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Manage document states using History Panel
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use the History Panel to navigate, undo, or create new documents from previous design states in Adobe InDesign.
The History panel provides a visual timeline of your document changes, allowing you to jump backward or forward through editing states during your current work session.
Open and navigate the History panel
Select any state in the list to instantly revert your document to that point in time.
Select the panel menu icon and then select Step Forward to redo the next change, or select Step Backward to undo the previous change.
Create a new document from a selected state
Select Window > History.
Select the history state you want to use as the starting point.
Select the Create new document from current state icon at the bottom of the History panel. InDesign opens a new, unsaved document in a separate tab reflecting the selected state, without carrying over the history timeline.
Select File > Save.
Delete specific states
Select Window > History.
Select the state you want to remove from the History panel.
Select the Delete icon at the bottom of the panel.
Select OK.
Alert
Deleting states is permanent and cannot be undone. The deleted states are removed from the timeline immediately.
To remove all history states without affecting your current document, select Clear History from the panel menu. This action frees memory but doesn't change the document's current appearance.
Things to keep in mind
- Application-based changes, such as panel and color settings, actions, and preferences, are not reflected in the History panel because they are not changes to a particular document.
- The History panel saves up to the previous 25,000 states. Older states are automatically removed from the History panel when they exceed the limit.
- When you close and reopen the document, all states are cleared from the panel from the last working session.
- By default, selecting a state and then changing the design removes all states that follow it.
- The Delete and Clear History actions are irreversible.
- The History panel displays content for unsaved documents and retains the history once you select Save or Save As for the first time.
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