How to Undo Another Person's Edits in a Shared Document
Question details
The user wants to revert unwanted changes made by collaborators in a shared document and restrict their editing access.
- Product
- WPS Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on a shared document where another user has made incorrect or unwanted edits.
- Observed behavior
- Unwanted changes are present in the document, and the user needs a way to restore a previous version and restrict future edit permissions.
Ensure you have the necessary owner or editor permissions for the shared file, and verify that the document is saved in a cloud service that supports version history.
Restore an Earlier Version Using Version History
Use the built-in version history feature to recover the document state before the unwanted edits were made.
Cloud-based document editors automatically save versions of your file as changes are made. By accessing the version history, you can preview and restore the document to a specific point in time.
Launch your office application and open the shared document that contains the unwanted edits.
Navigate to the 'File' or 'Menu' tab at the top left of the screen, and select 'Version History' or 'Backup and Recovery'.
Browse the list of saved versions on the right-hand panel. These are typically organized by date, time, and the name of the person who made the edits.
Select the version saved just before the unwanted edits occurred. Click 'Restore' or 'Save as' to revert the document to this previous state.
Restrict or Remove Editing Permissions
Prevent the collaborator from making any further changes by modifying their access rights from 'Edit' to 'View'.
Use WPS Office to Track and Manage Document Versions
WPS Office provides robust cloud collaboration features, including detailed version history and granular sharing permissions, making it easy to manage team edits and protect your documents.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your cloud document.
- 2. Access Version History: Click on 'Menu', go to 'Backup and Recovery', and select 'Version History' to view all past edits.
- 3. Restore or Manage: Choose the desired version to restore, or click the 'Share' button in the top right to adjust collaborator permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see exactly who made the changes before undoing them?
Yes, if you are using a cloud-based collaborative platform, the version history panel usually displays the name of the user who made the edits alongside the timestamp.
Why can't I find the version history for my document?
Version history is only available for documents saved and synced to a cloud service. If the document was only saved locally on your hard drive, version history will not be available.
Can a viewer undo changes in a shared document?
No, only users with 'Editor' or 'Owner' permissions can access version history to restore previous versions or modify sharing settings.
Will restoring an older version delete the current version?
Restoring an older version typically makes it the newest active version. The previous version with the unwanted edits is usually still saved in the version history, so you can revert back to it if necessary.
