How To Undo Changes In WordPress

Ever had that heart-stopping moment when changes in WordPress seem to turn against you? Whether it’s a misclick that shifted your layout or an update that didn’t pan out, we’ve all been there. Undoing changes can feel like navigating a maze with blindfolds on.

In the digital realm where I dwell, my daily odyssey involves crafting and sculpting websites to near perfection.

And trust me, the power to rewind time in WordPress is a coveted magic trick. This article is a toolkit, a veritable lifeline back to your last safe point in the treacherous world of web design.

You’re about to dive into a masterclass where restoring previous versions, harnessing the power of revision history, and stashing away that WordPress backup for a rainy day, become second nature.

Embark on a journey through learning how to expertly revert WordPress changes, utilize WordPress version control, and confidently explore the intricacies of WordPress database rollbacks.

By the final punctuation mark, the chaos of ‘undoing’ will be your new calm.

How To Undo Changes In WordPress: Quick Workflow

To undo changes in WordPress, there are several methods you can use, depending on whether you want to reverse recent actions or restore previous versions of your content.

Undoing Recent Changes

1. Using the Undo Button: In the WordPress editor, you will find an undo button (a backward arrow) in the top left corner. Clicking this button once will undo your most recent action. You can click it multiple times to undo several actions in sequence.
2. Keyboard Shortcuts:
   • Windows: Press Ctrl + Z to undo and Ctrl + Y to redo.
   • macOS: Press Cmd + Z to undo and Cmd + Shift + Z to redo.

These methods only work for changes made during your current editing session.

Restoring Previous Versions

To revert to an earlier version of a post or page, you can use the Revisions feature:

1. Accessing Revisions:
   • Navigate to your dashboard and select Pages or Posts.
   • Click on the title of the item you wish to edit.
   • In the settings on the right, look for the Revisions section.
2. Loading a Previous Version:
   • Click on Revisions to view all previously saved versions.
   • Browse through the revisions and click the Load button to restore the desired version.

This feature allows you to recover content from previous editing sessions, as WordPress saves copies of your posts every time you publish, update, or save a draft.

Restoring Deleted Content

If you accidentally delete a post or page, you can restore it from the Trash:

1. Go to the Pages or Posts section in your dashboard.
2. Click on the Trashed tab.
3. Find the item you want to restore, click the three-dot icon next to it, and select Restore. This will bring the item back as a draft, which you can then publish again.

Using Backups

If you need to undo changes from a longer period or if the revisions feature is insufficient, consider restoring a backup:

1. If you are using a hosting service like Hostinger, log in to your control panel and navigate to the Backups section.
2. Select the date of the backup you wish to restore and follow the prompts to complete the restoration.

Understanding WordPress Revisions

In our WordPress time-traveling journey, our first stop is “Revisions”. Think of revisions like a breadcrumb trail you leave while venturing into the wild, a.k.a., while editing your WordPress site.

Every time you make a change, WordPress kindly drops a breadcrumb – a snapshot of your work. Why? To save you, just in case you need to backtrack. You trip over a root, you step on a thorny bush, you realize you’ve ventured off the right path – no worries. You have a way to get back. That, my friend, is the beauty of WordPress Revisions.

How WordPress Revisions work

Let’s unbox this magic. Every time you hit ‘save draft’ or ‘update’, WordPress tucks away a revision. This little snapshot stores all your changes – the text, the formatting, the whole shebang!

And when you need to hit the rewind, all those changes are just a click away. You simply pick the revision you want to go back to, and voila! You’ve successfully time-traveled.

Difference between Revisions and Autosaves

Now let’s differentiate between WordPress’s two saviors – Revisions and Autosaves. You might think, “Hey, they both are like my WordPress superheroes, right?” Well, yes, but even superheroes have their unique powers.

Revisions, as we’ve seen, are manually created each time you hit save. But Autosaves, true to their name, automatically save your work every 60 seconds. They’re like that overprotective friend who’s always got your back, no matter what.

So, Revisions and Autosaves, both help you undo changes in WordPress, but in their own unique ways.

How to Undo Changes in WordPress Using Revisions

Step-by-step guide to undo changes using revisions

Remember those breadcrumbs we talked about? Let’s see how we pick them up to backtrack our steps.

