Version History Issues

How to View Changes in a Specific Word Version on SharePoint

Natalie Taylor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to review and compare edits made in a specific older version of a Word document that is stored in a SharePoint document library.

How to View Changes in a Specific Word Version on SharePoint

Product: Microsoft Word, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing and reviewing past document versions to track changes within a SharePoint environment.
Observed behavior: Opening the file directly in the Word application defaults to the latest version. Specific version comparison features or the 'Show Edits' option may be hidden or unavailable until proper updates are fully installed.

Before you start

Ensure you have the appropriate read permissions for the SharePoint document library to access file histories, and verify that your Microsoft Office suite is fully updated to ensure all versioning features are visible.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Word for the Web to Access Document Information

This is the most direct and reliable method to view document history and select specific versions without downloading separate files.

By default, opening a SharePoint file in the Word application loads the latest version. Using Word for the Web allows you to easily navigate the file's information panel to find previous iterations.

Open Document in the Web App

Navigate to your SharePoint document library and click on the Word document to open it directly in Word for the Web.

Access the File Menu

Click on the 'File' tab located in the top-left corner of the Word online ribbon.

Navigate to Information Settings

Select 'Info' (or 'Information' depending on your regional layout) from the left-hand sidebar menu.

View Version History

Click on 'Version History'. This will open a history pane on the right side of your screen displaying all previously saved versions with their timestamps.

Select and Review Changes

Click on the timestamp of the specific version you want to review. The document will load that version, allowing you to see the state of the file at that time.

Use Word for the Web to Access Document Information

Missing 'Show Edits' Option: If the 'Show Edits in Version History' button is missing, it is likely due to pending SharePoint or Office updates. This feature typically becomes available once your system updates are fully installed.

Solution 2

Use the Compare Feature in the Word Desktop Application

Use the desktop application to open a previous version from SharePoint and compare it side-by-side with the current document.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management and Collaboration

If you frequently struggle with complex SharePoint versioning, hidden features, or bulky Office updates, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment for your Word documents with built-in cloud storage and intuitive file history management.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free, lightweight installer for your operating system.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing .docx files without formatting issues.
3. Utilize Cloud Versioning: Save your documents to WPS Cloud to easily access, review, and restore previous file versions from any device.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, ensuring no formatting is lost.Built-in WPS Cloud offers an easy-to-use file version history and recovery system.Lightweight installation that doesn't rely on cumbersome background updates to function.Free to use with a familiar, tabbed user interface for effortless migration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does opening the SharePoint file directly in Word only show the latest version?

By default, both the Microsoft Word desktop and web applications are designed to open the most current version of a document for immediate editing. To view previous iterations, you must actively navigate to the Version History menu.

Why is the 'Show Edits in Version History' option missing?

This feature might be missing due to pending Office or SharePoint rollouts. Users frequently report that the 'Show Edits' capability becomes fully functional only after the latest Office or SharePoint updates are completely installed on their system.

Does turning off Autosave affect version history in SharePoint?

Yes. Autosave automatically creates new versions in SharePoint as you type. If you intentionally disable Autosave to prevent the creation of unwanted or excessive versions in the document library, you will need to save manually to preserve changes and generate new version history records.

Document & File Issues