Restore Previous Version SharePoint: Bring Back Your Earlier Document

Written By Tej Pratap Shukla

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Modified On November 19th, 2025

Reading Time 7 Minutes Reading

Many users have at least once faced the issue of overwriting a file or losing important changes in SharePoint. I was in a situation a while ago, but the good news is that SharePoint makes recovery super easy. It has a built-in version history feature. It helps me to go back to an older file version within seconds. In this article, I will share everything that I personally follow to restore the previous version SharePoint hassle-free.

Understanding SharePoint Restore Previous Version

Before restoring anything, I understand how SharePoint handles versions. I surprisingly got to know that if I or someone from my team edits a document on which our whole team is working, SharePoint quietly saves a new version in the background.

This feature is a lifesaver, as nothing is truly lost even if it is a mistake. It is a big help when I am working in a team where one or more people edit the same document. With SharePoint, restoring the previous version can easily undo any changes, track the contributions of the team members, or go back to a cleaner, earlier copy.

Additional resource: How to Check the Site Collection Administrator in SharePoint Online

Why I Often Need to Restore Previous Version SharePoint

There are many reasons why I find SharePoint’s version history to be a great help. Some examples include:

Accidentally overwrote an important section of a document.
A member of the team edits something incorrectly.
Formatting gets messed up after a large change.
Want to see older versions of the content.

Benefits of Using SharePoint Restore Previous Version

The ability to go back to an earlier version is one of SharePoint’s biggest advantages. Some benefits are:

It saves a lot of time by avoiding manual work again.
You don’t lose data after any accidental edits.
It helps me to keep an eye on the contributions of my team members.
It is a great help working with the team members because nothing is permanently damaged.

This feature is a great help while working on a big project or with team members, where files frequently change.

How I Restore Previous Version SharePoint

Now, let’s get into the real process that never fails me. These are the methods I follow:

#1. Using Version History

Open the SharePoint site > Document library where the file is stored.
Right-click or open the file menu, and click on the three dots.
Select the Version history option.
Review the versions, and click Restore after selecting the right version.

The benefit is that you don’t lose the original file; it just moves the older version that I select to the top so I can continue working from it.

Related guide: Map SharePoint Online as Network Drive

#2. Restore Entire SharePoint Library to a Previous Time

Go to the document library in SharePoint (modern UI).
Click Settings > Restore this library
In the restore page, pick a date/time.
Use the activity chart to review all actions in that time window.
Once ready, click Restore. This will undo all the selected actions

#3. Restore SharePoint Forms

Ensure version history is enabled on the Site Pages library.
Go to the file > click ellipsis > Version History > Restore the version you want.
After restoring, open the form in the designer and save again.

#4. Recover Deleted Items via Recycle Bin

If the file or item is deleted, you may also restore it via the SharePoint Recycle Bin before restoring a version. Here’s how:

Go to the site’s Recycle Bin > find the deleted file/item > restore it.
After restoring to the library, you can then use Version History (as in method 1) to revert to an earlier saved version (if any).

#5. Using PowerShell / Scripts

For admins or power users, PowerShell or PnP PowerShell helps automate or bulk restore. For the same, first download or update SharePoint Online Management Shell. Here are the commands to follow:

# Install PnP module (run once)
Install-Module PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser
# Connect to SharePoint Online Site
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://<tenant>.sharepoint.com/sites/<SiteName>" -Interactive
Get-PnPFileVersion -Url "/sites/<SiteName>/<LibraryName>/<Folder>/<FileName>"
#Restore a Specific Version of a File
Restore-PnPFileVersion -Url "/sites/<SiteName>/<LibraryName>/<Folder>/<FileName>" -Identity 3
Restore-PnPFileVersion -Url "/sites/<SiteName>/<LibraryName>/<Folder>/<FileName>" -VersionLabel "1.0"
#Restore the Latest Previous Version (Automation)
$file = "/sites/<SiteName>/<LibraryName>/<Folder>/<FileName>"
$versions = Get-PnPFileVersion -Url $file
$previousVersion = $versions[1]  # Second entry = previous version
Restore-PnPFileVersion -Url $file -Identity $previousVersion.Id
#Bulk Restore Previous Version for All Files in a Library
$library = "Documents"
$files = Get-PnPFolderItem -FolderSiteRelativeUrl $library -ItemType File
foreach ($file in $files) {
    $versions = Get-PnPFileVersion -Url $file.ServerRelativeUrl
    if ($versions.Count -gt 1) {
        Restore-PnPFileVersion -Url $file.ServerRelativeUrl -Identity $versions[1].Id
        Write-Host "Restored: $($file.Name)"
    }
}
#Restore Deleted Files First (Recycle Bin)
$items = Get-PnPRecycleBinItem | Where-Object { $_.ItemType -eq "File" }
foreach ($item in $items) {
    Restore-PnPRecycleBinItem -Identity $item.Id -Force
}
#Disconnect Session
Disconnect-PnPOnline

Troubleshooting SharePoint Restore Previous Version Issues

Sometimes, I notice that the Restore option is not available. Below are some reasons behind it:

Versioning is not enabled on the library.
The file hasn’t been edited by anyone earlier.
I don’t have the correct permission to do so.

When I face this issue, the best thing I do is to contact the site admin or enable version settings in the library.

Best Practices

These are some small habits that make the process smoother and help avoid accidental overwriting:

Check the content thoroughly of the older version that you want to restore
Always download a copy in case I need both versions in the future.
Always inform my team who are working on the same project before restoring shared files.
Used to save frequently, so the version history captures important changes.

When to Use SharePoint Restore Previous Version Wisely

Now that you know restoring versions is easy, I would like to let you know to use this feature thoughtfully. Sometimes it is best to compare versions instead of restoring them instantly. The thing that I do the most is to simply download an older version for reference.

Using this feature wisely, make sure that I keep the file history clean and avoid confusion for any of my team members.

Also read: SharePoint site storage limit

Author’s Verdict

Restoring older versions in SharePoint is one of the simplest yet most privileged tools for undoing your mistakes. Every time I use Restore previous version SharePoint, I know that I can retrieve lost content and keep my workflow hassle-free. Whether you are working alone or with the team members, this feature always makes sure that your work is always protected.