[5 Ways] How to Recover Previous Version of Word Document?

Why the Previous Version of Word Document Can Still Be Recovered?

The previously saved version of a Word document can still be recovered because Word often saves extra copies in the background.

While you are working, Word creates temporary files and AutoRecover files. These exist in case something goes wrong. If the document is saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, Word also keeps version history. Older versions are stored automatically. Even if you overwrite a file, the older data may still exist until it is replaced.

That’s why, in some cases, a previous version of a Word document can still be recovered.

How to Recover Previous Version of Word Document?

💡 Expert Tips: Start with 4DDiG's free scan (takes about 5 minutes, costs $0, with up to 99% success rates). If it finds your Word document, you can recover it in under half an hour. If it doesn't find anything, follow to try those conventional solutions (the success rate is lower and there are more restrictions.).

📍 Key Insight: Notice how the success rate drops the longer you wait. This happens because Word and Windows routinely clean up temporary files, AutoRecover data, and old versions on a schedule. The closer you are to one of these system cleanups, the lower your chances of getting a previous version back.

Method 1: Recover Earlier Version of Word Document via Built-in Recovery

Best for: Users who want to recover unsaved changes without using any third-party software.

Even if you close the document without saving, Word often keeps a temporary version running in the background. Using its built-in AutoRecover features, you can restore previous version of your Word document without needing any extra software, though the steps may vary depending on the version of Word you are using.

#Case 1: If the document was previously saved

• Open a blank or the exact Word document you want to restore.
• Go to "File → Info → Manage Document/Manage Versions → Recover Unsaved Documents" (Word 2010/2013/2016) or "File → Info → Version History" (Word 2016+ / Office 365).
• Look for files labeled “autosave”， where you may see different versions.
• Look for the version you want to recover, open it and click "Restore" to save the Word document.

#Case 2: If the document was never saved

• Open the Word document you want to recover.
• Go to "File → Info → Manage Document → Recover Unsaved Documents".
• Browse the list of unsaved files from the dialog box, then open it.
• The recovered Word dbcument will open with a banner at the top suggesting you save it. Click "Save As" and choose a location to save your Word fle.

💡 Expert Tips: To protect your work, make sure AutoRecover is turned on in Word. Go to File → Options → Save, and check the box for "Save AutoRecover information every X minutes." Setting it to 5–10 minutes ensures Word keeps backup copies while you work, so you can recover your document if it crashes or closes unexpectedly.

⚠️ Warning: AutoRecover only helps with crashes or unexpected closures, and Version History may delete old versions automatically, so act fast to recover your work.

Method 2: Restore Previous Version of Word Document via File History

Best for: Users who want to recover previous versions of Word documents from regular system backups or restore points without relying on Word itself.

Windows File History automatically saves snapshots of your files as you work. If you overwrite or delete a Word document, you can browse these snapshots and restore an earlier version, giving you a safety net even if Word’s built-in recovery isn’t available.

How to Find Previous Version of Word Document via Windows File History?

• Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your Word document is saved.
• Right-click the Word document (or the folder containing it) and select "Properties".
• Go to the "Previous Versions" tab. This will show a list of available versions backed up by File History.
• Browse the list and select the version you want to restore.
• Click "Open" to preview the selected version, click "Restore" to overwrite the current file, or click to save it to a different location.

⚠️ Limitation: File History only works if it was enabled before the file was changed or deleted, and it doesn’t back up files in real time. Some recent changes may be missing, and older versions can be removed automatically.

Method 3: Recover Old Version of Word Document via Temporary Files

Best for: Users who didn’t enable File History or Version History but want to check whether Word or Windows left behind temporary copies.

When Word is running, it often creates temporary files in the background. Even if a document is overwritten, deleted, or closed unexpectedly, these temp files may still exist for a short time. If they haven’t been cleared yet, you may be able to recover previous version of word document after saving from them.

How to Revert Word Document to Previous Version via Temporary Files?

