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.