Windows 10: Restore Previous Versions of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10

How to: Restore Previous Versions of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10

How to Restore Previous Versions of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10


Information 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 Windows Backup.

If a file, folder, or drive was not 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 [/i] 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)


Note 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)


Note 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)


Note 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)


Warning 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 [/i] 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)


Note 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)


Note 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)


Warning 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)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• Add or Remove Previous Versions from Context Menu and Properties in Windows 10
• How to Restore Files or Folders using File History in Windows 10
• How to Restore Files from Windows Backup in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off System Protection for Drives in Windows 10
• How to Do a System Restore of Windows 10

:)

 

My Temp Folder Deleted

Hi,

There are two options on how to recover a deleted folder. You can either restore it from a backup (if you're using Windows backup) or you can try to restore it from a
previous version. Previous versions are copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as part of a restore point. Previous versions are sometimes referred to as
shadow copies.

To restore files from a backup, kindly check this
link. On the other hand, to restore a folder to a previous state,
navigate to the folder that used to contain the file or folder, right-click it, and then click
Restore previous versions. If the folder was at the top level of a drive, for example C:\, right-click the drive, and then click Restore previous versions.

Should you have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to let us know.

 

Win10 Auto Updates emptied my Libraries

Hopefully, File History is turned on! Launch Windows Explorer. Right-click one of the folders on your D Drive (e.g. the Photos folder) that has files missing Click 'Restore previous version' If file history is turned on, you should be able to restore the
files in that folder If that works do the same for the other folders on your D Drive . . .

 

Hello ExaFlop,

If Previous Version is grayed out, then it means that you do not have any restore points, File History, or a Windows Backup that includes previous versions of it. *Sad