> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Version history

> View, restore, and recover previous versions of your notes and deleted files using Obsidian Sync's version history.

Obsidian Sync records every change to your synced files. You can browse past versions of a note, restore the version you want, or recover a file you've deleted.

Version history covers notes, attachments, and vault settings files.

## How long versions are kept

The retention period depends on your Sync plan:

| Plan          | Notes and settings | Attachments |
| ------------- | ------------------ | ----------- |
| Sync Standard | 1 month            | 2 weeks     |
| Sync Plus     | 12 months          | 2 weeks     |

After the retention period, older versions are permanently deleted.

<Note>
  Version history is separate from the **File recovery** plugin, which keeps local snapshots on each device. Both can be useful, but only Sync version history tracks changes across all your devices.
</Note>

## Sync history sidebar

The **Sync history** sidebar (added in Obsidian 1.7) shows recently created or modified files that have been synced. Think of it as an editing activity feed.

Select any item in the sidebar to open it. You can also right-click an item to move the file, view its full version history, or take other actions.

<Info>
  On desktop, hovering over a synced file in the sidebar shows who last edited it — useful when collaborating on a shared vault.
</Info>

<Info>
  Settings files and deleted items don't appear in the Sync history sidebar. Use **Version history** (described below) to find those.
</Info>

### Show the Sync history sidebar

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Desktop / Tablet">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the Command palette">Open the Command palette (`Ctrl+P` / `Cmd+P`).</Step>
      <Step title="Search for Sync">Type `Sync`.</Step>
      <Step title="Show Sync history">Select **Sync: Show Sync history**. The panel appears in the right sidebar.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Mobile">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the Ribbon">Open the Ribbon menu.</Step>
      <Step title="Open the Command palette">Tap the Command palette icon.</Step>
      <Step title="Search and select">Type `Sync` and select **Sync: Show Sync history**. It appears as a dropdown option in the right sidebar.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

You can also assign a hotkey: go to **Settings → Hotkeys**, search for `Sync: Show Sync history`, and assign your preferred shortcut.

## View version history for a file

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Desktop / Tablet">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Locate the file">In the **File explorer**, select the note you want to inspect.</Step>
      <Step title="Open version history">Select **Open version history** from the context menu (right-click the file).</Step>
      <Step title="Browse versions">Select a version on the left. The contents are displayed on the right.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Mobile">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Locate the file">In the **File explorer**, long-press the note to open the context menu.</Step>
      <Step title="Open version history">Select **Open version history**.</Step>
      <Step title="Browse versions">In the pop-up, select the version you want to review.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Restore a previous version of a file

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Desktop / Tablet">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open version history">Right-click the file in **File explorer** and select **Open version history**.</Step>
      <Step title="Choose a version">Select the version you want to restore on the left. The contents are shown on the right.</Step>
      <Step title="Restore">Select **Restore**. The note's content is replaced with the selected version.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Mobile">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open version history">Long-press the file and select **Open version history**.</Step>
      <Step title="Choose a version">Select the version you want to restore from the list.</Step>
      <Step title="Restore">Select **Restore**. The note's content is replaced with the selected version.</Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Recover a deleted file

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Sync settings">Open **Settings → Sync**.</Step>
  <Step title="View deleted files">Next to **Deleted files**, select **View**.</Step>
  <Step title="Select the file">Choose the file you want to recover from the list.</Step>
  <Step title="Choose a version">In the version list on the left, select the version you want to restore.</Step>
  <Step title="Restore">Select **Restore** on the right. The file is restored to its original location in your vault.</Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can select multiple deleted files at once using the checkboxes or `Shift+click`, then restore them all with **bulk restore**.
</Tip>

## View version history for a renamed or deleted file

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Sync settings">Open **Settings → Sync**.</Step>
  <Step title="View deleted files">Next to **Deleted files**, select **View**.</Step>
  <Step title="Select the file">Choose the file you want to inspect.</Step>
  <Step title="Browse versions">In the version history pop-up, select the version you want to view on the left.</Step>
</Steps>

## View and restore settings history

Obsidian Sync also records changes to your vault configuration files, such as plugin settings and appearance.

### View settings version history

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Sync settings">Open **Settings → Sync**.</Step>
  <Step title="Go to Vault configuration sync">Scroll down to **Vault configuration sync**.</Step>
  <Step title="Open Settings version history">Select **View** next to **Settings version history**.</Step>
  <Step title="Choose a settings file">In the **Settings File** pop-up, choose the configuration file you want to inspect.</Step>
</Steps>

### Restore a previous settings version

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings version history">Follow the steps above to open the settings file's history.</Step>
  <Step title="Restore">In the changes view, select **Restore**.</Step>
  <Step title="Restart Obsidian">Reload or restart Obsidian to apply the restored settings.</Step>
</Steps>