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Commons:History merging and splitting

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Visualization of the merging process.

Shortcuts: COM:HMS • COM:HISTMERGE This page provides information on issues and solutions relating pages and files that underwent cut-and-paste moves (which its history has to be put back together), and inappropriate merging/overwriting (of which its history needs to be split).

History merging

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Shortcut

Because most users have the ability to use the move page function, cut-and-paste moves are usually done by people who are not aware of that function, or when the move function fails (e.g. because the target has history), and people who aren't aware of the Administrators Noticeboard forum to ask for help from an administrator.

When a cut-and-paste move is done, the page history of a page can be split among two or more different pages. This is very undesirable, because we need to keep the history with the content for copyright reasons. In most circumstances, administrators are able to fix this by merging page histories.

Instructions for admins
  1. Temporarily delete NewPage
  2. Move OldPage to NewPage, using the move functionality. (In case it is a file, you have to open the Move & Replace link in a new tab or disable AjaxQuickDelete in your preferences.) (Now the old history versions are the whole of the new title’s.)
  3. Undelete the NewPage page, by:
    1. Viewing the page/file history
    2. Clicking “View or restore … deleted edits?”, and
    3. Clicking on “Restore!”. (Now the new title’s history has both the old and new versions, including an extra copy of the most recent version of OldPage, created by the move tool.)
  4. At this stage, NewPage will only show the text “#REDIRECT NewPage” (assuming a redirect was the most recent version of OldPage, the NewPage page will now be showing whatever the most recent version of OldPage was). The last step is to revert (or RevisionDelete) to the last version of NewPage from before the move.

Special:MergeHistory makes it possible to automatically merge the history of two pages.


History splitting

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Shortcut

Over time, pages or files may change from one underlying topic to a completely separate topic. Normally, this should be accomplished through moves of pages, or by reuploading an altered file on a slightly different title. However, if a user is unfamiliar with those processes they may simply change the subject of a page or file (overwriting the old). If this is not caught immediately it is very easy for the new topic to build up a substantial edit history of its own.

Instructions for admins
  1. Temporarily delete the page/file (original title)
  2. Restore previous revisions up to (but not including) the point where the topic was changed.
  3. Move (without redirect) the restored versions (old topic) to the desired new title. (In case it is a file, you have to open the Move & Replace link in a new tab or disable AjaxQuickDelete in your preferences.)
    • If there’s already a file or page under the new title and you wish to histmerge into it:
    a) select the “delete the existing article” option, while moving;
    b) restore deleted revisions of new title.
  4. Restore new revisions of new topic (still at original title).

A history merge could also be undone in this way.

Requesting a merge or split

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To request a merge or split, fill the following template, and submit it at the bottom of this page. Remember, both files need to be of the same type. Merging of more than two files may also be possible in some cases. 


== [[:FILE/PAGE 1]] → [[:FILE/PAGE 2]] ==
* Request: [Split or Merge]
* Reason:
--~~~~
  • For merges, replace FILE/PAGE 2 with the page you want FILE/PAGE 1 contents to be merged into.
  • For splits, replace FILE/PAGE 2 with the new filename which you want the newer content to be moved from FILE/PAGE 1.
 

Add a new request

Shortcut

Current requests

View Edit Add topic

 See also categories: Media requiring a split up and Requested merges.

File:Schönebeck Wappen.JPG → File:Schönebeck Wappen1.JPG File:Schönebeck Wappen2.JPG File:Schönebeck Wappen3.JPG

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--Ellywa (talk) 23:34, 29 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 00:33, 30 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 00:33, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

File:Flag of Rock Springs, Wyoming.svg → File:Flag of Rock Springs, Wyoming (until 2026).svg

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  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: The city changed the flag, but someone overwrote the existing file with a new one. To avoid clutter, it would be best to keep the new versions in their current location and upload the 2022 versions as a new file.

