How to Restore Previous Versions of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10
If you can’t find a file on your computer or you accidently modified or deleted a file, you can try to restore it from a previous version.
The previous versions feature in Windows 10 allows you to restore a previous version of files, folders, and drives that were saved or backed up as part of a restore point, File History, and/or Windows Backup.
If a file, folder, or drive was not included in a restore point, added to File History, or included in a Windows Backup, then there will be no previous versions available for it.
This tutorial will show you how to view or restore previous versions of your files, folders, and drives in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To View or Restore Previous Versions of Files
- Option Two: To View or Restore Previous Versions of Folders and Drives
EXAMPLE: Previous Versions
OPTION ONE
To View or Restore Previous Versions of Files
1 Perform one of the following actions on a file you want to view or restore previous versions of:
- Right click or press and hold on the file, and click/tap on Restore previous versions.
- Right click or press and hold on the file, click/tap on Properties, and click/tap on the Previous Versions tab.
2 Do step 3 (view) or step 4 (restore) below for what you want to do.
3. To View Previous Versions of File
A) Select a previous version of the file if available, and select how you want to open the previous version from the available options (ex: “Open” or “Open in File History”). (see screenshot below)
You can’t open or copy previous versions of files that were created by Windows Backup, but you can restore them.
B) The previous version of the file will now open for you to view. (see screenshots below)
If you selected Open in File History, then you can restore the file in File History if you like.
4. To Restore Previous Versions of File
A) Select a previous version of the file if available, and select how you want to restore the previous version from the available options (ex: “Restore” or “Restore To”). (see screenshot below)
If the Restore button is unavailable (grayed out), then it means that you can’t restore a previous version of the file to its original location. You might be able to open it or save it to a different location.
B) If you selected Restore, then you may be prompted to select how to replace the file if an existing copy already exists at this location. (see screenshot below)
The previous version will replace the current version, and the replacement can’t be undone.
C) If you selected Restore To, then you will need to navigate to and select where you want to restore the previous version of the file, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To View or Restore Previous Versions of Folders and Drives
1 Perform one of the following actions on a folder or drive you want to view or restore previous versions of:
- Right click or press and hold on the folder or drive, and click/tap on Restore previous versions.
- Right click or press and hold on the folder or drive, click/tap on Properties, and click/tap on the Previous Versions tab.
2 Do step 3 (view) or step 4 (restore) below for what you want to do.
3. To View Previous Versions of Folder or Drive
A) Select a previous version of the folder or drive if available, and select how you want to open the previous version from the available options (ex: “Open” or “Open in File History”). (see screenshot below)
B) The previous version of the folder or drive will now open for you to view. (see screenshots below)
If you selected Open, then you can drag and drop or copy files and folders in the previous version of the folder or drive to restore them where you want.
If you selected Open in File History, then you can restore the folder or drive or files in the folder or drive from File History if you like.
4. To Restore Previous Versions of Folder or Drive
A) Select a previous version of the folder or drive if available, and select how you want to restore the previous version from the available options (ex: “Restore” or “Restore To”). (see screenshot below)
If the Restore button is unavailable (grayed out), then it means that you can’t restore a previous version of the folder or drive to its original location. You might be able to open it or save it to a different location.
B) If you selected Restore, then you may be prompted to select how to replace any files or folders if an existing copy already exists in this folder. (see screenshot below)
The previous version will replace the current version, and the replacement can’t be undone.
C) If you selected Restore To, then you will need to navigate to and select where you want to restore the previous version of the folder or drive, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)
