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Version History Issues

How to View Who Edited a SharePoint Page and Compare Changes

Olivia MillerOlivia Miller Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to track edits, identify who made modifications, and compare different versions of a SharePoint page.

How to View Who Edited a SharePoint Page and Compare Changes
Product
Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Reviewing page modifications, tracking user contributions, and comparing version differences on a SharePoint page.
Observed behavior
SharePoint provides version history and page comparison tools, but it does not display a full, editable change log directly on the page by default.
Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary site permissions, such as Edit, Design, or Full Control, to access page details and view the version history of the SharePoint site.

Solution 1Recommended

Use SharePoint Page Version History and Comparison Tool

Utilize SharePoint's built-in feature to track when a page was edited and visually compare what content was added, modified, or deleted.

SharePoint Online includes a native version history feature that allows editors to track modifications and visually highlight differences between page versions.

1
Access Page Details

Navigate to the published SharePoint page you want to review. Click on 'Page details' in the command bar at the top of the screen.

2
Open Version History

In the Page details pane on the right side, scroll down to the bottom and select 'Version history'. This will open a list of all saved and published versions of the page.

3
Compare Versions

Toggle the 'Compare page versions' switch at the top of the Version history pane. This visually highlights the differences between the selected version and the immediately preceding version on the page itself.

4
Identify Editors

Review the list of versions in the pane. Next to each timestamp, you will see the name of the user who made the specific edits, allowing you to track exactly who changed the content.

Use SharePoint Page Version History and Comparison Tool
Visual Indicators: When comparing versions, additions are typically highlighted in green, while deletions are marked in red with a strikethrough.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore a previous version of a SharePoint page?

Yes. Open the Version History pane from the Page details, click the ellipsis (...) next to the older version you want to revert to, and select 'Restore'. This will create a new unpublished draft based on that historical version.

Why is the 'Compare page versions' toggle missing or greyed out?

The page comparison feature may not be available if you lack sufficient editing permissions. Additionally, some older on-premises SharePoint environments or specific classic page layouts do not support the modern visual comparison feature.

Does SharePoint page version history track edits made inside embedded documents?

No, page version history only tracks edits made to the page's structural layout and native web parts. To see who edited an embedded Word or Excel document, you must check the version history of that specific file within its respective document library.

How many major versions of a page does SharePoint retain?

By default, SharePoint Online retains up to 50,000 major versions for documents and site pages. However, your organization's SharePoint administrator may have configured custom retention limits based on company policies.