# Find who changed a cell in Google Sheets

> Use cell edit history, version history and edit notifications in Google Sheets to see who changed a cell and when, and learn what each one leaves out.

Source: https://www.lightinventory.com/help/google-sheets/who-changed-a-cell · Last updated: 2026-10-28

Right-click the cell and choose **Show edit history**. Google Sheets shows who changed that cell and when. If the change you're looking for isn't there, check version history, which shows changes across the whole file.

## Check the edit history of one cell

1. Open the spreadsheet at sheets.google.com on your computer.
2. Right-click the cell.
3. Click **Show edit history**.

Google lists changes that [might not show up in the edit history](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/190843):

- added or deleted rows and columns;
- changes to the cell's format;
- changes made by formulas;
- changes made before a past version of the spreadsheet was restored.

> **Note:** A cell that shows a formula result, such as a stock total, changes when its inputs change. Its edit history won't show those changes. Check the history of the input cells instead.

## Check version history for the whole file

Use version history when the cell's own history is empty, when rows were inserted or deleted, or when you want to see everything one person changed.

1. Open the spreadsheet on your computer.
2. At the top right, click **Last edit**.
3. In the right panel, choose a version. You can see who updated the file and their changes.
4. Optional: click **Show unmodified rows** to see the rows that didn't change. Google Sheets hides them by default.
5. Optional: in the right panel, click **Expand** to see grouped versions.
6. Click **Back** at the top left to return to the current version.

To see version history, you need permission to edit the file. Google also notes that "the revisions for your file may occasionally be merged," so very close edits can appear as one version. To keep a version from being merged, name it: choose the version, click **More**, then **Name this version**. You can name up to 15 versions per spreadsheet.

## Get notified of future changes

To get an email when others change the spreadsheet:

1. Open the spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Click **Tools → Notification settings → Edit notifications**.
3. Under when to notify you, select **Any changes are made**.
4. Under how often, select **Email - daily digest** or **Email - right away**.
5. Click **Save**.

You [can only set up notifications for yourself](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/91588), and you won't get notifications for your own changes. Editors can see the usernames of people who make changes; viewers can set notifications but can't see usernames.

## What each tool shows

| Tool | Shows | Doesn't show |
|---|---|---|
| **Show edit history** | Who changed one cell and when | Changes made by formulas, added or deleted rows and columns, format changes, changes before a restore |
| Version history (**Last edit**) | Who changed what across the whole file, grouped into versions | Reasons for a change; versions may be merged |
| **Edit notifications** | An email when others make changes | Your own changes |

None of these tools records why a change was made. For an inventory sheet, add a `Reference` and `Note` column to each movement row, as described in [Inventory management in Google Sheets](/guides/inventory-management-google-sheets).

## How LightInventory records changes

LightInventory writes every stock change to a `Log` tab in your own spreadsheet: who made it, when, and the value before and after. Each movement also carries a reference and a note, so the reason travels with the change. A keyed hash chain of those entries, without your values, makes the log tamper-evident. Changes made through the app reach Google from the connected account, so Google's own history shows that account; the `Log` tab names the team member. Edits made directly in the Sheet are detected and recorded too. See the [audit trail](/features/audit-trail).