How to Recover Previous Version of PowerPoint File [Quick Fixes]

Can I Recover a Previous Version of a PowerPoint File?

Microsoft PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software developed by Microsoft. Ideal for business meetings, academic lectures, or personal presentations, it supports easy editing, formatting, and sharing, helping turn content into engaging visual stories. However, due to this reliance, overwriting a more desired version is inevitable during the editing process.

So, can you recover a previous version of PowerPoint file? Absolutely yes! Both computer and Microsoft PowerPoint offer features that allow you to access previous versions of your PowerPoint files. Read along!

How to Recover Previous Version of PowerPoint File on Windows

On Windows system, both Microsoft PowerPoint and Windows itself provide built-in features to recover previous versions. Additionally, if you use a cloud backup tool, you can also recover overwritten versions. Let's explorer these methods one by one.

Method 1. Undo Recent Changes

When you just made a mistake and saved the version, you can use the "Undo" function to revert the change until PowerPoint is closed. But this method only applies to recent modifications. You can press "Ctrl + Z" or just click the "Undo" arrow on the toolbar to recover earlier version until you've reverted to your desired state.

Method 2. Use PowerPoint Version History Feature

If your PowerPoint file is saved on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, PowerPoint’s Version History feature will automatically save some previous versions. This allows users to access and restore them whenever needed.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and click the "File" tab.

Step 2. Select "Info" > "Version History".

Step 3. Select a desired version from the list of versions, click "Open version" to check if it's the one you want. Then click "Restore" to recover this version.

Method 3. Recover Unsaved Presentations

If you accidentally close a PowerPoint file that hasn't been saved, or if it shuts down unexpectedly for other reasons without being saved, you can use the "Recover Unsaved Presentations" feature to restore the unsaved version.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and click "File" tab.

Step 2. Select "Open" section and click "Recover Unsaved Presentations".

Step 3. Choose a file you wish to recover and open it to check if it's the one you want. Then save it to a safe location.

Method 4. Check in AutoRecover Folder

If you have enabled AutoRecover feature in Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint will automatically save backups of open files to a hidden folder regularly based on your setting.

Step 1. Navigate to the folder (Default file location of PowerPoint AutoRecover) :

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\

Step 2. Look for ".tmp" or ".asd" file to find your PowerPoint file.

Step 3. Double click to open it and save the file to a safe location.

Method 5. Restore Previous Version via File History

File History is a built-in backup tool on Windows, which automatically saves versions for your files or folder regularly and allow you to restore them when you need it. If you have enabled File History on Windows and backed up the folder including your PowerPoint file, you can follow these steps to recover previous version.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the PowerPoint files were stored.

Step 2. Right click on it and choose "Restore previous versions".

Step 3. Select a desired version and click "Restore" to return it to previous version.

Method 6. Use OneDrive Version History

If you use a cloud backup tool like OneDrive to back up your PowerPoint files, OneDrive's Version History feature will be very useful for recovering unsaved PowerPoint files. You can restore any version you have created as your needs

Step 1. Sign in to OneDrive with your account.

Step 2. Select the PowerPoint file you wish to recover, right click on it and select "Version history".

Step 3. All saved versions will be listed. Choose a desired version and right click on it, then choose "Restore" to retrieve it.

How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint File on Windows

If you’ve deleted a PowerPoint file, you can restore it directly from the backup if a backup was ever created. Even if there’s no backup, don’t worry—you can easily recover these lost files using professional data recovery software like MyRecover. It can not only recover PowerPoint files not in the Recycle Bin, but also support the recovery of over 1,000 other types of files such as Word documents, videos, PNG/JPG images, and PDF files.

 MyRecover

Easy & Powerful File Recovery Software

• No command-line usage, fully visual, point-and-click interface.
• Supports recovery from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards.
• Compatible with NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS, and even Ext file systems.
• Offers both Quick Scan and Deep Scan for comprehensive recovery.
• Fully supports all major Windows versions, including 11, 10, 8, 8.1, 7, and Servers.

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & Server

100% Secure

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from secure channel. Avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Step 2. Launch it and select the drive where the deleted PowerPoint files were stored to scan, then click "Scan". If you are recovering files from formatted hard drive, you can click "Deep Scan" after the quick scan finished.

Step 3. Choose files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover". Unlock unlimited data recovery quota, please upgrade to the Professional edition.

Step 4. Select a safe location (not the original one) to save the recovered files.

When the process is completed, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop out. You can click "Browse" or the designated folder path to check the recovered files.

How to Recover Previous Version of PowerPoint File on Mac

The methods to restore a PowerPoint to a previous version on a Mac are roughly similar to those on Windows. If you saved your file using AutoSave or OneDrive, "Browse Version History" feature is available. You can follow below steps to recover previous version.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on you Mac and click "File" tab.

Step 2. Select "Browse Version History" and choose a version you want to recover from the recoverable lists, then click "Restore".

Summary

In conclusion, recovering a previous version of a PowerPoint file is not only possible—it’s often easier than you think. If you value your file, don’t delay. The sooner you take action, the higher the chances of successful recovery.

If you're looking for a professional data recovery tool to ensure data safety, MyRecover is worth a try. It offers a reliable recovery method with a read-only scanning process that won't overwrite your data. Additionally, the Professional Edition of MyRecover supports data recovery even from a crashed system.