How to recover older versions of files

Updated Oct 25, 2024

This article describes a feature available to all Dropbox users, unless otherwise stated.

Dropbox keeps snapshots of all changes made to files in your Dropbox account, depending on your plan's version history.

Restrictions on different Dropbox plans

Dropbox Basic, Plus, and Family accounts can recover versions of a file made within the last 30 days.
Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Standard, and Business accounts can recover versions of a file made within the last 180 days.
Dropbox Advanced, Business Plus, and Enterprise accounts can recover versions of a file made within the last 365 days.

Important:

Standard file recovery periods and options don’t apply to files deleted directly from the Send and track feature. Deleting a file from Send and track is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the file is deleted.
Any files added to Send and track before February 15, 2024 won’t be added to the “Send and track” folder on your Dropbox account. Deleting these files is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the files are deleted.

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file name and click “…” (ellipsis).
Click Activity.
Click Version history.
Select a version to preview it.
Click Roll back to this version on the version you’re restoring.
Click Roll back to this version again in the top-right corner of your window to confirm.

Your restored file will immediately be available on dropbox.com and on the Dropbox desktop app when syncing is complete.

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Locate the file you'd like to view the previous version of.
Right-click the name of the file.
Click Version history.
Click on a version to preview it.
Click Roll back to this version on the version you'd like to restore to. Your file will open in full screen.
Click Roll back to this version at the top right. The same file will get replaced by the older version, so its name will stay the same.