Microsoft is Adding Full Version History to OneDrive

Microsoft is Adding Full Version History to OneDrive

Answering one of its number one complaints, Microsoft today said that it was enhancing the version history functionality in OneDrive to support all file types, and not just Office documents.

Can I get an amen?

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“With these improvements to version history, you can see and restore older versions of all your files in your OneDrive,” the OneDrive team explains. “Previously, version history only supported Office files. Now, version history is compatible with all file types, so you no longer need to worry about your PDFs, CAD files or even your photos and videos getting accidentally edited [as] you’ll always be able to restore or download a previous version.”

This feature has just started rolling out, but don’t get anxious if you don’t see it yet, as it will be fully available to all customers by the end of the summer.

According to Microsoft, the OneDrive version history feature is available only from the web for now. And it will keep older versions of all files for 30 days.

To use the feature, open OneDrive in your browser, navigate to the file in question, right-click, and choose “Version history.”

In the Version History pane that appears, so you will find all of the versions of that file.

Select the version you want and choose “Restore” to replace the current file version. Or choose “Open File” to view or download it first.

Good stuff.

 

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Conversation 52 comments

  • JerryH

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 1:36 pm

    <p>Nice! This was needed for quite some time. It is good to see that they are listening to requests.</p>

  • Waethorn

    19 July, 2017 - 1:43 pm

    <p>Google Drive had it, so it was expected that Microsoft would follow suit.</p>

  • StevenLayton

    19 July, 2017 - 1:46 pm

    <p>Does this act as another layer against ransom ware? </p>

    • wbhite

      Premium Member
      19 July, 2017 - 3:47 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150177"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yep, I imagine that was a driving force behind developing this.</p>

  • Detective Polarphant

    19 July, 2017 - 1:58 pm

    <p>It would be an interesting experiment to test this out with ransomware on a sample computer. I guess it still won't protect you if there are no previous versions of a particular file – Microsoft would need to make a 'fake' previous version of every file you upload to fully protect each user… </p>

    • alexoughton

      Premium Member
      19 July, 2017 - 2:25 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150195"><em>In reply to Detective Polarphant:</em></a></blockquote><p>I believe what you would see there is a new version uploaded as the malware-encrypted version, and then you will be able to retrieve the decrypted file as the "previous version".</p>

      • Detective Polarphant

        19 July, 2017 - 2:54 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#150203"><em>In reply to alexoughton:</em></a> Agh yes – I didn't think of that – but I wonder if all ransomware works that way ? Hopefully someone is brave enough to make some real world tests…</blockquote><p><br></p>

        • NazmusLabs

          19 July, 2017 - 4:54 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#150232"><em>In reply to Detective Polarphant:</em></a></blockquote><p>No one should need to be brave enough to test ransomeware protection against their personal documents, at least not without a complete, disconnected backup of all the files in question.</p><p><br></p><p>The best way to rest is to create a test/dummy account and try with sample files of various types, like audio, docs, pics, cad, bids, etc</p>

        • MikeCerm

          19 July, 2017 - 8:38 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#150232"><em>In reply to Detective Polarphant:</em></a></blockquote><p>I've seen more than a few different versions over the last few years. Most of the newer ones will completely erase the original file, and each encrypted file will have a unique name unrelated to the original file name. Restoring a previous version wouldn't be useful, you would likely just need to restore the deleted files, and delete the encrypted versions.</p>

    • CaedenV

      19 July, 2017 - 2:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150195"><em>In reply to Detective Polarphant:</em></a></blockquote><p>ya, this sounds great!</p>

  • lefffen1

    19 July, 2017 - 2:26 pm

    <p>Yay! hope it works as good as on Dropbox.</p>

  • rbwatson0

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 2:29 pm

    <p>How would you go about restoring a deleted file if you have to click on the file?</p>

    • Onaropus

      19 July, 2017 - 2:39 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150206"><em>In reply to rbwatson0:</em></a></blockquote><p>Go to the deleted files and restore it.</p>

    • Wolf

      Premium Member
      19 July, 2017 - 2:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150206"><em>In reply to rbwatson0:</em></a></blockquote><p>If you deleted a file, you go to the Recycle Bin. This is something different. It's about recovering from bad edits or unintended changes.</p>

