It happens. We’ve all done it. If you’ve mistakenly deleted a file or want to revert to an earlier version, you can easily restore previous versions in Writer—or with iCloud, if you’re using a Mac.
iA Writer for Mac comes with built-in support for iCloud Drive. In addition to syncing documents across devices, you’ll also benefit from online recovery tools that iCloud provides.
Restore from Trash
You can delete a document in Writer by right-clicking on it in Library and selecting Move to Trash. To recover it, open the Trash on your Mac and drag-and-drop your deleted document to another location, such as your Desktop.
By default, any items you move to the Trash on you Mac will stay there until you manually empty the Trash. You can choose to automatically empty the Trash via Finder’s settings (if you’re confident you won’t lose any important files this way).
Items that you move to the Trash from your iCloud Drive are automatically emptied from the Trash after 30 days, regardless what settings you change in Finder.
Find out more about deleting files on Apple Support.
Restore using Time Machine
If you work on important files it’s a good idea to set up Time Machine on your Mac, which periodically backs up your files on an external storage device. Visit Apple Support to find out how to set up Time Machine.
For more up-to-date instructions on using iCloud Data Recovery, visit Apple’s Support pages.
Revert to an Older Version
To revert to a previously saved version of a file, go to File → Revert To, then select Last Opened/Previous Save or to Browse All Versions
Select a recent version or save, or browse a list of archived versions (via iCloud).
Previous Save/Last Opened
Reverts your document to the last opened version, or the previously saved version.
Browse All Versions
Opens a new window where you can select from a list of previously archived versions (requires iCloud to be enabled for iA Writer).
Use either the arrow buttons to navigate through the list, or select a date from the timeline, then click Restore to revert to that version.
If you use iCloud you can browse and restore previously archived versions.
Other Cloud Storage
Many cloud storage providers preserve multiple versions and backups of your documents for up to 30 days, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
If you’ve deleted a file or want to revert recent changes from an existing one, restoring a previous version of your document is a simple process on Writer for iOS.
You have various options to recover your previous work, either through the iA Writer app or iCloud. iA Writer for iOS comes with built-in support for iCloud Drive. In addition to the advantages of document synchronization across devices, users also benefit from the extra security provided by online recovery tools available in iCloud.
Recently Deleted
You can restore files recently deleted from iCloud or your device for up to 30 days.
For more up-to-date instructions on using iCloud Data Recovery, visit Apple’s Support pages.
Other Cloud Storage
Many cloud storage providers preserve multiple versions and backups of your documents for up to 30 days, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
Revert to Older Version
iOS Undo Function
For those familiar with the iPhone, you might already know the iOS Undo function, which is the first step to take to revert recent changes.
While you’re in your document, just shake your phone from left to right to undo the most recent action you’ve taken, such as deleting a paragraph.
Browse iCloud Versions
If you are working in iCloud, you can access previous versions by using the Browse Versions function.
Simply long-press on a file in the Library’s File List, then select Browse Versions (sweep upwards to reveal the option if necessary).
Browse Local Backups
Another way to recover your previous elements in a document is via the Browse Backups function.
To locate a backup, just like for versions, long-press on a file in the Library then select Browse Backups (sweep upwards to reveal the option if necessary).
Select the desired backup from the list, then press Restore.
Deleted Document
Browse Local Backups
If you’ve deleted a file, you may be able to locate a prior backup by navigating to the top of the Library and long-pressing on a Location.
Down below, we will press on the Location iCloud to access all the recent backups.
Similar to the process for regular backups, you will see a list of recent backups to choose from. Choose the backup containing the deleted file you wish to recover and click on Restore.
The final screen will allow you to select the location where you want to restore this file.
If you’ve deleted a file or want to revert recent changes from an existing one, restoring a previous version of your document is a simple process on Writer for iPadOS.
You have various options to recover your previous work, either through the iA Writer app or iCloud. iA Writer for iPadOS comes with built-in support for iCloud Drive. In addition to the advantages of document synchronization across devices, users also benefit from the extra security provided by online recovery tools available in iCloud.
Recently Deleted
You can restore files recently deleted from iCloud or your device for up to 30 days.
