Deleted a paragraph by mistake and saved the post? Don't panic. WordPress keeps revisions, which are saved copies of your post or page from each time you saved it.
With revisions, you can compare two versions side by side and bring back an older one in a single click. It is one of the most underrated safety nets in WordPress.
How do revisions work in WordPress?
Every time you save a change to a post or page, WordPress stores a new revision. On top of that, the editor autosaves your work about every 60 seconds. WordPress keeps one autosave per user for each post, so a browser crash rarely costs you much.
Think of revisions as save points in a video game. If something goes wrong, you simply load an earlier one.
How to restore a revision
- First, open the post in the block editor.
- Now, in the settings sidebar, click Revisions. This option shows up once the post has a few saved versions.
- Next, drag the slider to move between versions. Removed text is highlighted in red and added text in green.
- Finally, click Restore This Revision on the version you want.
Tick Compare any two revisions at the top if you want to check two older versions against each other.
Restoring a revision doesn't delete the newer ones. Your current version stays in the list too, so you can always switch back.
Should you limit post revisions?
By default, WordPress keeps unlimited revisions. On a big site, thousands of old copies can make the database heavier. You can set a limit by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:
define( 'WP_POST_REVISIONS', 5 );
This keeps only the five latest revisions of each post. We recommend a small limit instead of turning revisions off completely, because they are your best undo button. Our guide on how to disable or limit post revisions covers every method. If you only need to reverse a recent edit, see how to undo in WordPress.
Revisions quietly protect your hard work in the background. That's all for now. Do let us know in the comment section below if revisions have ever saved one of your posts.