Did you lose a PowerPoint presentation? Do you need need to restore an old version of your file? Or maybe you made so many changes to that you just want to revert to the first draft?
We’ll show you how to get a previous version of a PowerPoint presentation on Windows, Mac, the web, and OneDrive. We’ll also explain how you can make edits or create a last-minute presentation in a hurry using Plus AI.
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View and restore PowerPoint version history
With Microsoft 365, you can see and retrieve the last 25 file versions with a personal account. For work or school accounts, the number depends on your organization.
PowerPoint on desktop
Open PowerPoint to the file you want to recover and follow the steps below per your desktop version.
On Windows, do one of the following:
- Go to File > Info and choose Version History.
- Click the arrow to the right of the filename in the title bar at the top and select Version History.
On Mac, do one of the following:
- Go to File in the menu bar and choose Browse Version History.
- Click the arrow to the right of the filename in the title bar at the top and select Browse Version History.
When the sidebar displays on either platform, pick Open version for the one you want, and it’ll display in a new window.
To recover the version, select Restore at the top or to keep a copy, go to File > Save As to pick the name and location. Otherwise, simply close the window.
When you finish, use the X on the top right of the Version History sidebar to close it.
PowerPoint on the web
- On the web, go to File and choose Version history.
- When the sidebar displays, pick a version and you’ll see it display in the center.
- To recover it, select Restore or to keep a copy of it instead, select Save a Copy.
When you finish, select Back to document on the top left to close the version history and return to your slideshow.
PowerPoint files on OneDrive
- Open the containing folder and select the Show More Actions icon (three dots) to the right of the filename.
- Pick Version history.
- When the new browser tab opens, choose a version on the left to view it on the right.
- To recover the version, select Restore below the date or to keep a copy on your computer, select Download.
You’ll notice a few additional actions you can take on the top right such as Save to OneDrive and Print to PDF.
When you finish, simply close the browser tab.
Note: If you or your company use SharePoint instead of OneDrive, review the Microsoft Support pages for how versioning works with SharePoint or how to restore a previous SharePoint file version.
Set up AutoRecover in PowerPoint
To protect yourself in case of a power outage or application crash, you can enable AutoRecover for PowerPoint on Windows or Mac. This feature saves your files for the timing you select so that you can recover them easily.
Open PowerPoint on Windows and follow these steps:
- Go to the File tab, select Options, and choose Save on the left.
- Check the box for Save AutoRecover information every X minutes and pick a time.
- Check the box for Keep the last autorecovered version if I close without saving.
- Optionally, enter a location for the AutoRecover files if you prefer something other than the default.
- Select OK at the bottom.
The next time you open your PowerPoint presentation, you’ll see a message at the top if it’s an unsaved file. You can then recover it using the Save button or get more details with the This is a Recovered File link.
Alternatively, you can go to File > Info > Manage Presentation or File > Open and choose Recover Unsaved Presentations. Locate the file and select Open.
Open PowerPoint on Mac and follow these steps:
- Go to PowerPoint > Preferences in the menu bar and choose Save.
- Check the box for Save AutoRecover info and pick a time.
- Use the X on the top left to close the window.
The next time you open your PowerPoint slideshow, you’ll see the autosaved file open as well. You can then save it by going to File > Save As in the menu bar.
Edit slideshows with Plus AI
Need to add a summary slide? Want to rewrite certain text? Contemplating a different slide layout? Using Plus AI for PowerPoint, you can use artificial intelligence to make edits just like these.
Whether you’re in a hurry or just aren’t sure of the best way to edit your slideshow, you can rely on Plus AI to do it for you. As an example, we’ll remix a slide layout in the below presentation.
Along with editing existing presentations, you can test the true power of Plus AI by creating them as well. From the design to the content, you can build a slideshow in mere minutes.
Visit the Plus AI website to learn more and start your free trial!
Conclusion
You don’t have to try and recreate a PowerPoint slideshow if you lose one accidentally or make changes you end up disliking. By viewing and restoring a previous version of a PowerPoint, you can easily get back on track.
FAQs
What should I do if my PowerPoint presentation is corrupted?
If your PowerPoint file is corrupted and cannot be recovered, you probably cannot easily revert to a previous version. In that case, we'd recommend (1) looking for an old version you may have saved in a different folder or sent via email, (2) saving all of the text from the recovery file so you don't "lose" everything, and (3) trying an AI presentation maker to quickly generate a new presentation for you from scratch.
How do I undo the last action in PowerPoint?
On both Windows and Mac, you can use the Undo button in the Quick Access Toolbar. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Z on Windows or Command + Z on Mac.
Can you see edit history on Slides?
You can view and restore a previous version of Google Slides as easily as PowerPoint. Go to File > Version history and select See version history. Choose a version in the sidebar to view it and pick Restore this version to recover the slideshow.
How can I tell when a slideshow was last edited?
In PowerPoint on Windows, select File > Info and expand Properties to see the Last Modified date and time. On Mac, select File > Properties and open the General tab to see the Modified date and time.