  • SDreamer

    19 July, 2017 - 2:33 pm

    <p>Finally… too bad can't use OneDrive between macOS and Bootcamp Windows 10 because of exfat support…</p>

  • Martin Pelletier

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 2:45 pm

    <p>Cool, can we transfer this team to other Windows 10 department? They seem to get things done.</p>

    • Narg

      20 July, 2017 - 9:03 am

      <blockquote><a href="#150228"><em>In reply to MartinusV2:</em></a></blockquote><p>Are you sure it wouldn't slow them down… ;)</p>

  • MarkH

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 2:52 pm

    <p>This is fantastic! I truly hope it helps save some people from data loss. Given Microsoft's history of completely screwing up OneDrive, never delivering and pulling the rug out from users, though:</p><p>a) "fully available…by the end of summer", I'll believe that when I see it.</p><p>b) I would never ever rely on this until they've proven they're not going to backtrack, "whoa, we didn't think anybody would actually USE this feature, we're removing it…to better serve our users…or something."</p>

  • ozaz

    19 July, 2017 - 3:24 pm

    <p>Better late than never I suppose</p>

  • DaveHelps

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 3:49 pm

    <p>Excellent news. I wonder to what extent this is driven by recent ransomware outbreaks?</p>

  • Dan1986ist

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 4:08 pm

    <p>Will the Previous versions of files once implemented in the OneDrive desktop client count against the total amount of available OneDrive storage, or not? </p>

    • webguynj

      20 July, 2017 - 5:32 pm

      <blockquote>I'm sure they will. <a href="#150315"><em>In reply to Dan1986ist:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • James Wilson

    19 July, 2017 - 4:15 pm

    <p>Weird, doesn't seem to be available on the Mac version of OneDrive. Usually the Microsoft of today releases updates on non-Microsoft platforms first doesn't it? I'd better go check the iOS version of OneDrive.</p>

    • Chris

      19 July, 2017 - 7:14 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150326"><em>In reply to James_Wilson:</em></a></blockquote><p>Paul did state "According to Microsoft, the OneDrive version history feature is available only from the web for now", meaning that it isn't in the platform specific apps, only the OneDrive website.</p><p><br></p><p>Hopefully they do push it to the apps as well.</p>

  • gvan

    19 July, 2017 - 4:26 pm

    <p>This is a good step towards mitigating ransomeware,</p>

  • 蔡孟耕

    19 July, 2017 - 9:20 pm

    <p>Finally… this was one of the features that kept me using Google Drive and Dropbox although I have a lot more storage on OneDrive due to the 365 plans…</p><p>Now… only if they could add support for exFAT… NTFS only is ridiculous…</p>

  • ZeroPageX

    19 July, 2017 - 9:23 pm

    <p>Does this mean there will also be undelete? They are so close to getting me to ditch Dropbox, and I would love to!</p>

    • SleepingPelican

      20 July, 2017 - 12:13 am

      <blockquote><a href="#150447"><em>In reply to ZeroPageX:</em></a></blockquote><p> Undelete already exists. If you want to restore a file you deleted, just go to the recycle bin and restore the file. I think files are kept there for 30 days.</p>

  • davidtravis

    19 July, 2017 - 9:36 pm

    <p>What about OneDrive for Business? Will it be getting the same features?</p>

    • webguynj

      20 July, 2017 - 5:31 pm

      <blockquote>I believe its already there. <a href="#150448"><em>In reply to davidtravis:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Jorge Garcia

    19 July, 2017 - 11:58 pm

    <p>I used to love MS but I like them less and less every day. Two of my devices have One Drive Apps that promise 3GB of extra storage if I simply agree to turn on camera/photo backup. Well I did on both, (not expecting 6GB, but at least 3GB, right?) And I got nothing. When I contacted MS they simply blamed the device maker, which is complete BS, the offer came from within the App. Dropbox honors all their oddball promotions instantly.</p>

    • CristianCson

      20 July, 2017 - 3:32 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150489"><em>In reply to JG1170:</em></a></blockquote><p>Ms discontinued the extra Camera backup quota for quite long time ago, so either your experience is old or you talked to the wrong people..</p>

