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Checking the synchronisation status of your OneDrive client

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