Google Keep is a popular note taking app that lets you quickly capture thoughts, ideas, photos, audio recordings, and more. It syncs across all your devices so your notes are always available.
However, one limitation of Google Keep is that there is no edit history – once you close a note, you can no longer undo changes you made. This article explains how to undo edits in Google Keep, as well as workarounds to recover deleted content.
Table of Contents
Undoing Edits in Google Keep
While Google Keep does not have version history, it does let you undo recent edits:
- On Android, tap the Undo and Redo arrows at the bottom of the note editor. These let you reverse your last actions.
- On iOS, shake your device to undo the last edit.
- On the web, use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Z to undo and Ctrl + Y to redo.
The undo capability only applies to your current editing session. As soon as you close the note or app, you can no longer undo changes.
Recovering Deleted Google Keep Notes
If you accidentally deleted important notes, there are a couple of options to try recovering them:
1. Check the Trash
Google Keep has a Trash feature where deleted notes sit for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
- On Android/iOS, tap the 3-line menu > Trash
- On the web, click the Trash icon on the left sidebar
Restore deleted notes by tapping or clicking the arrow icon next to them.
2. Use Google Takeout
Google Takeout lets you export all your Google Keep data, including deleted notes that are still in the 30-day trash period.
To use Takeout:
- Visit takeout.google.com
- Deselect all services except Google Keep
- Choose export format (JSON works well)
- Click Export and wait for the export to be compiled
- When ready, download and extract the ZIP file
- Search the JSON files for your deleted notes
Google Keep Alternatives with Version History
While Google Keep is convenient, its lack of edit history can lead to frustration when trying to undo changes.
Here are some alternative note apps that do save note versions:
- Evernote – Evernote has powerful version history features, restoring any prior version of a note.
- OneNote – Microsoft OneNote saves unlimited note history for free.
- Notion – Notion tracks all edits and lets you see a note’s complete history.
- Craft – Craft provides “rewind” capability to revert recent changes.
For those needing more robust editing and tracking capabilities, an alternative app may better suit your needs.
Workarounds to Preserve Edits
If you want to keep using Google Keep but still save your changes, here are some helpful workarounds:
Regularly Duplicate Notes
Manually duplicating your note creates a snapshot you can refer back to. Title your duplicates with a date or version number.
Use Google Docs for Complex Notes
For very long or complex notes requiring edits over time, use Google Docs rather than Keep. Google Docs provides detailed revision history.
Export Notes to Your Drive
You can export Google Keep notes to Google Doc format in your Drive account. This serves as another form of backup.
Integrate with Versioning Apps
Third-party apps like Versioning can monitor a Google Drive folder and save note snapshots as you work.
Conclusion
Google Keep doesn’t natively support edit history of notes. But by leveraging Keep’s trash, Google Takeout, and creative workarounds, you can minimize data loss from accidental edits.
For more robust version control, alternative note apps like Evernote or OneNote may better suit your needs. But for quick notes, Google Keep remains an easy way to capture thoughts across devices, as long as you implement regular backups.
