How to Look for Older Versions of Web Pages

When a website has been online for more than one year, chances are there are copies of the older versions online too. This can be a fun way to see how different websites have evolved over the years, and it's also a great way to research the online history of a company or product.

Back in 1996, one nonprofit organization started archiving copies of other websites and web pages that were online. The goal was to build an Internet library. They've been archiving these pages regularly since. Not all websites have older versions available to look at online, but those that do can be easily found using one specific, free online tool.

Instructions

1. Go to the Internet Archive: Wayback Machine.

2. Enter the website name, or domain name of the site you want to see older versions of, then click the "Take Me Back" button.

3. If older versions of the website are available, you'll see a page with one or more previous dates on it. Click any date to view the version of the website on that date.

Tips & Warnings

• Some websites are purposely designed so that there is no archive of older pages saved, so you may not be able to find past versions of every site for which you search.

References

• Internet Archive: Wayback Machine