Can I retrieve an old version of a file without *restoring* it?

[jim_in_public]

I have a file in my Dropbox account that is frequently updated; thus I have a bunch of previous versions of it, which appear on the "Previous versions" page.  I see that, on that page, I can click a button and *restore* the old version, which I take to mean that the current version would be replaced with the old version.

So: Is there a way to keep the current version in place but download the previous version I'm interested in?  I have a feeling that if I click the link on the previous version it'll let me do that, but the design of the page is not very clear about this, and I want to make sure I don't accidentally clobber the current version.  Thanks!

[Rich]

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jim_at_dropbox wrote:

Is there a way to keep the current version in place but download the previous version I'm interested in?

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No, there isn't. If you click Restore, the current version of the file will be overwritten. However, that current version will now be listed in Version History and itself can be restored as well.

I've just edited a text file and saved it. The new version appears in Version History along with previuous versions from October. I restore the last previous version of that file, prior to today's edit. Today's edits are now gone, and that version of the file is listed in Version History.

[jim_in_public · Accepted solution]

Thanks.  I did kinda the same, but, instead of clicking on the "restore" button, I clicked the link attached to the old version (again, on the Previous Versions page).  I got this:

The Restore button here does the same kind of restore as the Restore button on the Previous Versions page, but the Download button does, indeed, download the file to wherever my browser puts those things.  So, unless you find something different, clicking the file link seems to give me what I want.

[Tom H.]

Are you on a Mac by chance ? If so "Revisions for Dropbox" on the App Store can connect to your Dropbox account and it is able to download a file to a different location on your Hard Drive.  I have no affiliation with the developer, I do own the app, though I purchased it a long time ago. 

I don't find it the easiest to use. The indexing process takes a long time. I also had one file that refused to unzip. Though that could be for any number of reasons. 

Revesions also appears, to now be free, and available outside of the App store. https://www.revisionsapp.com

Disclaimer: I cannot speak to its safety and security, as I have not used it in sometime now. That would defiantly be a decision you need to make on your own.  Having said that it was passed and approved for sale by both Apple and Dropbox (Assumes vetted due to API usage by Dropbox)

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If this has helped you, please "kudo" this post.
If it has solved your issue please "Accept as Solution".

[Jay]

Actually, when I view version history, if you click the filename on the left, you'll be able to immediately preview that file, and then on the top right you’ll get the options to either restore to that version or to directly download the file.

See the following images:

Could you try testing it out to let me know if it works for you?

[Rich]

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jim_at_dropbox wrote:

I clicked the link attached to the old version ... the Download button does, indeed, download the file

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Ah, nice find! Never realized that was there.