Check activity & file versions

Access changes made to your files in Drive and keep track of who made those changes. You might notice changes when someone:

• Edits or comments in Google Docs
• Renames a file or folder
• Moves or removes a file or folder
• Uploads a new file to a folder
• Shares or unshares an item

Important: Version history for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides is different than history for .pdf files, images, and other files stored in Drive. Learn how to access the history of changes for Google files. 

Access past activity

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left click My Drive.
3. In the upper right, click Info .
4. To access recent changes, click Activity.
5. To access the activity of a specific file or folder, click the file or folder.
6. To access older changes, scroll down on the right side.

Save and restore recent versions

Only the most recent versions of past documents will be saved, unless you click Keep forever.

Download recent versions

You can download and keep old copies of PDF files, images, and other files stored in Google Drive.

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Click on the file you want to download.
3. At the top right, click More .
4. Click Manage versions.
5. Next to the version you want to download, click More .
6. To save a copy to your computer, click Download.

Upload a new version

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Click on the file you want to replace.
3. At the top right, click More .
4. Click Manage versions.
5. Click Upload new version.

Tip: If you upload a new version of a file owned by someone else, the original owner will stay the same.

Delete an older version

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Click on the file you want to replace.
3. At the top right, click More .
4. Click Manage versions.
5. Next to the version you want to delete, click More   Delete.

Version history

Version history for Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides is different than file versions in Google Drive. Learn how to access the history of changes for Google files.