If you’ve ever edited a WordPress post and suddenly thought, “Wait… what did I just delete?” — you’re definitely not alone. From missing paragraphs and accidental overwrites to formatting changes that completely throw off your layout, content mistakes happen to everyone. This is exactly why WordPress revision history is such an important feature, especially for beginners who are still getting comfortable with the editor.
WordPress revision history feature works quietly in the background, automatically saving different versions of your posts and pages as you write. This means you can track changes over time, compare edits, and restore an earlier version whenever something doesn’t look right. Instead of panicking or trying to remember what you changed, you can simply roll back to a previous version in just a few clicks.
At first, this feature may feel hidden or a bit confusing. But once you understand how it works, it becomes one of the most powerful safety tools in WordPress. In this step-by-step beginner tutorial, you’ll learn what WordPress revision history is, how to access it, and how to use it confidently so you can edit your content without fear of losing your hard work.
What Is WordPress Revision History?
WordPress revision history is a built-in feature that keeps a record of every saved change you make to a post or page. Each time you click Save Draft, Update, or WordPress autosaves your work, a new revision is created.
Think of revisions as a timeline of your content. You can:
– View older versions of your post
– Compare changes between revisions
– Restore a previous version instantly
This feature is especially helpful for:
– Beginners learning WordPress
– Bloggers editing long articles
– Teams collaborating on content
– Anyone worried about losing work
The best part? You don’t need a plugin to use it. It is enabled by default.
How WordPress Revisions Work
To use WordPress revisions effectively, it helps to understand how they’re created behind the scenes.
Manual Revisions
A manual revision is created every time you:
– Click Save Draft
– Click Update
– Publish or republish a post
Each manual save becomes a separate version stored in the WordPress database. These are the revisions you’ll most often restore.
Autosave Revisions
WordPress also uses an autosave feature to protect your work. While you’re editing, WordPress automatically saves a temporary copy of your content about every 60 seconds.
Autosaves help prevent data loss due to:
– Browser crashes
– Internet connection issues
– Power outages
Autosave versions usually don’t overwrite your published content, but they can be recovered if something goes wrong.
Who Can Access WordPress Revisions?
Not every user role can access revision history. Typically:
– Administrators and Editors can view and restore revisions
– Authors can access revisions for their own posts
– Contributors may have limited access depending on site settings
How to Access WordPress Revision History
Accessing revisions depends on which WordPress editor you’re using.
Accessing Revisions in the Block Editor (Gutenberg)
If you’re using the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), follow these steps:
1. Open the post or page you want to edit
2. Look at the right-hand sidebar
3. Click “Post” (if it’s not already selected)
4. Find the “Revisions” section
5. Click the number next to “Revisions”
You’ll now see the revision comparison screen.
Accessing Revisions in the Classic Editor
If you’re using the Classic Editor, here’s how:
1. Open the post or page
2. Scroll down or look in the right sidebar
3. Find the “Revisions” box
4. Click “Browse”
This will open the revision comparison view.
How to Compare Revisions in WordPress
One of the most useful parts of WordPress revision history is the ability to compare changes between versions.
On the revision screen, you’ll see:
– A slider or navigation arrows
– Highlighted text showing additions and deletions
– Two versions displayed side by side (or one highlighted view)
How the Comparison Tool Works
– Green highlights usually show added content
– Red highlights show removed content
– You can slide through revisions chronologically
This is perfect when you’re asking:
– “What changed since yesterday?”
– “Where did that paragraph go?”
– “Which version was better?”
How to Restore a Previous Version in WordPress
Restoring a revision is simple and safe.
Step-by-Step: Restore a WordPress Revision
1. Open the revision comparison screen
2. Navigate to the version you want
3. Review the highlighted changes
4. Click “Restore This Revision”
WordPress will instantly replace the current version with the selected revision.
Beginner Tip: Restoring a revision does not delete other revisions. You can always go back again if needed.
WordPress Revision History for Posts vs Pages
WordPress revisions
