Use OX Drive versions to inspect or recover an earlier state of a file without creating a confusing collection of similarly named copies. Confirm that the selected file actually has version history before planning a rollback.
IN THIS ARTICLE
01 Inspect and restore a version
- Select the file in Drive and display File details if the sidebar is hidden.
- Open Versions and review the available entries.
- Download or preview the candidate version to confirm its contents.
- Preserve the current file before making a broad change, especially if colleagues have edited it recently.
- Use the selected version's actions to make it current where appropriate, then reopen the file and verify the result.
02 Add an intentional revision
Use Upload new version from the file details when replacing an existing document. Add a short version comment describing the change. Confirm collaborators still use the intended item and sharing link.
03 Restore a deleted file from Trash
If the file was deleted rather than overwritten, open Trash in Drive and locate the intended item. Select it, then choose More actions > Restore, or use Restore from its context menu. OX returns the item to its original location.
Open the restored file, check its contents and confirm the expected colleagues can reach it. This workflow depends on the item still being in Trash. Permanently deleting it there or emptying Trash removes that recovery route. If the item is absent, record its name, original folder and last known time before asking whether another approved copy exists.
Common questions
Can I edit any historical version directly?
The documented workflow edits the current version where the file type supports editing. Download an older copy for inspection or make the appropriate version current before continuing.
Should I delete old versions to clean up?
Review recovery and retention needs first. Deleting a version or all previous versions removes useful history and should not be a casual storage-cleanup step.
Why is my old content absent?
It may have been uploaded as a separate file, removed from history or changed outside the tracked item. Search for competing copies and check the account's storage behaviour.
Tell collaborators when a version is restored and ask them to refresh before resuming work. A restoration can undo valid recent edits, so compare the affected content and recover the smallest necessary change where practical.