For more up-to-date instructions on using iCloud Data Recovery, visit Apple’s Support pages.
Other Cloud Storage
Many cloud storage providers preserve multiple versions and backups of your documents for up to 30 days, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
Revert Changes
iPadOS Undo Function
For those familiar with the iPad, you might already know the iPadOS Undo function, which is the first step to take to revert recent changes. While you’re in your document, swipe right with three fingers or shake your device to undo the most recent action you’ve taken, such as deleting a paragraph.
Browse iCloud Versions
If you are working in iCloud, you can access previous versions by using the Browse Versions function.
Simply long-press on a file in the Library’s File List, then select Browse Versions (sweep upwards to reveal the option if necessary).
Choose the one you wish to retrieve and press Keep.
Browse Local Backups
Another way to recover your previous elements in a document is via the Browse Backups function.
To locate a backup, just like for versions, long-press on a file in the Library then select Browse Backups (sweep upwards to reveal the option if necessary). This will give you a list of backups for this document.
Select the desired backup from the list, and on the next screen press Restore.
Deleted Document
Browse Local Backups
If you’ve deleted a file, you may be able to locate a prior backup by navigating to the top of the Library and long-pressing on a Location.
Down below, we will press on the Location iCloud to access all the recent backups.
Similar to the process for regular backups, you will see a list of recent backups to choose from.
Choose the backup containing the deleted file you wish to recover and on the next screen click on Restore.
The final screen will allow you to select the location where you want to restore this file, such as iCloud or existing folders used recently.
iA Writer for Android is no longer for sale. Here is why.
We’ve all been there. You open a document, only to find that 3 hours of writing progress you made the day before is…nowhere to be found!
Be it due to poor cloud sync behaviour or other issue, iA Writer for Android includes a built-in local backup of edits, just in case.
Restoring Edits
To restore a document to a prior point, or attempt lost progress recovery:
iA Writer for Android include a trash folder which contains recently deleted files.
To recover a file from Trash:
In the Library pane tap Trash
Long-press on desired file
Press ⋮ → Restore
In some cases document may not be restored to original Location/folder. If you cannot locate the file where you expect, please check in Device Location.
Cloud Storage Troubleshooting
In addition to built-in backups, files originally stored in a cloud storage provider service may be versioned/backed up by the provider.
We recommend visiting your cloud storage provider’s desktop/web console to see what options are available. For some of the most popular options please see:
If you’ve deleted a file or want to reverse changes to an existing one, restoring a previous version of your document is a simple process on Writer for Windows.
You have various options to recover your previous work, either in-app or via a cloud storage console.
Reverse Changes
To access a backed up version of a file, simply right-click on the file in the File List and select Browse Backups.
You’ll see a list of available backups for the file. Select the desired one and click on Restore.
You see a system save window allowing you to restore (save) without overwriting the current version.
Recover a Deleted Document
From the Recycle Bin
Deleting a document from iA Writer is done by right-clicking on it from the File List and selecting Delete. This will place the file in your local Recycle Bin and naturally, the initial step to recover your document is to access the bin folder.
You can restore the file from there with a right-click.
Browse Backups
You can retrieve a deleted document from iA Writer directly. In the Organizer pane, right-click on the Location where the deleted file was stored and select Browse Backups.
A pop-up window will show you all the files included in this Location. Click on the file you would like to restore, select the desired backup, and click on Restore.
From iCloud Drive
If you’re sharing documents between your PC and iPhone, you may have already installed iCloud Drive for Windows. Deleted iCloud files can be restored for up to 30 days, from either the iCloud’s Restore Files (A) or the Recently Deleted folder (B).
For the most up-to-date instructions on using iCloud recovery, please see the following Apple resource.
Other Cloud Storage
Many cloud storage providers preserve multiple versions and backups of your documents for up to 30 days.
We recommend visiting your cloud storage provider’s desktop/web console to see what options are available. For some of the most popular options please see:
If you are experiencing a problem that our support section doesn’t solve please reach out to us. We take a break on the weekends (JST), but during weekdays we aim to reply within 1-2 business days.
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