How Do I Undo a Change in WordPress? A Step-by-Step Guide

Accidentally made a change in WordPress you want to undo? Whether it’s a small formatting tweak or a major content update, undoing changes in WordPress is crucial for keeping your website running smoothly. Fortunately, WordPress offers a variety of tools to help you reverse changes quickly and efficiently.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to undo changes in WordPress with ease. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Access Your WordPress Dashboard

To undo any changes, you first need to log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. This is the main hub where you manage your website’s content, settings, and plugins.

1. Go to your website’s login URL: yourwebsite.com/wp-admin.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Once logged in, you will land on the WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to the Post or Page

The next step is to find the specific post or page where you want to undo the change.

1. From the dashboard, go to the left-hand menu.
2. Click on either "Posts" or "Pages", depending on where the change was made.
3. Search for the post or page and click "Edit" to open it.

Step 3: Use the Revision History Tool

WordPress has a built-in revision history tool that tracks all edits made to your posts and pages. This feature allows you to restore a previous version of your content easily.

1. Inside the post or page editor, look for the "Revisions" section on the right-hand sidebar. If you don't see it, make sure to click "Document" on the right, not "Block".
2. Click on the "Revisions" link to open the revision history page.
3. You'll see a timeline of your post or page changes. Use the slider to review previous versions.
4. Once you find the version you want to revert to, click "Restore This Revision".

Step 4: Undo Changes via Autosave (If Applicable)

If your site autosaved a draft, you can revert to that version.

1. Look for a message at the top of the editor, usually indicating that WordPress has saved a draft automatically.
2. Click "View Autosave" to preview the last autosaved version.
3. If it contains the content you want to restore, click "Restore Autosave".

Step 5: Use a Backup Plugin (For Site-Wide Changes)

If the change was a larger, site-wide update or involved code or settings, and you have a backup plugin installed (like UpdraftPlus or VaultPress), you can restore your entire site or specific parts of it.

1. Go to Plugins from your dashboard menu.
2. Open your backup plugin’s settings.
3. Locate the backup that contains your previous settings or content.
4. Click "Restore" and follow the prompts.

Step 6: Undo Theme or Plugin Changes

Sometimes, an undo involves reverting changes in your WordPress theme or plugins.

1. Navigate to Appearance > Themes or Plugins from your dashboard.
2. Disable or remove any recent themes or plugins that may have caused the issue.
3. Reinstall or reactivate previous versions if necessary.

FAQs

1. Can I undo a change in WordPress after it's published?
Yes! WordPress’s revision history allows you to undo changes even after publishing a post or page. Just access the Revisions tool and restore a previous version.

2. What if I don’t see the Revisions option?
If you don’t see the Revisions section, it might be hidden. Check the Screen Options at the top-right of the editor and ensure Revisions is checked.

3. Can I undo changes made by a plugin?
Yes, you can deactivate or roll back plugins to a previous version by using a backup plugin or manual upload.

4. Does WordPress autosave all changes?
WordPress autosaves drafts regularly, but once a post is published, the autosave feature no longer tracks changes unless the post is being edited again.

5. Is there an undo button in WordPress?
While there isn't a straightforward "Undo" button like in Google Docs, the Revisions tool offers a way to restore previous content versions.