Turn On AutoSave in Office and Restore an Earlier Version

You want Office to save your work automatically as you type, and you want a way to go back to an earlier copy if something goes wrong.

Separate the two features: desktop Office AutoSave requires an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription and a supported file stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Cloud version history does not require that desktop AutoSave subscription: personal OneDrive accounts also keep previous file versions, accessible on the web or in File Explorer. A local-only file does not have OneDrive/SharePoint version history; Office’s AutoRecover is a different feature with a configurable recovery interval.

Step 1: Put the file in the cloud so AutoSave can switch on

With an eligible Office subscription and supported format, AutoSave is normally on for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Check the toggle and any account/library restrictions.

1. With your document open in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, go to File > Save As.
2. Choose your OneDrive (personal or work) or SharePoint location.
3. Pick a subfolder, type a file name, and click Save.

The AutoSave toggle sits at the top-left of the app window (in the title bar). Once the file is in the cloud, it flips to On automatically and your changes save every few seconds. If you open a file that already lives in OneDrive, AutoSave is on from the start.

Note: AutoSave doesn’t work with older formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt) or with CSV files. Save as the modern format (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) first.

Step 2: Open Version History

You can review the versions retained by OneDrive or the SharePoint library; do not assume every keystroke or save has its own permanent version.

1. Open the file from OneDrive or SharePoint.
2. Click the file name in the title bar at the top of the window, then select Version History. (In Office 2016–2021 the path is File > Info > Version History, or File > History.)
3. A pane lists earlier versions with their date and time.

Without desktop AutoSave: sign into OneDrive on the web, right-click the file and select Version history. For supported files in a OneDrive-synced folder, File Explorer’s right-click Version history can also open it. These routes are useful with a personal Microsoft account or when the Office version does not offer the title-bar command.

Step 3: Open and restore an earlier version

1. In the Version History pane, click a version to open it in a separate window so you can check it before committing.
2. If it’s the copy you want back, click Restore.

That version becomes the current one. The copy you restored from isn’t deleted — it stays in the history, so you can always go forward again.

FAQ

The AutoSave toggle is greyed out. Check the Office subscription, cloud account/location, supported format and library restrictions. Saving a modern-format file to OneDrive alone does not guarantee desktop AutoSave eligibility. You may still have version history on OneDrive’s web page.

How many versions are kept? On a personal OneDrive account you get the last 25 versions. On a work or school account, the number depends on how your SharePoint library is configured.

Will AutoSave overwrite my original on purpose? It saves continuously, so if you make changes you didn’t mean to keep, don’t rely on “undo” later — use Version History to restore the earlier copy instead. To experiment safely, use File > Save a Copy first.

Sources: Microsoft Support — How do I turn on AutoSave? · Microsoft Support — View previous versions of Office files

Additional sources: Microsoft — OneDrive version history