MS Excel - Undo and Redo

1. Undo in Excel

The Undo function lets you reverse the most recent actions you’ve performed.

Ways to Use Undo

• Keyboard Shortcut:
  Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac).

• Using the Toolbar:

  • Look at the Quick Access Toolbar (top-left corner of Excel).

  • Click the Undo arrow button.

• Multiple Undo:
  Click the drop-down arrow next to the Undo button to see a list of recent actions.
  Select multiple actions to undo them all at once.

Actions That Can Be Undone

• Data entry

• Formatting changes

• Formula edits

• Row/column insertions or deletions

• Copy-paste operations

Actions That Cannot Be Undone

• Saving the workbook

• Some operations involving macros

• Certain large-scale data changes like refreshing external data sources

2. Redo in Excel

The Redo function reinstates the last action you undid.

Ways to Use Redo

• Keyboard Shortcut:
  Press Ctrl + Y (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac).

• Using the Toolbar:
  Click the Redo button next to the Undo button in the Quick Access Toolbar.

Redo vs. Repeat

• If you undo an action, Redo restores it.

• If you haven’t undone anything, Redo works as a Repeat command, repeating your last action (e.g., applying formatting).

3. Tips for Effective Use

• Check the Undo Limit:
  Excel usually allows you to undo up to 100 actions in most versions.

• Save Versions:
  Since undo history clears after saving, consider using File → Info → Version History (Excel 365/2021) to recover older changes.

• Enable Quick Access:
  Right-click the Undo or Redo buttons and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar for faster access.