How to Use AutoSave and Version History in Word
Power cut, crash, or you accidentally deleted three pages and saved over them? With AutoSave and Version History, none of these have to be a disaster.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Turn on AutoSave | Switch at the top-left of Word |
| See older versions | Click the file name → Version History |
| Restore an old version | Open it → Restore |
| Local file backup | File → Options → Save → AutoRecover |
1. Turn on AutoSave
Look at the top-left corner of the Word window for the AutoSave switch.
1. Click it to turn it On.
2. If the file isn't in the cloud yet, Word asks where to save it. Choose your OneDrive (or a SharePoint/Teams folder).
3. Give it a name and click OK.
2. If the file isn't in the cloud yet, Word asks where to save it. Choose your OneDrive (or a SharePoint/Teams folder).
3. Give it a name and click OK.
From now on, every change is saved automatically within seconds. There's no need to press Ctrl + S.
Why is AutoSave greyed out?
AutoSave only works for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Files on your Desktop, in Documents (unless it's synced to OneDrive) or on a USB stick can't use it. It also needs a Microsoft 365 subscription.
2. Open Version History
1. Click the file name at the top of the window.
2. Choose Version History. (Or go to File → Info → Version History.)
3. A pane lists saved versions with the date, time and who made the changes.
2. Choose Version History. (Or go to File → Info → Version History.)
3. A pane lists saved versions with the date, time and who made the changes.
3. Look at an old version
Click Open version on any entry. It opens in a separate, read-only window so you can compare it with the current one.
Tip: you don't have to restore the whole thing. Copy the paragraph you lost and paste it back into your current document.
4. Restore an old version
With the old version open, click Restore in the yellow bar at the top. It becomes the current version — but the newer version is still kept in the history, so nothing is lost.
5. Be careful with AutoSave
Because AutoSave saves every change, it also saves changes you didn't mean to keep. Before experimenting with a document, use File → Save a Copy and work on the copy.
6. Not using OneDrive? Use AutoRecover
For local files, Word can still save recovery copies:
1. File → Options → Save.
2. Tick Save AutoRecover information every and set it to 5 minutes (or less).
3. Tick Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.
2. Tick Save AutoRecover information every and set it to 5 minutes (or less).
3. Tick Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.
If Word crashes, you'll see a Document Recovery pane next time you open it.
Wrapping up
Save to OneDrive, switch AutoSave on, and remember Version History is there when something goes wrong.
