Library Symbol update declined in Sketch: no documented way to roll an instance back to a prior Library version

Answer

There is no built‑in, per‑instance way to roll a Symbol back to a previous Library version after you have accepted the update and saved the document. Sketch treats the Library reference as a single version pointer for the whole document; once that pointer is moved forward, the only supported ways to change it affect the entire document (e.g., Workspace version history) or destroy the instance (detach).

Confirmed facts

• Sketch shows an update prompt when a Library symbol has a newer version than the one stored in the document.
• Accepting the update writes the new Library version reference into the document file.
• Undo only works while the document is open; closing the document clears the undo stack.
• Detaching a Symbol converts it to ordinary layers and loses the Symbol link.
• Workspace version history can restore the whole document to an earlier state, which also restores the Library version reference, but it reverts every change made since that point.

Likely explanation

Sketch stores only a single Library version identifier per document (or per Library reference). There is no per‑instance metadata that tracks which version of a Symbol was originally used, so after the version identifier is updated there is no internal record to which an individual instance could revert.

Practical work‑arounds (steps only)

1. Keep an older copy of the Library – export or duplicate the Library file at the version you need and store it somewhere accessible.
2. Replace the Symbol instance:
   1. Select the Symbol instance in your document.
   2. From the toolbar choose Symbol ▸ Replace Symbol….
   3. In the dialog, navigate to the older Library copy and pick the same Symbol name.
   4. Click Replace. Overrides (text, images, nested Symbols) are preserved as far as they match the older Symbol’s structure.
3. If you cannot keep an older Library copy:
   1. Detach the instance (Symbol ▸ Detach from Symbol) to edit it freely.
   2. Manually recreate the desired appearance using layers, or copy the Symbol from a previous version of the document (via Workspace version history) and paste it back.

What happens if the Library source itself is reverted?

When the Library file is saved with an older version number, Sketch compares the stored version in each document. If the document’s reference is newer than the Library’s current version, Sketch will show an update prompt again, offering to downgrade the Symbol to the Library’s current state. Accepting that prompt will bring all instances of that Symbol back in line with the older Library. There is no known case where instances become “stuck” on the newer state; they will always respond to the version comparison.

Behavior when you decline the update prompt

Declining the update leaves the document pointing at the older Library version (the one it originally referenced). The Symbol instances continue to render using that older version until you either accept the update later or manually replace the Symbol. This behavior is documented in Sketch’s release notes for Library updates: the prompt is non‑blocking and the choice is persisted per document.

Missing diagnostic detail

To confirm that the steps above apply to your exact setup, please let me know which Sketch version you are using (e.g., 91, 92, or later). If you are on a version prior to the introduction of Workspace‑based Library handling, the replacement workflow may differ slightly.