• Open File Explorer, in the address bar, enter C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles and press Enter.
• Look for files with extensions like .asd or .tmp, or filenames similar to your document.
• Double-click a file to open it in Word. If the content looks correct, save it to a safe location with a new name.

⚠️ Limitation: Temporary files are deleted automatically and don’t last long. If you restart your computer or keep using Word, these files may disappear. This method works best when tried immediately after data loss.

Method 4: Find Previous Version of Word Document via 4DDiG

Best for: Comprehensive recovery when the conventional methods fail to recover previous version of word document.

When Word’s built-in recovery, File History, and temporary files come up empty, it doesn’t necessarily mean your previous version is gone.

Even if the document was overwritten or deleted, remnants of your Word file can still exist on the drive—hidden in sectors that normal methods can’t access.

4DDiG Data Recovery scans your disk thoroughly to find deleted or overwritten Word file fragments. It works safely without writing anything to the drive, so your current files stay completely untouched while it looks for the previous versions.

Why Experts Recommend 4DDiG Data Recovery

• Free Scan & Preview — Enable you to see recoverable Word file versions before restoring.
• Specific Feature — Contains a specific feature that can directly recover unsaved excel, Word, powerpoint...
• Selective Recovery — Restore only the specific document or version you need.
• No Data Overwrite — Keeps your current files intact while scanning, recovers files without writing anything to the drive.
• Deep Disk Scanning — Locates deleted or overwritten files that Word or File History can’t detect.
• Supports multiple file types — Works with .doc, .docx, and other common Word formats.

How to Restore Previous Version of Word Document with 4DDiG (Step-by-Step)

• Download and install 4DDiG Windows Data Recovery on your PC. Open the program, click "Hard Drive" from the left menu, and choose the drive where your Word document was stored.
• 4DDiG will automatically scan the drive. Use the filters and document type options to narrow down the results and locate your files in the folder tree.
• Click a recoverable file to preview its content. If it’s the version you want, click "Recover" in the preview window.
• Choose a location to save the recovered file, then click “Save Now” to restore the previous version of your Word document safely to your storage.

💡 Expert Notes: Unlike typical recovery methods, 4DDiG everages deep scanning algorithm to access hidden data. Also, it has had a 99% recovery success rate, meaning it can retrieve your document even in challenging situations.

⚡ Why Users Choose 4DDiG Over Other Tools

Method 5: See Previous Version of Word Document via OneDrive

Best for: Users who save Word documents to OneDrive and want to recover earlier versions even after overwriting or accidental deletion.

When you store documents on OneDrive, it automatically keeps version history for your files. This means that even if you overwrite or delete a Word document, you can often restore a previous version directly from OneDrive without relying on local backups or temporary files.

How to Access Previous Version of Word Document via OneDrive?

• Open your browser and go to OneDrive, log in with the correct account.
• Locate the Word document you want to recover.
• Right-click the document and select "Version History."
• Once you find the version you need, click "Restore" to overwrite the current file or Download to save it as a separate copy.

⚠️ Limitation: OneDrive version history works only if the file was saved to OneDrive. Versions may be limited depending on your OneDrive plan and retention settings.

Final Expert Advice

Word often keeps previous versions across AutoRecover files, version history, cloud syncs, or leftover disk data. The sooner you stop editing and start checking these layers, the better your chances of recovery.

By understanding where your Word document may still exist, you can choose the right method instead of guessing. With the right approach and quick action, recovering previous version of a Word document is often possible.

FAQs About Previous Version of Word Document

Q1: What to do if there're no previous versions of my Word document?

If your Word document has no earlier versions, try the next steps.

• Search the trash or recycle bin for any deleted copies.
• Search your computer for temporary or auto-recovery files.
• To look for deleted or missing files, use file recovery software.
• Verify whether you have enabled any cloud synchronization or backup services that may have a copy.

Q2: How to recover the previous version of the Word document without OneDrive?

You can use Word's built-in recovery feature, the Windows File History feature or third-party Word document recovery software like 4DDiG to recover the previous version of Word document without using OneDrive.