      • Jorge Garcia

        20 July, 2017 - 5:31 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#150826"><em>In reply to CristianCson:</em></a></blockquote><p>Well, fair enough, but they should have been legally obligated to put an asterisk and/or a "limited time only" clause next to that kind of offer. It is pretty sh***y of them not to honor a promise that their own app makes. It's only 3GB, not 30. Sure that App is on an older tablet that I'm just now dusting off and integrating into my OneDrive lifestyle, but as I say, it has no asterisks or disclaimers that I can find, so shame on them.</p>

        • CristianCson

          21 July, 2017 - 5:50 am

          <blockquote><a href="#150913"><em>In reply to JG1170:</em></a></blockquote><p>On the phones that I have bought it has been a note about limited availlability, on the webpage where they announced it for other phones Im not sure, but anyway it is commercial so I guess they work as such..</p><p><br></p><p>The takedown and removal of the extra apace on onedrive was announced on their webpage and it wasn't popular by anyone, it is a cloud problem that you don't get something one time and it is yours for life you get it for a while and then they can revoke it, it is the same on all cloud providers and not only ms, have gotten worse conditions on several…</p>

  • David Guillaume

    20 July, 2017 - 3:48 am

    <p>Paul, all my free google drive and OneDrive storage is running out which solution would you recommend i pay for? i use a windows 7 laptop for work and have a Samsung Galaxy S8, i mostly want to store office documents and photos?</p><p><br></p><p>Thanks, David</p>

    • xperiencewindows

      20 July, 2017 - 9:18 am

      <blockquote><a href="#150533"><em>In reply to David Guillaume:</em></a></blockquote><p>What you pay for is completely up to you.</p>

      • David Guillaume

        20 July, 2017 - 9:22 am

        <blockquote><a href="#150597"><em>In reply to xperiencewindows:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><em>i know it's up to me, just after an informed reccomendation</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

        • xperiencewindows

          20 July, 2017 - 11:27 am

          <blockquote><a href="#150599"><em>In reply to David Guillaume:</em></a></blockquote><p>Paul will recommend what works best for him. Only you can say what will work best for you. After trying both services, what are your thoughts?</p>

    • Jorge Garcia

      20 July, 2017 - 5:33 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150533"><em>In reply to David Guillaume:</em></a></blockquote><p>Box isn't bad.</p>

    • Alastair Cooper

      22 July, 2017 - 9:06 am

      <blockquote><a href="#150533"><em>In reply to David Guillaume:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>If you want another free 2GB of storage I would suggest Dropbox. If you mainly store Office documents and are willing to pay a bit more (your post implies not) OneDrive might be your best option. You can upgrade that to 50GB for UK £1.50/month, presumably similar in the US and Eurozone. </p><p><br></p><p>Personally I use the 1TB version of Dropbox for £7.99/month and find it excellent, much better than OneDrive. However if you need an Office 365 license, OneDrive is probably better value as it includes 5 Office seats and 1TB storage for £7.99/month. </p>

  • Narg

    20 July, 2017 - 9:03 am

    <p>Amen…</p>

  • cwfinn

    Premium Member
    20 July, 2017 - 4:19 pm

    <p>Amen! </p>

  • webguynj

    20 July, 2017 - 5:31 pm

    <p>When and how do they expose the version history in OneDrive synched folders in the default windows 10 "Restore Previous Versions" context menu</p><p><br></p>

  • colin79666

    Premium Member
    20 July, 2017 - 5:36 pm

    <p>About time too. Dropbox has had this feature for years. </p>

  • JaviAl

    Premium Member
    21 July, 2017 - 2:06 pm

    <p>And what about enhancing Shadow Copies in Windows instead of deprecating?</p>

  • Hallmanac

    Premium Member
    23 July, 2017 - 8:01 am

    <p>This is a great feature, and I'm glad to see that they're bringing back placeholders as well, but they still have some fundamental issues to fix with OneDrive. Notably the ridiculous "<a href="https://onedrive.uservoice.com/forums/262982-onedrive/suggestions/6325774-enable-long-file-paths-aka-file-name-too-long-p?tracking_code=681914b892b64691356e0db28fafff83&quot; target="_blank">File Path too Long</a>" issue. </p><p><br></p><p>Supposedly they "fixed" it by increasing the path size from 255 to 427, but that's simply still not enough. This is not a "Windows OS" issue either. At least, it's not only that. Dropbox has never had this problem nor any of the other major vendors out there. It's almost inconceivable that in 2017 we still have such a dumb limitation like this. </p>

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