To view edit history in Excel, open the workbook, select the Review tab, and then select Show Changes. The Changes pane opens and lists who changed each cell, when they changed it, and what the previous value was. For anything older or broader than that list, select File > Info > Version History to open an earlier saved copy of the whole workbook.
Applies to: Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac, and Excel for the web. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
Which Excel history tool should you use?
Excel does not have one feature called “edit history.” It has two modern tools that answer different questions, plus one older feature you may still see mentioned.
| Tool | What it shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Show Changes | A running list of individual edits: who, where, when, and the old and new value | Finding out who changed a specific cell and what it used to say |
| Version History | Earlier saved copies of the entire workbook that you can open or restore | Going back to how the file looked before a mistake, or looking further back than the Changes pane goes |
| Shared Workbooks (legacy) | The older change-tracking system | Only existing workbooks that already depend on it |
Start with Show Changes. If the edit you are looking for is not there, move on to Version History.
Before you start
- Use a current version of Excel. Microsoft says Show Changes is available in the Excel desktop apps and Excel for the web, and it lists Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac for the feature.
- Keep the workbook in OneDrive or SharePoint. Show Changes records edits made in Excel apps that support co-authoring (several people working in the same workbook at once), and Microsoft’s co-authoring instructions begin with uploading the workbook to OneDrive. Version History has the same requirement: Microsoft states that it only works for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint in Microsoft 365.
- Ask everyone to use a supported app. Edits are tracked when they are made in Excel for the web, Excel for Windows, Excel for Mac, Excel for iPad, Excel for iPhone, or Excel for Android. An edit made in an older or one-time purchase version of Excel is not tracked, and it also clears the Changes pane.
View edit history with Show Changes
- Open the workbook in Excel or in Excel for the web.
- Select the Review tab on the ribbon at the top of the window.
- Select Show Changes. The Changes pane opens.
- Read the list from the top. The most recent edits come first, and each entry shows who made the change, where and when they made it, and what they changed, including the previous value of the cell.
- If one entry covers many cells at once (a bulk edit, such as a large paste), select See changes on that card to list every cell it affected.
- If someone edits the workbook while the pane is open, select See New Changes to refresh the list.
Microsoft documents that you can view changes from the past 365 days in the Changes pane.
See the edit history of one cell, range, or sheet
A busy workbook can produce a long list. There are two documented ways to narrow it down.
Right-click the cells
- Select the worksheet, range, or single cell you care about.
- Right-click the selection.
- Select Show Changes. The Changes pane opens showing only the edits for what you selected.
Filter inside the Changes pane
- At the top of the Changes pane, select Filter.
- Select Range or Sheet.
- If you chose Range, type the range or cell into the text box (for example, B2:D20), and then select the arrow next to the text box to apply the filter.
What Show Changes does and does not record
The Changes pane records changes to cell values and formulas. That includes moving, sorting, inserting, or deleting cells or ranges.
Microsoft lists these as not currently shown:
- Edits to charts, shapes, and other objects
- PivotTable operations
- Formatting changes, such as a new fill color or font
- Hiding cells or ranges, and filtering
Microsoft also notes that the timeline can occasionally have gaps when some changes are unavailable. For that reason, treat the Changes pane as a practical review tool rather than a complete audit log of everything that has happened to the file.
Go further back with Version History
Version History does not list individual edits. It keeps earlier saved copies of the workbook, so you can open one and compare it with the current file, or bring it back.
- Open the workbook in Excel.
- Select the file title at the top of the window, and then select Version history. You can also select File > Info > Version History.
- Select a version from the list. It opens in a separate window so you can look through it without changing the current file.
- Only if you are sure you want that copy back, select Restore.
Warning: Restoring replaces the current version, and Microsoft warns that updates made after the version you restore will be lost. If you only need a few old values, open the older version, copy what you need, and paste it into the current workbook instead.
The number of versions you can go back depends on your account. With a personal Microsoft account you can retrieve the last 25 versions. With a work or school account, the number depends on how your organization configured the library that holds the file.
In Excel for the web, there is another route: go to the folder that holds the file, right-click the file name, and select Version history. For a closer look at this feature, see our guide on how to view version history in Excel.
How to confirm you found the right edit
In the Changes pane, check three things on the entry: the name of the person, the cell address, and the previous value. If all three match what you expected, you have the right edit. To put the old value back, type it into the cell again. That correction becomes a new entry at the top of the pane, so the record stays honest.
There is no button in the documented Show Changes steps that reverses a single entry. If many cells need to go back at once, Version History is the faster route.
Troubleshooting
The Changes pane is empty even though people edited the file
Microsoft lists three actions that can clear the pane: someone edited the workbook in a one-time purchase or older version of Excel; someone used an Excel feature that does not fully support co-authoring or that Show Changes does not track; or the file was uploaded, saved as a copy, or replaced. Excel starts tracking again with the next change made in a supported app. For anything earlier, use Version History.
Your change is not in the list
Check whether it was a type of change that is not shown, such as formatting, a chart edit, a PivotTable operation, hiding rows, or filtering. Only cell values and formulas are recorded.
An entry has no previous value
This can happen when the value was changed through code, such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) or an Office Add-in, or when someone edited the workbook in a version of Excel that was not up to date.
You cannot find Show Changes or Version History
Microsoft’s Show Changes instructions list Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac. If you use an older, one-time purchase version of Excel, the button may not be there; open the workbook in Excel for the web instead, where Show Changes is also available. If Version History shows nothing, confirm the file is saved in OneDrive or SharePoint rather than only on your computer. A file that has only ever lived on a local drive has no cloud versions to list.
On a work or school account, older versions are missing
The number of versions kept for a work or school file is set by your organization’s library configuration. Your IT administrator can tell you how many versions are kept and whether an older one can still be recovered.
You see advice about Track Changes or Shared Workbooks
That is the older system. Microsoft describes Shared Workbooks as an older feature with many limitations that has been replaced by co-authoring, and a shared workbook cannot be edited in Excel for the web. Unless an existing workbook already depends on it, use Show Changes and Version History instead. Microsoft’s Shared Workbook change tracking page covers the legacy feature.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see who edited an Excel file?
Yes. Select Review > Show Changes. Each entry in the Changes pane names the person who made the edit, along with where and when they made it.
How far back does Excel edit history go?
Microsoft’s documentation says the Changes pane shows changes from the past 365 days. For a look at the workbook before that, or after the pane has been cleared, use File > Info > Version History.
Does Show Changes work on a file saved only on my computer?
Do not count on it. Show Changes follows edits made in Excel apps that support co-authoring, which Microsoft sets up through OneDrive, and Version History only works for files in OneDrive or SharePoint in Microsoft 365. Upload the workbook to OneDrive so that history is kept from then on.
Does Excel record formatting changes?
Not in the Changes pane. Formatting, chart and shape edits, PivotTable operations, hiding, and filtering are not currently shown.
Can I clear the edit history?
Yes. Open the workbook in Excel for the web and select File > Info > Reset Changes. When you confirm, the history in the Changes pane is cleared for everyone who uses the workbook, and it cannot be undone. Microsoft notes that this does not remove every trace of past changes: version history and other logs may still show them.
Is there edit history in Word too?
Word handles this differently. See our guide on how to check edit history in Word.
Next step: open your workbook, select Review > Show Changes, and right-click the cell you are curious about to see only its history. Microsoft’s own instructions are on its Show Changes support page and its Show Changes help page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.