Have you ever made significant changes to a document and then regretted them? Or perhaps you just need to retrieve a specific section from a previous version of your document? Well, fear not! Google Docs is here to help you with its version history feature!
Accessing Version History
There are two ways to access version history in Google Docs:
- Go to File > Version History > See Version History.
- Click on the save icon at the top of the document.
Browsing Through Different Versions
On the right-hand side of the screen, all the previous versions of the document are saved in chronological order. You can browse through the different versions until you find the one you’re looking for. Versions are often grouped together, and you can click on the dropdown arrow to expand them.
Under each version, you can see who made the changes. By clicking on a version, you can review it. You also have the option to toggle Show Changes to facilitate comparison between different versions.
Naming Versions
If you want to keep track of a specific draft, you can give it a name. Simply click on the ellipsis next to the version you want to name and select Name this version. By naming a version, you make it much easier to find. You can even filter to show only named versions.
Restoring Previous Versions
If you want to revert to an earlier version, simply click Restore this version at the top of the document. You will then need to confirm your choice. Remember, restoring a version means you will lose any changes made since that version. You should only restore a version as a last resort.
Copying Specific Sections
If you only want to bring back a part of an old version, you can copy and paste that specific text. Select a section, right-click, and choose Copy. Then, close the version history by clicking the arrow at the top left and paste the copied text into the document.
Viewing New Changes
When you open a Google document and someone has made changes since your last visit, a View new changes notification will appear. Click on this notification to review the changes. You will be able to see them in a new window. Once you return to the document, the View new changes notification will disappear.
Now that you know all the secrets of version history in Google Docs, you can easily keep track of your edits, restore old versions, and retrieve specific sections. For more tips and tricks on Google Docs and other online tools, head over to Crawlan.com.