1. Open the WordPress Dashboard.
2. Choose the post or page where you made the oopsie.
3. Spot the “Document” pane on your right? There’s a ‘Revisions’ option under it. Click on it. This is your time machine.
4. A new screen pops up, showcasing all your previous versions. Now just slide to the version you want. Voila, you have just time-traveled!

Using the Revisions interface

Did you know WordPress’s revision interface has some neat tricks up its sleeve?

• There’s a slider on top. The more to the right you go, the newer the versions.
• The comparison feature allows you to pit two versions against each other. Nifty, right?
• The ‘Previous’ and ‘Next’ buttons let you stroll through your versions leisurely. Just like a walk in the park.

Restoring a specific version

Oh, you’ve spotted that perfect version you want to restore? Awesome! Let’s get it back.

Find that big, blue button saying ‘Restore This Revision’? Click it without a second thought. You’ve got your masterpiece back! Congrats!

How to Undo Changes in WordPress Using Autosaves

Explanation of Autosaves in WordPress

Ever had a sudden blackout and lost all your unsaved work? Heartbreaking, I know. But guess what, WordPress is here with its cape again – Autosaves.

As the name suggests, WordPress automatically saves your work every 60 seconds. It’s like your guardian angel, always on the lookout.

How to restore a post or page using Autosaves

Got your heart set on that autosaved version? Let’s get it back, then!

1. Open your post editor.
2. Notice that ‘Autosave’ notification on the top? Click on it.
3. Boom! There’s your version. Hit ‘View the autosave’, compare it with your current version, and if it’s the one, hit ‘Restore This Autosave’.

And you’re done. That’s how to undo changes in WordPress using autosaves.

Managing WordPress Revisions

How to limit the number of revisions

Revisions are great. But too many can clutter up your database. Want to keep things tidy? Let’s limit the number of revisions.

Find the ‘wp-config.php’ file in your WordPress directory. Now, add this line: define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', 5); You’ve just told WordPress to limit the number of revisions to 5 per post. Neat, right?

How to delete old revisions

What about the old revisions cluttering up your database, you ask? Fear not, we can clean those up too.

A WordPress plugin like ‘WP-Optimize’ can come to your rescue. Install, activate, and click on ‘Clean all post revisions’. And there you go – a clean, organized database!

How to disable revisions

Revisions not your thing? No problem, you can choose to disable them.

Again, visit your ‘wp-config.php’ file. Add this line: define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', false); Just like that, no more revisions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with WordPress Revisions

What to do when revisions are not showing up

There’s nothing more frustrating than needing to undo a change and finding your revisions are playing hide and seek. But don’t fret, we can fix it.

Usually, this problem surfaces when the revisions option is turned off in the ‘Screen Options’. So, your first stop is the ‘Screen Options’ tab at the top right of your dashboard. Click it, check ‘Revisions’, and you’re golden.

How to fix an incompatible theme

An incompatible theme could be another culprit behind your missing revisions. If that’s the case, you might have to switch themes.

Don’t forget to backup your site first (we’ll touch on that soon). Once that’s done, activate a default WordPress theme and check for revisions. If they show up, well, your previous theme was the villain.

What to do when a revision wasn’t created in the first place

You may have noticed by now that WordPress doesn’t create a revision every time you hit ‘Save Draft’ or ‘Update’. It only does so when there are changes.

So, if you’re missing a revision, it could be because there were no changes to save. In that case, there’s nothing to worry about.

Importance of Backing Up Your WordPress Site

Why you should always backup your site before making changes

Let’s picture this. You’re about to make a big change. You’re excited. You’re nervous. You hit ‘Save’. And then, disaster strikes. Your site crashes.

Imagine if you didn’t have a backup. All that work, all those hours, all that creativity, gone. It’s a WordPress nightmare.

But you can avoid it. How? Backups. Yes, backups are your insurance against WordPress catastrophes. Always, always backup your site before making changes.

How to backup your WordPress site

And how do we create this insurance policy? There are several ways.

One way is to use a WordPress backup plugin. Plugins like ‘UpdraftPlus‘ or ‘BackWPup‘ can automatically backup your site to a safe location.

Another way is manual backup. If you’re comfortable with technical stuff, you can use your hosting provider’s cPanel or FTP to download your files and export your database.