Version history is one of the best features of SharePoint. It lets me track changes, restore older versions of documents, and flawlessly collaboration. But when I noticed that SharePoint version history missing on some of my files, I researched to find out why.
In this guide, I’ll share reasons behind this error and the exact steps I followed to fix it.
Table of Contents
Why Is SharePoint Version History Missing?
- By default, versioning is enabled for document libraries. But in some cases, the settings might have been changed during site migration or customization.
- While document libraries support versioning, lists don’t behave the same way. I once mistakenly expected version history on a list item, only to realize that lists only offer versioning if explicitly enabled.
- If I didn’t have at least Read or Contribute permissions, I wouldn’t be able to see the version history for that document. Lack of permissions often hides this feature.
- Sometimes, the version history looks like it’s missing simply because there haven’t been any updates to the document yet. I’ve seen this happen with newly uploaded files.
- When I performed SharePoint Tenant to Tenant migration, I noticed that version history didn’t always transfer by default, unless I used a specialized migration tool that supported it.
How I Fixed the SharePoint Version History Missing Issue?
Here’s exactly what I did when I encountered this issue:
Step 1. Check Versioning Settings
- I opened the Document Library.
- Clicked on Settings (gear icon) > Library Settings.
- Under General Settings, select Versioning settings.
- Made sure Create major versions was enabled.
Step 2. Verified My Permissions
- I selected the file in question.
- Clicked on Details > Manage Access.
- Made sure my account had at least Contribute access.
Step 3. Used Version History from the File Menu
- I right-clicked the file or used the ellipsis (…) next to the document name.
- Selected Version History.
- If Version History wasn’t visible, I checked the versioning settings again to resolve the SharePoint version history missing issue.
Step 4. For Migrated Libraries, Verified Tool Settings
When I migrated documents from one SharePoint tenant to another using SPMT, my version history was not intact. That’s why I went for a SharePoint migration tool download that helps me to migrate sites with complete version history.
Step 5. Contacted the SharePoint Admin (If Needed)
For company-managed environments, I contacted the SharePoint Administrator to verify site-wide versioning policies or check audit logs.
What If Version History Still Doesn’t Appear?
If none of these steps worked, here’s what I recommend:
- Sometimes, the modern UI can behave differently. So, try accessing the library using Classic View.
- Check with Microsoft Support, especially for complex migrations or corrupted libraries.
- Restore Versions from Recycle Bin (If Deleted): I checked the Recycle Bin for earlier deleted versions in case of accidental deletion.
How I Prevent Version History Issues Moving Forward
After dealing with this problem, I started following these best practices to avoid this in future:
- Always enable versioning when creating new document libraries.
- Use proper migration tools that support full version history transfer.
- Train team members about how versioning works in SharePoint
- Back up important SharePoint data regularly, especially before making major changes.
I even use tools that let me backup SharePoint Online to local storage with version history to my local system for extra safety.
Final Thoughts
Version history in SharePoint is essential when you’re collaborating on documents or need to roll back accidental changes. When SharePoint version history missing, it’s usually a setting or permission issue, both of which can be fixed.
By sharing my troubleshooting steps here, I hope I’ve helped you solve this frustrating problem, too. If you’re migrating or backing up your SharePoint, I suggest opting for the specified solution, which will maintain complete version history.
FAQs
Q1. Does SharePoint Online support versioning by default?
Yes, for document libraries, major versioning is enabled by default in SharePoint Online.
Q2. Can I recover the version history if it’s accidentally deleted?
If entire documents were deleted, you might recover older versions via the Recycle Bin.
Q3. Can version history be disabled by admins?
Yes, site owners or administrators can turn off versioning for libraries, which removes version tracking for future changes.