# Reverting a file to a previous version, on a Mac

> Learn how to revert a file to a previous version on a Mac using the File, Revert To menu and the Time Machine view to browse and restore older saves.

Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2021-10-10 | Topics: [Mac](https://flaviocopes.com/tags/mac/) | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/macos-revert-file-version/

I was working on a [Pages](https://www.apple.com/pages/) document this morning when I decided to save and immediately quit the application.

The moment I did it, I realized I did a mistake: the previous evening I did some edits to the cover of the document, removing the background image, and I forgot to revert.

I tried reopening it and of course cmd-Z didn't work to revert the change - it could only work before quitting Pages.

Then I thought about using the backup which I usually do.

But then, I also found out a feature which I never used in many years of owning a Mac.

Some applications, including Pages, Numbers, and many other non-Apple apps that use documents, like MindNode, have a `File -> Revert To` menu.

![File menu in Pages showing Revert To submenu with Last Opened and Browse All Versions options](https://flaviocopes.com/images/macos-revert-file-version/Screen_Shot_2021-10-08_at_16.19.05.jpg)

You can immediately revert to the latest saved version, but you can click "Browse All Versions..." to enter into the **Time Machine view** of that file:

![Time Machine interface showing two document versions side by side for comparison and restoration](https://flaviocopes.com/images/macos-revert-file-version/Screen_Shot_2021-10-08_at_16.19.33.jpg)

From here you can go back to any previous saved version.