We’re excited to share that on-device version control will soon be available in Grid, helping you to restore deleted grid sets and revert to earlier versions more easily when needed. If a file is corrupted, or you accidentally make an edit that you want to change back, this new feature provides a straightforward way to manage changes directly on your device. There’s no need to connect external services, create an account, or be online. Version control works entirely on the device, providing a built‑in, reliable way to manage changes and restore your grid sets.
Available soon on both Windows and iPad, in Grid version 103 or above.
This new functionality focuses on two key areas: recovering deleted content and revisiting previous versions of grid sets. Together, they provide a practical safety net for everyday editing.
Where to find the version control options
The new recovery options can be found by going to Menu > Recover grid sets.
From here, Recover grid sets presents two choices:
- Edit history: Where you can go back to an older version of a grid set from the last 30 days
- Deleted grid sets: Where you can bring back a deleted grid set from the last 30 days
Restoring previous versions of grid sets
The Edit history view shows all grids that currently exist on the device.
For each grid set, you can see:
- Date and time last modified
- Expiry date (when it will no longer be recoverable)
- Information about who last modified it
- File size
When restoring from the edit history, you have two options:
- Restore grid set: This overwrites the current version of the grid set
- Save as a copy: This restores the chosen version as a separate grid set instead
Restoring directly overwrites the current grid set and immediately makes it the active version, reducing the need to manually reassign primary communication grids through settings.
If you restore the wrong version, you’re not stuck. The version you replaced is retained in the history, allowing you to roll back again if needed. This means you can explore previous versions without worrying about losing your place.
For users who prefer extra caution, saving as a copy provides another option, which can be especially useful when you’re unsure which version you’re looking for.
Restoring deleted grid sets and folders
The Deleted grid sets view shows grid sets and folders that have been deleted within the last 30 days.
This list is designed to help you quickly identify the item you need, showing:
- File or folder name
- Item type (grid set or folder)
- Date and time it was deleted
- Expiry date (when it will no longer be recoverable)
- File size
This extra detail is especially helpful when managing large numbers of grid sets or trying to distinguish between similar files.
If you select an item, you have two options:
- Restore grid set(s): Restoring a grid set returns it directly to Grid Explorer.
- Delete permanently: This can be useful for managing storage space, or when you need reassurance that sensitive or personal content has been fully removed.
Designed for everyday peace of mind
This feature has been shaped around real-world editing behaviours: experimenting, making incremental changes, collaborating with others, and sometimes changing your mind. By keeping recovery options close at hand and easy to understand, we aim to reduce anxiety and help you focus on communication, not file management.
FAQs
What is on‑device version control?
On‑device version control allows you to restore deleted grid sets and roll back to earlier versions of an existing grid set directly on the device. It helps you recover from accidental edits or file corruption without using external or online storage.
Where can I find version control on the device?
Version control is accessed from the Grid Explorer menu, under Recover grid sets. From there, you can choose to view either deleted grid sets or grid set edit history.
What can I restore?
You can restore:
- Deleted grid sets
- Deleted folders
- Earlier versions of grid sets that currently exist on the device
How long can my device store deleted items?
Deleted items can be restored for up to 30 days after deletion, after which they will no longer be available.
What information is shown to help me choose the right grid set?
To help identify the correct item, the restore menus show details such as:
- Name of the grid set or folder
- Type (grid set or folder)
- Date and time of deletion or last modification
- Information about who last modified it
- Expiration date
- File size
This information is intended to make it easier to distinguish between similar grid sets.
What happens when I restore a previous version?
If you restore a previous version of a grid set, it will overwrite the current version and become the active grid set. The version you replaced is still kept in the version history, so you can revert again if needed.
Can I restore a version without overwriting my current grid set?
Yes. You can choose Save as a copy, which restores the selected version as a separate grid set instead of overwriting the current one.
Can deleted grid sets be removed permanently?
Yes. Deleted grid sets and folders can be permanently deleted before they expire. This can be useful for managing storage space or ensuring that personal or sensitive content is fully removed from the device.
Do I need an online account or cloud storage?
No. Version control works entirely on the device. You do not need to connect services such as Dropbox, create an account, or be online for this feature to work.
How many versions of a grid set are saved?
At least one previous version is always retained as a fail-safe.
What happens if a device is lost or damaged?
Because version history is stored on the device itself, earlier versions are not backed up to cloud services. If a device is lost or damaged, current versions of grid sets can only be restored if they have been synced to a Dropbox account. Grid set edit history will not be restored.
Are grid set versions included in full user backups?
No. Version history created by on‑device version control is not included in full user backups. Backups capture the current grid sets, but not the previous versions stored for rollback on the device.
What happens if my device is running low on storage space?
If your device storage reaches 90% full, you’ll see a notification to let you know space is running low. This gives you time to review and manage storage, such as deleting unused grid sets.
Will version control stop working if storage is full?
Yes. Once storage is full, version control will pause automatically. Once storage space is freed up, version control will resume as normal.
Will a remote editor have their own version control of a user’s content?
No. Version control is not created on the remote editor’s device when they are editing remotely. When changes are made and saved during a remote editing session, versions are created and stored on the user’s device (the device being edited), not on the remote editor’s device. This means version history is always tied to the end user’s device and content, regardless of whether edits were made locally or via remote editing.
What happens to version history if a user is deleted?
If a user is deleted, all their grid sets are deleted, and this includes all associated version history. The same applies if a user is removed on Grid for iPad, or if the app is deleted and then reinstalled. In all these cases, the user’s grid sets and their version history are permanently removed from the device.