How Version History Works
Every generation and refinement is kept, so you can always go back to the version that worked.
On this page
Version history keeps each state your design has passed through — the first generation, every refinement, and every layer change — so an experiment never costs you a design you already liked.
Overview
Each time you generate or refine, the Studio records a new version rather than overwriting the previous one. The chain is linear: newest at the top, original at the bottom.
Restoring a version makes it the active design again. Later versions are not deleted; you are moving the pointer, not erasing history.
This is what makes aggressive experimentation safe. You can try a bold refinement knowing the previous state is one click away.
Why this matters
Iteration only works if going backwards is free. Without history, every refinement is a gamble and people stop experimenting — which is exactly when designs stop improving.
It also settles the most common frustration in AI design: "the third one was the best and now it's gone". With version history, it is not gone.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Open your design in the Studio
Version history is attached to the design, not to your session, so it is there when you come back.
Step 2: Open the history list
Versions are listed newest first with the change that produced each one.
Step 3: Preview before restoring
Compare a candidate version against the current design so you restore the right one.
Step 4: Restore the version you want
It becomes the active design and further refinements continue from there.
Step 5: Branch deliberately
Restore an earlier version, then refine differently to explore a second direction from the same starting point.
Step 6: Save what you want to keep
Designs you want to keep long term belong in My Designs.
Best practices
- Restore early rather than refining your way out of a bad direction.
- Before an experimental refinement, note which version you are on.
- Use restore-then-refine to explore two directions from one strong base.
- Keep the number of speculative refinements low so history stays readable.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it happens | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Refining repeatedly to get back to an earlier look | Refinement moves forward, never backward. | Restore the earlier version directly. |
| Starting over when a design goes wrong | It discards a good base along with the bad change. | Roll back one version and take a different path. |
| Assuming restoring deletes later versions | It looks like an undo. | It is a pointer move — later versions remain in the list. |
Frequently asked questions
How long is version history kept?
History lives with the saved design. Storage behaviour is described in Design Storage.
Does restoring a version cost credits?
No. Only generating and refining consume credits.
Can I restore a design I deleted?
See Deleted Design Returned and Starting Over and Restoring Designs.
Do layer changes create versions?
Yes — layer edits are part of the design state and are recorded alongside generations.
Can I compare two versions side by side?
Preview a version before restoring it to compare it against the current design.
Is history shared when I share a design?
Sharing publishes the design, not your working history. See Share a Design.
Related articles
- How AI Refinement Works — Improve a design you already like instead of starting over — and keep what was already working.
- Starting Over and Restoring Designs — What Start Over clears, and what can be recovered afterwards.
- My Designs — Find, reopen, organise, and manage the designs you have saved.
- Preserving Parts of a Design — Change one area of a design while everything you already approved stays put.
- Design Storage — How saved designs are stored and kept available.
Need more help?
- Contact support — for orders, billing, and account questions.
- Join the community — ask other creators and share what you make.
- Chat for Ideas — brainstorm a direction before spending credits.
- Open the AI Studio — put any of this into practice right now.