# Document History, Archive, and Restore

Use version history to inspect or restore an earlier Markdown or text revision. Archive removes a document from active views while keeping it in Trash, where it can be restored.

## Open version history

1. Open a Markdown or text document from **Documents**.
2. In the reader toolbar, select **Version history** (clock/arrow icon).
3. Review revisions by number, timestamp, and author when available.
4. Select **Preview** to expand a revision's saved text. Select **Hide** to close the preview.

The panel lists revisions for the open document. If it says **No revisions yet**, edit and save the document to create a revision. Version history is not available for binary formats such as PDF or DOCX, and the panel does not provide a side-by-side diff.

## Restore a revision

1. In **Version history**, choose **Restore** on the revision you need.
2. Read the confirmation, which names the revision number.
3. Confirm only if you want that revision's content to replace the current document.
4. Verify the reader shows the restored content.

Restoring replaces the current content. Before doing so, iKanban saves the pre-restore state as a new revision, so it can be restored in turn. The revision history is refreshed after the operation.

## Archive a document

1. Open the document.
2. In the document reader sidebar, hover over its entry and select **More actions**.
3. Select **Archive**.

![Document actions menu with Archive and Delete as separate actions](/docs/images/documents/document-actions.webp)

The document leaves active file views and appears in the **Trash** smart view. Archive is reversible; it is different from permanent deletion.

## Restore an archived document

1. In the Documents left rail, select **Trash**.
2. Find the archived document.
3. Select its **Restore** action.
4. Return to **All files** and open the document or its folder.

![Archived sample document card with Restore and Delete forever actions](/docs/images/documents/restore-document.webp)

The document returns to the active list. In Trash, **Delete forever** permanently removes it; it does not restore it. See [Creating and Managing Documents](/docs/documents/creating-documents) for permanent deletion details and confirmation behavior.

## If a revision or document is missing

- Confirm the selected document is Markdown or text before looking for **Version history**.
- Check **Trash** if a document is absent from **All files**.
- A preview shows the saved revision text; it is not a diff against the current version.
- Do not use **Delete forever** when the intent is to archive or restore.