Recover lost content in Overleaf via history

In Overleaf, the history feature allows you to track and revert changes made to your document. This is particularly useful if you’ve inadvertently deleted something important. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the history feature in Overleaf:

1. Open Your Overleaf Project: Start by opening the project where the deletion occurred.
2. Access the History Panel:

• On the top right of the Overleaf interface, you’ll see a clock icon labeled “History”. Click on this icon to open the history panel.

1. View Previous Versions:

• The history panel will display a timeline of your document’s versions. Each point on the timeline represents a saved version of your document.
• You can hover over the timeline to see the exact date and time of each version.

1. Compare Versions:

• To compare changes between two versions, click on a point in the timeline. This will show you a snapshot of your document at that specific time.
• You can also click on two different points to compare the differences between those versions. Overleaf will highlight the changes made between the selected versions.

1. Restore a Previous Version:

• If you find the version that contains the content you inadvertently deleted, you can restore it. Click on the desired point in the timeline, and then click on the “Revert to this version” button.
• Confirm that you want to revert to this version. Overleaf will then restore your document to the selected version.

1. Download Previous Versions (Optional):

• If you want to keep a local copy of the previous version before making any changes, you can download it. Click on the version you want to download, then click the download icon.

1. Track Changes:

• Overleaf’s history feature also allows you to see who made specific changes if you’re working in a collaborative project. This can help in identifying when and who made the inadvertent deletion.

Using the history feature in Overleaf ensures that you can always recover lost content and understand the evolution of your document over time. It’s a powerful tool for maintaining the integrity of your work, especially in collaborative environments.