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How to Recover Missing Excel Versions and Fix Date Formats
Question details
The user needs to recover previous versions of an Excel workbook saved in OneDrive and restore the date format from the US standard (mm/dd/yyyy) back to the UK standard (dd/mm/yyyy).
- Product
- Microsoft Excel, OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Mac, iPad
- Scenario
- Syncing an Excel workbook across a Mac and an iPad caused version history to disappear and altered the default date formatting.
- Observed behavior
- Previous file versions are missing in OneDrive, and the date format automatically switched to the US standard after cross-device usage.
Ensure you are signed into the correct Microsoft account that originally owned and edited the Excel workbook, and verify that OneDrive has fully synced on both your Mac and iPad.
Recover Missing Excel Versions via OneDrive
Use the built-in version history tools in Excel or OneDrive online to locate and restore missing workbook versions.
If you are using Microsoft 365 Family, version history is tied directly to your OneDrive account. Sync delays or account sign-in issues on your Mac can sometimes hide these versions.
Open the affected workbook in Excel for Mac. Go to the top menu and select 'File', then click on 'Browse Version History' to view available previous saves.
Log in to OneDrive.com using your web browser. Locate your Excel file, right-click it, and select 'Version history' to see if older versions are stored on the server.
If versions are still missing, sign out of your account in Excel, restart your Mac, and sign back in ensuring you use the exact account that owns the earlier versions.
Restore the Excel File Using Time Machine
If OneDrive synchronization failed, you can recover an older version of your Excel file using macOS Time Machine backups.
Restore the UK Date Format (dd/mm/yyyy)
Correct the date format changed by Mac or iPad region settings by adjusting macOS preferences and formatting cells manually.
Use WPS Office for Reliable File Syncing and Formatting
Avoid OneDrive synchronization delays and regional formatting glitches. WPS Office provides a seamless, free, and lightweight alternative with robust cloud backup and perfect compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free on your Mac or iPad from the official website or App Store.
- 2. Open your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any conversion.
- 3. Enable WPS Cloud: Sign in to activate WPS Cloud for instant syncing and reliable version history across all your devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Excel date format change automatically on my Mac?
This usually happens if your macOS or iPadOS Language & Region settings are inadvertently set to a US locale, which forces Excel to adopt the mm/dd/yyyy format during document synchronization.
How long does OneDrive take to sync versions on a Mac?
After waking your Mac from sleep, OneDrive may take several minutes to fully synchronize file versions. Ensure the OneDrive app status says 'Up to date' before closing the file or shutting down.
Can I recover an overwritten Excel file without OneDrive?
Yes, if you use a Mac, you can check your Time Machine backups or local auto-recovery folders to find previously saved versions of your workbook, even if OneDrive failed to sync.
Why is 'Browse Version History' grayed out in Excel?
The version history feature is only available for files actively saved and synced in OneDrive or SharePoint. If the file was moved to a local folder or you are signed out of your Microsoft account, the option will be disabled.
