> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://helpdesk.smaply.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://helpdesk.smaply.app/journey-maps/how-to-use-version-history.md).

# How to use version history

Open a journey map's earlier versions, preview any of them, and roll back to one without losing your current work.

Every journey map keeps a running history of itself. Open the **Versions** tab in the History panel to see earlier versions, preview any one of them, and restore it as a fresh working copy if you need to step back.

{% hint style="info" %}
The History panel also has an **Activity** tab, a running feed of who changed what on the map. See [How to use activity history](/journey-maps/how-to-use-activity-history.md).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" icon="tag" %}

#### Plan availability

Version history is available on the **Governance** plan.
{% endhint %}

#### How version history works

Smaply saves a version of your journey map automatically every 10 minutes while you are editing. There is no save-version button to press and no way to create a version on demand. The history builds itself in the background as you work.

Version history covers journey maps only. Personas, portfolio items, and metrics do not have their own version history.

***

#### How to view and restore an earlier version

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open the Versions tab**

In the journey map editor, click the history (clock) icon in the top bar, to the left of the **Share** button. The **History** panel opens; click the **Versions** tab if it isn't already selected. **Current Version** sits at the top, followed by earlier versions listed by date and time. Each entry shows the people who edited it.

<figure><img src="https://1197101183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2For99xDEElfps9uMDY60K%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c3a42e7c7295c71788bb64fc2575e41793e8b969%2Fjourney-maps-activity-history-09-versions-tab.png?alt=media" alt="The Versions tab of the History panel, listing Current Version at the top with the editor&#x27;s avatar and name, followed by one earlier version labelled with a date and time and its own editor&#x27;s avatar and name."><figcaption><p>Versions tab, opened from the clock icon</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click a version to preview it**

Clicking a version opens it as a read-only preview, so you can check its contents before deciding to restore. An **Editing locked** banner across the top confirms you are looking at a past version rather than the live map. This preview banner clears as soon as you close the preview. It's unrelated to [locking a journey map](/journey-maps/how-to-lock-a-journey-map.md), which stays in place for everyone until someone unlocks it.

<figure><img src="https://1197101183-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2For99xDEElfps9uMDY60K%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-dbfefe2b2dfb1f3dbc9f736f3864c3817df6e053%2Fjourney-maps-version-history-02-restore.png?alt=media" alt="A past version open as a read-only preview. A black Editing locked banner runs across the top, and a floating toolbar at the bottom shows Restore this version and Close version preview."><figcaption><p>Read-only version preview with the floating toolbar</p></figcaption></figure>

To leave the preview without changing anything, click **Close version preview** in the floating toolbar at the bottom.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Restore the version**

With the version you want open in the preview, click **Restore this version** in the floating toolbar. A confirmation dialog explains what happens next; confirm it to restore.

Restoring is non-destructive. It creates a new working version from the one you picked and leaves your current version untouched. The restored copy opens in a new browser tab, where you can carry on editing.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

#### What a restored version does and does not bring back

A version stores only the journey map's own layout and content. Anything that lives outside the map is linked in, not stored, so it always appears as it is today rather than as it was when the version was saved.

{% hint style="warning" %}

#### **Important: linked items do not roll back**

Restoring a version does not revert these. They show their current state, not their state at the time of the version:

* Portfolio items
* The content of metric cards
* The content of embed cards
* The content of planning cards
* Personas
* Tags
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" icon="lightbulb" %}

#### **Tip: restore and rename before a major change**

Before a big round of edits, restore the current version and rename the restored copy. You get a clean checkpoint to work from and a clear way to tell the two apart later.
{% endhint %}

#### Related topics

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Description</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref">Target</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>How to archive a journey map</strong></td><td>Move a journey map out of the active list and bring it back later.</td><td><a href="/journey-maps/how-to-archive-a-journey-map.md">Archive a journey map</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>How to create a journey map</strong></td><td>Start a new journey map with Smaply AI, from scratch, or from a template.</td><td><a href="/journey-maps/how-to-create-a-journey-map.md">Create a journey map</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>What's included in each plan</strong></td><td>See which features, including version history, are available on your plan.</td><td><a href="/account-and-team/billing-and-plans/what-is-included-in-each-plan.md">What's included in each plan</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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