How to view previous versions of a file on GitHub?

 
Step 1: Open the GitHub Repository
 

To begin, sign in to your GitHub account and navigate to the repository containing the file whose history you want to inspect.

• Use the search bar at the top of github.com to find your repository by name.
• Alternatively, click on “Your repositories” from your profile menu.

 
Step 2: Locate the Target File
 

In the repository’s main view, browse through the file tree on the left-hand side or click folders in the file list until you find the file you wish to examine.

• Directories are shown in blue; files are shown in white.
• Click on folder names to expand and navigate deeper.

 
Step 3: Open the File and Access Its History
 

Once you’ve clicked the filename, you’ll see its content on the right. Look for the “History” button or link above the code viewer, usually near the “Raw” and “Blame” buttons.

• Click History to open a list of commits that modified this file.
• You can also click Blame to see line-by-line authorship information.

 
Step 4: Browse and Select a Previous Version
 

The history view presents a chronological list of commits affecting this file, with the most recent at the top.

• Each entry shows commit message, author, date, and a shortened SHA.
• Click on the commit’s SHA or message to view the file snapshot at that point in time.

 
Step 5: Compare Versions and Obtain Code
 

When viewing a specific commit, GitHub highlights changes made in that revision.

• Use “View file” to see the full file at that commit.
• Use “Raw” to download or copy the plain file content.
• Use “Browse files” in that commit to see the entire project at that state.

 
Step 6: (Optional) Use Git Locally for Detailed History
 

If you prefer the command line or need more advanced filtering, clone the repo locally and use Git commands.

git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git
cd repo
git log -- path/to/your/file.ext
git show COMMIT\_HASH:path/to/your/file.ext

• git log -- path/to/file lists all commits touching that file.
• git show COMMIT\_HASH:path/to/file displays the file content at that commit.