To err is human. Luckily, you can undo on the keyboard and, if needed, redo to correct mistakes on Windows and Mac. Undo and redo are especially helpful for fixing typing errors, correcting emails, reports, and spreadsheets, and making computers easier for beginners. For example, if you accidentally delete an important file in File Explorer or on your desktop, you can quickly restore it using the undo shortcut. If you close a browser tab by mistake, using the undo shortcut reopens it instantly. These shortcuts make it simple to recover from common, everyday mistakes during work or study.
If you want a quick summary of undo and redo on Windows and Mac keyboards before the details: Use Ctrl + Z for undo, a widely supported shortcut in editors and Office apps, and Ctrl + Y for redo. For multi-step undoing in Photoshop, etc., use Ctrl + Alt + Z. For redo, use Ctrl + Y or Ctrl + Shift + Z on Windows. On Mac, use Command + Z for undo and Command + Shift + Z for redo.
This guide explains undoing changes made to your computer programs and redoing them in detail, beginning with understanding the undo and redo functions.
Undo is a command on Windows and Mac that allows you to erase the most recent change to a document, reversing the file to an earlier state. This option is built into many computer applications, such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc. If you make any mistake, you can use the undo function to correct it.
Redo is a command that reverses the undo command. If you undo an action accidentally, you can use the redo function to restore it to the most recent state.
You can undo on Windows keyboard/Mac and redo using keyboard shortcuts or your mouse in various programs.
You can undo on a Windows keyboard using the Ctrl + Z shortcut. This shortcut works with almost all applications, such as Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and many design tools.
When you press Ctrl + Z to undo, it takes you one step back at a time. You can press Ctrl + Z multiple times until you reach the history limit. The number of steps you can undo is set by the application itself, not by your computer’s memory. For example, Word and Excel typically let you undo up to 100 actions. However, closing the document or application clears this undo history.
In addition to Ctrl + Z, Alt + Backspace is another variation of the undo shortcut key that works in some legacy text editors and Windows interface menus.
In Microsoft Excel, you can use the undo function for tasks such as entering numbers, editing formulas, or applying styles. However, Excel does not allow undoing actions like deleting a worksheet and saving a file.
In Microsoft Word, you can use the undo feature to roll back layout changes, typing, and formatting edits.
To undo in your web browser, you can use Ctrl + Shift + T to open a tab you closed recently.
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In many applications with a File/Edit option in the menu bar, you can undo your action with your mouse by following the steps below.
To undo in Office applications, click the left-pointing curved arrow in the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of the window.
You can use the Ctrl + Y shortcut to redo on a Windows keyboard in many applications, such as Microsoft Office applications. The Ctrl + Y command redos an action you undid recently. In addition to Ctrl + Y, many programs support the Ctrl + Shift + Z shortcut to redo after an undo.
In addition to Ctrl + Y and Ctrl + Shift + Z shortcuts, the F4 key also works as an alternative shortcut for redo or repeat commands. The F4 key is specific to Office. It repeats the last action, such as typing the same word or reapplying the formatting, and works as redo if used immediately after the undo command. However, it does not work in many non-Microsoft apps, and you may need to toggle F-Lock or press Fn on compact keyboards to make this shortcut work.
In addition to redoing on the keyboard, Windows allows you to redo an action with your mouse. Here is how to redo on Windows using your mouse in apps like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
To redo in Office applications, you can also click the hooked arrow pointing to the right, next to the undo arrow.
Note that the redo option appears only after undoing some actions. You cannot redo anything you did not undo; you can apply the redo command only after undoing.
In Microsoft Word, you can click the repeat icon at the top-left corner to repeat a typing operation. The repeat icon appears only after undoing an action.
To undo on a Mac keyboard, you can use the Command + Z shortcut. The Command + Z shortcut works almost everywhere on macOS, such as Finder, Safari, most Mac applications, and Pages, to reverse your previous action, for example, removing text or deleting a file.
Command + Shift + Z is the shortcut to redo on a Mac keyboard. If Command + Shift + Z does not redo your action in a Mac app, you can try the Command + Y shortcut. You can check the exact redo shortcut for an application on Mac in its Edit menu.
With so many shortcuts to undo on a Windows keyboard or macOS and redo your actions, finding a shortcut that works for a specific app gets confusing. However, finding the right shortcut is easy.
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You can find the right undo or redo shortcut for an application in its Edit menu. On Windows, click the Edit menu to find the undo and redo keyboard shortcuts listed. On Mac, click the application name in the menu bar, click Edit, and then look to the right of the undo and redo options to learn their shortcuts.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the default shortcuts to undo and redo on the keyboard on Windows and Mac, you can customize or remap the shortcuts.
The sections below guide you through customizing, remapping, or changing the undo/redo shortcut in Windows or macOS.
To change keyboard shortcuts in Windows, get the Keyboard Manager from Microsoft PowerToys to remap the shortcuts. Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of free, open-source tools to help developers and power users make the most of Windows. The Keyboard Manager in PowerToys allows you to remap shortcuts and keys on your keyboard to improve productivity.
On macOS, follow the path: System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts to modify the keyboard shortcuts.
However, undo and redo do not work for actions such as deleting a file permanently or configuration changes. Other than these situations, undo/redo is easily fixable if it is not working.
To fix common undo/redo problems, such as the undo or redo on a Windows PC/laptop keyboard not working, you can:
However, note that the undo option will be unavailable if there is nothing to undo, such as when you have already closed the document, losing the undo history. Also, the redo option will work only if something was undone before it.
Below, we answer some common questions about undo and redo on Windows and Mac keyboards to clear up any remaining confusion.
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No, Ctrl + R is not redo. Ctrl + R is the shortcut to refresh or reload web pages.
Yes, Ctrl + Z is the undo shortcut for most applications on Windows.
Ctrl + Z is the standard shortcut for undo on Windows.
Ctrl + Y is the standard shortcut for redo on Windows.
Many applications support multi-step undo. You can undo 100 consecutive actions on Microsoft Word and Excel, 20 actions on Microsoft PowerPoint, 20 actions on Adobe Photoshop, 32 actions on Adobe Premiere Pro, and hundreds of actions on Adobe InDesign.
The undo option may not work due to a stuck key, a software conflict, a changed keyboard layout, or because you closed and reopened the document.
Ctrl + Z is the undo keyboard shortcut on Windows.
No, it is not possible to undo a document after closing it, as closing the document clears the undo history.
Yes, you can use the Ctrl + Z undo shortcut on Windows to undo a deleted file in File Explorer or on the desktop.
That’s how to undo and redo on the keyboard or mouse on Windows and Mac. Hopefully, this helps you correct your mistakes and work smoothly. However, if you have any persistent doubts, you can leave a comment.
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