How do I use version history in Synthesia?

Learn how video versioning works in Synthesia, including how versions are created, restored, and updated after publishing.

Written by Jess Diaz-Gomes
Updated this week

How versions are created

Synthesia generates and saves a new version of your video each time you select Generate.

Generating a video creates a version

• When you generate a video for the first time, Synthesia saves it as a version.

• This version captures the exact state of your video, including all elements, animations, and script details.

Editing and re-generating creates a new version

• If you make changes to the video — for example, modifying the script, adjusting animations, or changing the avatar — and generate it again, Synthesia saves a new version.

• When editing a video with multiple versions, you will always work on the most recent draft version, even if it has not been generated yet.

Reverting to an older version

• If you need to edit an older version, you can either Duplicate it or Restore it from the video Version History.

• Restore replaces your current draft with the content of the selected older version, within the same video. Your other versions stay in that video's Version History, and you can generate a new version once you've restored.

• Duplicate creates a completely separate video that starts with only the version you copied. The original video and its full Version History stay untouched.

📚 Check out Restoring & Duplicating – Versioning Documentation to learn more.

How published versions work

If your video has multiple versions, only the published version is accessible via:

• Share page

• Embed link

• SCORM export

Older versions remain in version history but are not visible externally.

How to update a published video with a new version

To replace a published version with a newer one:

1. Navigate to the version you want to publish in version history.
2. Select Reshare, then select Replace.
3. The share page, embed links, and SCORM exports update to reflect the new version — no need to replace links manually.

✍️ The share link URL does not change when you replace a published version. Any links you have already sent to viewers will continue to work and will show the updated video.

💬 FAQs

Why does Reshare still show an older version of my video?

Reshare only shows generated versions. If your latest edits have not been generated yet, they will not appear as an option. Generate the video first, then return to Reshare and select Replace to update the published version.

Why can't I see the Replace option when I select Reshare?

The Replace option only appears when a previous version has already been published. If your video has not been shared before, you will see Share options instead of Replace. If you have previously shared the video but Replace is not appearing, try refreshing your browser. If the issue continues, contact the Synthesia support team.

Can I see who was editing or who generated each version?

Version history shows which collaborators were editing at the time a snapshot was auto-saved, or who generated each version. It does not log who made which specific edits within a version.

What's the difference between duplicating and restoring an older version?

Restoring keeps you in the same video: your current draft is replaced with the content of the selected older version, and you can generate a new version from there. Duplicating creates a brand new, separate video that starts with only the version you copied — your original video and its version history stay exactly as they were.

What's Next?

📚 To learn more about sharing your video, check out How do I share my video?

📚 For step-by-step instructions on accessing and restoring versions, check out How do I access version history for my video?

📚 For full technical details, visit Versioning – Synthesia Docs