--Swiãtopôłk (talk) 10:24, 30 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 13:58, 30 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:58, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

File:Bandera de Leftraru.svg → File:Lautaro flag.svg

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  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason:Both files are intended to show the same flag, but this extended version is more source-compliant and should be used wherever the second file is currently used. The second file has an old black and blue version, which is probably an old mistake, as there are no sources for it. This version should not appear as a separate file, as it would be out of scope anyway and could perpetuate errors.
--Swiãtopôłk (talk) 10:36, 30 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 14:00, 30 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:00, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

File:Znak B-33 50kph.svg → File:PL road sign B-33-50.svg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: The latter image of a 50 km/h speed limit road sign in Poland is more correct than the former.

--WWBM (talk) 12:43, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 20:27, 31 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:27, 31 January 2026 (UTC)

File:Nelson Legacion Naga Mayor 2022.webp → File:Nelson Legacion.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Please merge these two photos because are identical. Thank you!!!

--Toniker0501 (talk) 16:24, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done - Different file extension. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:58, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:58, 1 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 01-1.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 01.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done - See File:Goshuincho_of_Emma_Leonhart_01-1 (rotated).jpg --Sreejith K (talk) 04:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@Sreejithk2000 I am so sorry it was meant to be a merge and now we have three things. Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 05:02, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@Immanuelle, please check now. Is this what you wanted? --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Yes it is thank you Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 19:29, 3 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 01-2.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 01.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload due to client errors

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done - See File:Goshuincho_of_Emma_Leonhart_01-2 (rotated).jpg --Sreejith K (talk) 04:29, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 16:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 02-1.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 02.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload due to client errors

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 16:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 03-1.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 03.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload due to client errors

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:26, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:26, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 04-1.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 04.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload due to client errors

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:26, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:26, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 05-1.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 05.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload due to client errors

--Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:05, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 16.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 18.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload of photos of the same thing due to human error, breaking series

Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 23:04, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 17.jpg → File:Goshuincho of Emma Leonhart 19.jpg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason:Erroneous double upload of photos of the same thing due to human error, breaking series

Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 23:04, 1 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Gen. Adriano Hernández y Dayot.jpg → File:Gen. Hernández y Dayot, Hero of the Cry of Lincud.jpg

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  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Please merge these two photos because they are identical. Thank you!!!

--Toniker0501 (talk) 16:15, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Jodie Whitaker at Galaxy Con Columbus 2025 1.jpg → File:Jodie Whitaker at Galaxy Con Columbus 2025 1 (cropped).jpg

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  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Bad overwriting.

--0x0a (talk) 11:47, 6 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 14:44, 6 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:44, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Japanese Primordial Deities-en.svg → File:Japanese Primordial Deities.svg

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  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of them Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:20, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 06:07, 8 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 06:07, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Japanese Primordial Deities-fr.svg → File:Japanese Primordial Deities.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of them Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:20, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 06:07, 8 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 06:07, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Japanese Primordial Deities-hu.svg → File:Japanese Primordial Deities.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of them Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:20, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 06:08, 8 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 06:08, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Japanese Primordial Deities-vi.svg → File:Japanese Primordial Deities.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of them Immanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:20, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 06:08, 8 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 06:08, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Children born from the Challenge of Amaterasu and Susanoo-ja.svg → File:Children born from the Challenge of Amaterasu and Susanoo-mul.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:59, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

File:Children born from the Challenge of Amaterasu and Susanoo-en.svg → File:Children born from the Challenge of Amaterasu and Susanoo-mul.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 20:59, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

File:Descendants of Izanagi and Izanami-eng.svg → File:Descendants_of_Izanagi_and_Izanami.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:16, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

File:Descendants_of_Izanagi_alone-en.svg → File:Descendants_of_Izanagi_alone.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:25, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

File:Descendants_of_Izanami_alone-en.svg → File:Descendants_of_Izanami_alone.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:46, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

File:Descendants of Izanagi and Izanami-eng.svg → File:Descendants of Izanagi and Izanami.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: now that svgtranslate has been used, I think a history merge would be good for these. no need for nearly identical files instead of using svgtranslate. The language versions contain the attribution for the translators of themImmanuelle ❤️💚💙 (please tag me) 21:29, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

See also

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