Version History Issues

How to Back Up Microsoft Sway and Recover Deleted Content

Maira Mehtab Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to back up a Microsoft Sway project and recover content that was accidentally deleted or modified by co-owners.

How to Back Up Microsoft Sway and Recover Deleted Content

Product: Microsoft Sway
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on a Microsoft Sway project with multiple co-owners where content might be accidentally changed.
Observed behavior: Sway does not provide a built-in version history feature like Word or Excel, making ongoing backup management and content recovery highly inefficient.

Before you start

Check your Microsoft Sway dashboard to ensure you have the necessary permissions to duplicate or export the project before applying these backup workarounds.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Duplicate the Sway Project as a Backup

Since Sway does not have a version history feature, regularly duplicating your Sway is the most reliable way to create manual backups before co-owners make changes.

While inefficient for ongoing management, creating a duplicate of your Sway ensures you have a static backup of your content at a specific point in time before sharing edit access with others.

Open your Sway

Log into Microsoft Sway and open the specific project you want to back up.

Access the duplication menu

Click on the '...' (More Options) button located in the top right corner of the screen.

Duplicate this Sway

Select 'Duplicate this Sway' from the dropdown menu. Give the copied file a specific name, such as including the current date, to easily identify it as a backup.

Manually Duplicate the Sway Project as a Backup

Submit Feedback: You can request Microsoft to add a version history feature by submitting feedback through the Sway Community Feedback Portal.

Solution 2

Export Sway Content to Word or PDF

Exporting your Sway presentation to a standard document format ensures your text and image content is safely stored offline.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Presentation for Better Version Control

If the lack of version history in Microsoft Sway is disrupting your collaborative workflow, consider using WPS Presentation. It provides robust, built-in version history and cloud auto-backup capabilities, ensuring you never lose your collaborative work. Enjoy a familiar interface and comprehensive formatting tools without the premium price tag.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open WPS Presentation: Launch the suite and select Presentation to start building your dynamic slides.
3. Enable Cloud Backup: Turn on WPS Cloud sync to automatically save versions of your document and recover previous states anytime.

Built-in version history for effortless recovery of deleted content.Perfect compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Robust cloud auto-backup to prevent accidental data loss during co-authoring.Free, lightweight, and features an incredibly familiar user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Microsoft Sway ever get a version history feature?

Currently, Microsoft Sway does not support version history natively. However, users are encouraged to submit feature requests via the Microsoft Feedback Portal to push for its future development.

Can I recover a Microsoft Sway that I accidentally deleted?

Yes, if you delete an entire Sway project, it is moved to the 'Deleted' tab on your Sway dashboard. You have up to 30 days to select it and click 'Restore' before it is permanently erased.

How can I prevent co-owners from deleting my Sway content?

Because co-owners have full editing rights, they can alter or delete content at will. To protect your original work, duplicate the Sway before sharing the edit link, or share a 'View-only' link if they do not strictly need to make changes.

Document & File Issues