Version History Issues

How to Delete a Current SharePoint Draft Without Removing the Published Version

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to remove an autosaved or unwanted draft version of a file in a SharePoint library while keeping the currently approved, published major version available to other users.

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing document version history in a SharePoint library that has major and draft versions enabled, along with an approval workflow.
Observed behavior: SharePoint does not offer a direct option to delete only the current unapproved draft. Any standard rollback creates a new draft that forces the user to republish and reapprove the file.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions in your SharePoint library, as managing version history and executing administrative PowerShell scripts require elevated access.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore and Republish the Previous Major Version

Since SharePoint lacks a direct 'delete draft' button for this scenario, the safest standard workaround is restoring the last published version and pushing it through the approval process.

SharePoint Online does not provide an out-of-the-box option to delete the current draft version while keeping the published version intact. To remove the unwanted draft changes, you must restore the earlier major version.

Note that this process will generate a brand new minor version (draft) from the restored file, which you will then need to publish and approve to replace the unwanted draft entirely.

Access Version History

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, click the three-dot (ellipsis) menu next to the affected file, and select 'Version History'.

Locate the Published Version

Find the last approved major version (for example, version 1.0 or 2.0) that you want to keep as the current state of the document.

Restore the Version

Click the drop-down arrow next to the date of that major version and select 'Restore'. This will create a new minor draft version (e.g., 2.1) identical to the major version.

Publish and Approve

Click the ellipsis on the newly created draft, select 'Publish', and then route it through your library's standard approval workflow to lock it in as the new major version.

Workflow Trigger: Republishing the restored document will trigger any automated Power Automate or SharePoint workflows associated with document approval.

Solution 2

Use PowerShell for Advanced Draft Removal

For administrators who need to bypass the UI limitations and manipulate version history directly, custom PnP PowerShell scripts offer a programmable alternative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable draft versions entirely in a SharePoint library?

Yes. If you do not need minor versions, navigate to your Library Settings, select 'Versioning settings', and under 'Document Version History', choose 'Create major versions' instead of 'Create major and minor (draft) versions'.

What happens if I 'Discard Check Out' on a SharePoint document?

If you discard a checkout, the document reverts to its exact state from before you checked it out. Any edits or unsaved draft changes made during that specific checkout session will be permanently lost.

Who can see draft versions of a document in SharePoint?

By default, minor (draft) versions are only visible to users who have permission to edit items in the library. Users with 'Read' only permissions will only see the last approved major version, unless you change the 'Draft Item Security' settings in the library's Versioning settings.

Document & File Issues