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How to View and Compare Previous Versions of Your Writing

Version History keeps a record of changes to your chapters. You can view past versions, compare them, and restore earlier drafts when needed.

What Is Version History?​

While you write on the web, WriteinaClick saves a version of your chapter about every 5 minutes if the text has changed. You can also save a version yourself at any time. Version History lets you:

  • Browse - See all saved versions of a chapter
  • Compare - View differences between two versions
  • Restore - Revert to a previous version if you change your mind

Your work is automatically versioned as you write, so you can experiment without losing earlier drafts.

Viewing All Versions​

  1. Open the chapter in Write.
  2. Click Versions in the Write toolbar and choose View Chapter History. You can also open Tools > Writing History.
  3. A list of versions appears, newest first. Use Search versions... to find one.

Each version shows:

  • Version number - For example, v12
  • Timestamp - How long ago it was saved
  • Title or preview - A title if it has one, or the start of its text

Click a version to preview its content.

Comparing Versions​

You can compare two versions to see what changed:

  1. Click Compare Versions.
  2. Click the older version, then the newer version.
  3. Click Compare.

Then choose how to see the changes:

Side by Side​

  • View the two versions in two columns.
  • Useful for spotting structural changes or large rewrites.

Unified​

  • A single view showing additions (highlighted in one color) and deletions (in another).
  • Familiar to anyone who has used diff tools.
  • Good for line-by-line changes and small edits.

Use whichever view fits your review style. Both help you understand what changed between versions.

How Long Versions Are Kept​

  • Timestamps - Each version is dated so you can find "the version from before I rewrote the ending."
  • History by plan - You can see versions from the last 7 days on Free, 90 days on Premium, and 365 days on Pro.

Exporting Version History​

You can export your version history to a file for offline backup or reference. In the version list, open the Options menu and choose:

  • Export as JSON - Full structured export of all versions with metadata.
  • Export as Text - A human-readable plain-text summary of all versions.

Both options export the full version history for that chapter or book scope, not a single version. The Options menu also lets you filter the list by type or by chapter.

Manual Snapshots​

You can save a version manually at any time: click Versions in the Write toolbar and choose Save Version Manually. Manual versions appear in the list alongside the automatic ones.

See also: Restoring Previous Versions | Auto-Save