'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix SharePoint Word Documents Reverting Changes During Collaboration
Question details
Users experience disappearing or reverting changes when multiple people collaborate on Word documents stored in SharePoint.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, SharePoint
- Device & OS
- Windows, macOS
- Scenario
- Co-authoring a shared Word document stored in SharePoint or OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- Changes made by users to the document disappear or revert to a previous version without warning.
Before proceeding with troubleshooting, manually save a local copy of your current document using 'Save As' to ensure no further edits are lost.
Verify Sync Settings and Enable AutoSave
Ensuring AutoSave is active and your applications are up to date prevents most cloud synchronization conflicts.
Open Microsoft Word, navigate to 'Account' (or 'Help' > 'Check for Updates' on Mac), and install the latest updates. Do the same for the OneDrive desktop client.
Ensure the document is saved in SharePoint Online or a synced OneDrive folder rather than a local-only directory.
Open the document and toggle the 'AutoSave' switch in the top-left corner of the Word window to the 'On' position.
Resolve File Format and Feature Incompatibilities
Older file formats or unsupported features can block SharePoint from merging co-authored changes correctly.
Check for File Locks and Connection Issues
A locked file or unstable internet connection will temporarily suspend synchronization, causing changes to appear reverted.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Collaboration
If SharePoint synchronization issues continue to interrupt your team's workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with built-in cloud collaboration that is easy to set up.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your Windows or Mac.
- 2. Upload to WPS Cloud: Sign in to your account, open your .docx file, and save it to WPS Cloud.
- 3. Invite Collaborators: Click the 'Share' button to generate a link and start real-time co-authoring without sync conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the AutoSave toggle greyed out in my shared Word document?
AutoSave may be disabled if the document is saved in an older format like .doc, contains unsupported features such as ActiveX controls, or is stored locally rather than in SharePoint or OneDrive.
How can I recover changes that were reverted in SharePoint?
You can restore lost edits by accessing the Version History. Right-click the document in your SharePoint library or OneDrive, select 'Version history', and view or restore a previously synced version.
Does checking out a document in SharePoint prevent co-authoring?
Yes. If a user manually 'checks out' a document in SharePoint, it locks the file for exclusive editing. Other users will not be able to sync their changes until the document is checked back in.
