Version History Issues

How to Restore Deleted Word Comments Using OneDrive Version History

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover comments that disappeared from a Word document after opening it on a different computer and syncing it via OneDrive.

How to Restore Deleted Word Comments Using OneDrive Version History

Product: Microsoft Word / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing a synced Word document on another computer, which caused comments to vanish and the document formatting to change.
Observed behavior: Comments are missing from the current synchronized version of the Word document, and the layout formatting has been altered.

Before you start

Before restoring an older version from OneDrive, manually save a copy of your current document to a local folder so you do not lose any new text edits made after the comments disappeared.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore an Earlier Document Version via OneDrive Web

Use the version history feature in OneDrive Online to locate and restore the document to a state before the comments were deleted.

OneDrive automatically saves versions of your files as you work. By accessing the web interface, you can preview older versions and revert to the exact moment before the file synced with the missing comments.

Sign in to OneDrive

Open your web browser, navigate to the OneDrive website, and log in with the Microsoft account associated with your synchronized Word document.

Locate the Word file

Browse through your 'My files' list or folders to find the specific Word document that is missing the comments.

Access Version History

Right-click on the document and select 'Version history' from the context menu. A side panel will appear showing all previously saved versions with timestamps.

Restore or download the older version

Find a version dated before you opened the file on the second computer. Click the three vertical dots next to that version and select 'Restore' to replace the current file, or 'Download' to save it as a separate copy.

Restore an Earlier Document Version via OneDrive Web

Addressing Formatting Changes: Formatting changes often occur when opening a file in mismatched Word versions across different computers. Restoring an older version will recover your comments, but you may still need to investigate and standardize your Office software versions to prevent future formatting glitches.

Solution 2

Restore the File Using the Windows File Explorer

If you have the OneDrive desktop application actively syncing on your PC, you can access version history directly from your local folders.

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Switch to WPS Office to Prevent Formatting and Sync Issues

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Once installed, open WPS Writer.
3. Open Your Document: Drag and drop your existing .docx files into the application to edit them with zero formatting loss.

Outstanding compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, keeping your comments and layouts intact.Built-in WPS Cloud provides reliable auto-save and easy access to document version history.Familiar user interface makes migration from Microsoft Office seamless and effortless.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my comments disappear when opening the Word document on another computer?

This commonly happens due to compatibility issues between different versions of Microsoft Word installed on the two computers, or an unexpected syncing conflict in OneDrive that failed to register the comment metadata properly.

Will I lose my recent text edits if I restore a previous version from OneDrive?

Yes, clicking 'Restore' replaces the current document with the older version, erasing any edits made after that timestamp. To avoid data loss, it is highly recommended to use the 'Download' option to save the older version separately, allowing you to manually merge the recovered comments with your new text.

Can I recover deleted comments if I don't use OneDrive?

If the file was not saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, you cannot use cloud version history. However, you can try checking the 'Unsaved Files' folder in Word by going to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents, or check your local computer's File History if it was enabled.

Document & File Issues